In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The Quran
[26:192] This is a revelation from the Lord of the universe.
[26:193] The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with it.
[26:194] To reveal it into your heart, that you may be one of the warners.
[26:195] In a perfect Arabic tongue.
[12:2] We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand.*
[20:113] We thus revealed it, an Arabic Quran, and we cited in it all kinds of prophecies, that they may be saved, or it may cause them to take heed.
It is God's very own Arabic narration of the Quran that is described by Him as perfect (18:1-2), accurate (11:1), fully detailed, and infallible (10:37), with no ambiguity (39:28), contradictions (4:82), or flaws (18:1).
In other words, these divine characteristics of the Quran are exclusive to the ARABIC text that He revealed; the book that was written by the hands of prophet Muhammad(25:5).
It's a non-negotiable fact that the Arabic language is the most efficient and sophisticated language when it comes to expressing detailed specifications. The Most Gracious has promised us salvation through His divine book (6:51, 20:113). The clarity and the specific detailing of His laws, systems, examples, and commands that are needed for that salvation, would have never been achieved through any other language. Perhaps God even created that efficient and sophisticated Arabic language only to fit this heavy, numerically structured message and His perfect, detailed laws.
In any way, it was God's infinite mercy and grace, to have this book of guidance detailed and revealed in Arabic in order to establish the truth and clarify His laws and systems in the most accurate, specific, efficient, and comprehensive written and readable format:
[10:82] GOD establishes the truth with His words, despite the criminals.
[6:115] The word of your Lord is complete, * in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
[13:37] We revealed these laws in Arabic, and if you ever acquiesce to their wishes, after this knowledge has come to you, you will have no ally, nor a protector, against GOD.
[41:3] A scripture whose verses provide the complete details, in an Arabic Quran, for people who know.
One of the laws decreed for us by God is the punishment of fornication or unlawful intimate relations (sexual relations out of marriage committed by married or unmarried individuals- or "zena" as expressed in the Arabic language of the Quran). We know full well that God almighty detailed the punishment of such act in chapter 24. The punishment of fornication for BOTH men and women is hundred lashes after providing four witnesses. The four witnesses must be produced whether it is a man or a woman who committed the sin of fornication. Those who accuse chaste women (righteous women who strive to maintain their chastity whether they are married or not) without providing four witnesses are subject to a punishment of eighty lashes for such evil accusation. Those who accuse their own wives without having witnesses must swear four times, and if the accused wife testified differently, by swearing four times, her testimony shall supersede and her judgment rests with God if she was lying.
These are all clear and detailed specifications in regard of fornication and adultery (unlawful sex conducted specifically by married people):
[24:2] The adulteress and the adulterer ( In Arabic text: the male and the female who commit fornication - zena) you shall whip each of them a hundred lashes. Do not beswayed by pity from carrying out GOD's law, if you truly believe in GOD and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their penalty.*
[24:3] The adulterer (In Arabic text: the man who commits fornication, " zani") will end up marrying an adulteress (In Arabic text: the woman who commits fornication, "zaneiah") or an idol worshiper, and the adulteress (In Arabic text: the woman who commits fornication, "zaneiah") will end up marrying an adulterer (In the Arabic text: the man who commits fornication, "zani") or an idol worshiper. This is prohibited for the believers.
[24:4] Those who accuse "married"(In the Arabic text: chaste not "married") women of adultery, then fail to produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty lashes, and do not accept any testimony from them; they are wicked.
[24:5] If they repent afterwards and reform, then GOD is Forgiver, Merciful.
[24:6] As for those who accuse their own spouses, without any other witnesses, thenthe testimony may be accepted if he swears by GOD four times that he is telling the truth.
[24:7] The fifth oath shall be to incur GOD's condemnation upon him, if he was lying.
[24:8] She shall be considered innocent if she swears by GOD four times that he is a liar.
[24:9] The fifth oath shall incur GOD’s wrath upon her if he was telling the truth.
[24:10] This is GOD's grace and mercy towards you. GOD is Redeemer, Most Wise.
[24:11] A gang among you produced a big lie.* Do not think that it was bad for you; instead, it was good for you. Meanwhile, each one of them has earned his share of the guilt. As for the one who initiated the whole incident, he has incurred a terrible retribution.
[24:12] When you heard it, the believing men and the believing women should have had better thoughts about themselves, and should have said, "This is obviously a big lie."
[24:13] Only if they produced four witnesses (you may believe them). If they fail to produce the witnesses, then they are, according to GOD, liars.
[24:14] If it were not for GOD's grace towards you, and His mercy in this world and in theHereafter, you would have suffered a great retribution because of this incident.
[24:15] You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the rest of you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You thought it was simple, when it was, according to GOD, gross.
[24:16] When you heard it, you should have said, "We will not repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood."
[24:17] GOD admonishes you that you shall never do it again, if you are believers.
[24:18] GOD thus explains the revelations for you. GOD is Omniscient, Wise.
In chapter 4, verses 15 and 16, God is establishing a totally different punishment that is mistaken with the punishment of fornication. In 4:15, there is a punishment specified for women to stay for life in their homes until they die or until God finds an exit for them.
What is this punishment for?
In 4:16, God is specifying that the couple who commit that same, exact sin mentioned in verse 15 shall be punished. Again, what this punishment for? The Arabic text and grammar in both verses is very specific, articulate, and clear. The Arabic word used for that sin is " Al-fahishah”, well defined by the most effective defining grammatical tools, " the alif and the lam", which are equivalent to the word "the” in English. When attached to that sin, these two letters make the act very well known and defined just as the acts of "Al-salat" and Al-zakat" - the Contact Prayers and the Charity- are well defined all over the Quran. This tool is used for both acts because both practices - salat and zakat- were already well known and in existence when Quran was revealed.
Here is what 4:15- and 16 are stating:
Health Quarantine
[4:15] Those who commit "adultery" - adultery is not used in the original Arabic text. The word used is Al-fahishah - among your women, you must have four witnesses against them, from among you. If they do bear witness, then you shall keep such women in their homes until they die, or until GOD creates an exit for them.* [4:16] The couple who commits "adultery" - adultery is not used in the original Arabic text. A clear Arabic tool is used to refer to Al-fahishah that is mentioned in 4:15 - shall bepunished.* If they repent and reform, you shall leave them alone. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful. *4:15 A woman witnessed by four people in the act of committing adultery on four different occasions, with four different partners, represents a danger to public health. Such a woman is a depository of germs, and a health quarantine protects the society from her. A good example of an exit that saves a quarantined woman is marriage - someone may wish to marry her, and thus protect her and the society.
The explanation provided by God’s messenger of the covenant in the above footnote regarding a woman committing the act of adultery in four different occasions with four different men doesn’t exist in the Arabic text or even hinted to.
There are absolutely no contradictions in the Quran. Any contradictions we sense must be the result of our very own shortcomings and lake of knowledge. The following two questions are often asked by those who are striving to understand the Quran and using their brains as commanded by God. They are also often asked by those who challenge the perfection and accuracy of the Quran.
The two questions are:
1- What is the punishment for fornication or adultery- Is it the hundred lashes as specified in chapter 24 or is it staying home until death as specified in 4:15-16?
2- Are men in 4:16 receiving different punishment from women in 4:15? - why?
The answers and the facts:
1- If the punishment of fornication and adultery is already established, clearly, for both men and women in chapter 24, the above different punishment in 4:15-16 MUST BE for a totally DIFFERENT sin. This sin is worded by the Most Gracious in a perfect Arabic tongue as " Al-fahishah" and not as fornication or adultery as translated.
2- The word used by God in 4:15-16,"Al-fahishah", is well defined by strong defining grammatical tools which means it is a well know act.
3- Besides being well defined, the word implies a very indecent action.
4- When committed by women (4:15), Al-fahishah must be dealt with by a punishment that is totally different from the established punishment of fornication and adultery. This different punishment is staying home until death or until God finds an exit which could possibly be repenting and reforming.
5- Then, in 4:16, and based on the perfect, infallible Arabic grammatical construction of both verses, and after specifying women in verse 15, God is adding that we shall also punish the TWO MALES who commit the same exact sin referred to in 4:15 (Al-fahishah). Because the punishment for both males and females is always the same in the Quran (both man and woman who commit fornication shall receive the 100 lashes, both male and female thieves are equally punished, 5:38), one must conclude that the punishment for " Al- fahishah" is the same for both men and women. So, the two males who commit Al- fahishah must stay home until death or until they repent and reform.
6- Based on the divine choice of the Arabic words by God, He has taught us that He used the well defined fahishah, "Al-fahishah” three times in the Quran for the sin of homosexuality in the following verses:
Lot: Homosexuality Condemned
[7:80] Lot said to his people, "You commit such an abomination ( Al-fahishah in the Arabic text) ; no one in the world has done it before!
Lot[27:54] Lot said to his people, "How could you commit such an abomination (Al-fahishah in the Arabic text), publicly, while you see?
Lot[29:28] Lot said to his people, "You commit such an abomination (Al-fahishah in the Arabic text), no one in the world has ever done it before you. The following is the forth time that this well defined fahishah (Al-fahishah) is used by God.
[24:19] Those who love to see immorality (Al-fahishah in the Arabic text) spread among the believers have incurred a painful retribution in this life and in the Hereafter. GOD knows, while you do not know.
7- The fact that some believe that the word "Al-fahishah" in 4:15 is referring to prostitution or having multiple unlawful sex with different men is actually baseless. There is another specific, well defined word that is used by God in the Quran for this specific act of prostitution. This word is "Al-bighaa", which is stated in 24:33. If prostitution is the sin meant to be mentioned in 4:15-16, God would have used the right word for it just as He used it in 24:33.
[24:33] Those who cannot afford to get married shall maintain morality until GOD provides for them from His grace. Those among your servants who wish to be freed in order to marry, you shall grant them their wish, once you realize that they are honest. And give them from GOD’s money that He has bestowed upon you. You shall not force your girls to commit prostitution, seeking the materials of this world, if they wish to be chaste. If anyone forces them, then GOD, seeing that they are forced, is Forgiver, Merciful.
8- Mathematical confirmation: It is not a coincidence that the one verse that God is specifically condemning the PUBLIC practice of homosexuality is mathematically correlated with the verse that God is using to establish the punishment of " Al-fahishah" to be the segregation (staying away from public) after producing four witnesses - staying home until death or until God finds an exit (repent and reform).
[4:15] Those who commit "adultery" - adultery is not used in the original Arabic text. The word used is Al-fahishah - among your women, you must have four witnesses against them, from among you. If they do bear witness, then you shall keep such women in their homes until they die, or until GOD creates an exit for them.* Lot [27:54] Lot said to his people, "How could you commit such an abomination (Al-fahishah in the Arabic text), publicly, while you see?
4:15, 27:54 04152754 = 19x 218566
9- My conclusion: The punishment that is established in 4:15-16 is a punishment for a sin that has nothing to do with adultery or fornication. The punishment for adultery and/or fornication for both men and women is already clearly established in chapter 24. Al-fahishah is not the practice of prostitution. There is a perfect word used by God for prostitution in the Quran in 24:33. Al-fahishah, well defined by the alif and the lam is used by God to refer to homosexuality in three different verses. The perfect Arabic construction and grammar in 4:15-16 leaves no doubt that the abomination talked about is committed by women together and men together and that both must be equally punished by segregation - staying home until death or until God finds an exit for them (repent and reform)
The messenger's translation is by all means the best and the most guided available translation. However, it cannot and will not by any mean equate the divine Arabic word of God. The messenger was a human being like all of us who was constantly and gradually evolving around the Quran. He NEVER claimed that his translation is perfect, and he NEVER listed translating the Quran among his duties as a messenger of God. The message of worshiping God alone and following Quran alone was perfectly delivered by him. The duties listed at the last page of appendix 2 were honestly fulfilled by him.. Any flaws we find in his translation only prove to us day after day that he was only a human like all of us, and teach us that the Quran, in its Arabic tongue, is what establishes the divine truth. It's the Arabic Quran that contains the awesome, built-in mathematical proof. It’s the Arabic words that are authenticated by that mathematical proof. It's the Arabic text that is considered as the verifiable word of God. It's also the grammatical structure of that perfect Arabic text that makes us find out and learn new aspects, and perspectives of this amazing Quran everyday. It's the Arabic word of God that will last until the end of the world as the ONLY ultimate reference and the absolute, infallible truth. It is my responsibility as a believer and as a native Arabic speaker to declare to all of you the above conclusion of my research, following God's command in 2:159-160, and out of fear of what is stated in the Quran about the sin of concealing the truth. Having expressed all of the above, I'm fully aware that the abuse of any kind of knowledge or blessing is a form of transgression, and I believe that, my fear for God has been always a guard for me against such transgression or against any kind of abuse of my knowledge and fluency of the Arabic grammar and language.. I have done my research and have reached my conclusions. It is your turn to do your own homework, and verify with others what I have shared with you.
Crucial Advice
[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
Gross Offense
[2:159] Those who conceal our revelations and guidance, after proclaiming them for the people in the scripture, are condemned by GOD; they are condemned by all the condemners. [2:160] As for those who repent, reform, and proclaim, I redeem them. I am the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
Corrupted Religious Leaders
Conceal the Quran's Miracle*
[2:174] Those who conceal GOD’s revelations in the scripture, in exchange for a cheap material gain, eat but fire into their bellies. GOD will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. They have incurred a painful retribution. [2:140].... Who is more evil than one who conceals a testimony he has learned from GOD? GOD is never unaware of anything you do."
Peace and may God bless,
Upon reading and trying to digest the article – bar the 19* miracle part of it… I was motivated to find out and to see what the lady (was a lady’s article) was talking about.
As such here is my findings or rather much comment on the article..
After reading the verse and on further looking at the references re: the word fahisha… I am thinking maybe there is more to this than just the word and the translation of the word/act involved..While on some instinct level (usually mine) the word fahisha denoted to me a sort of sexual conduct or misconduct as the word pertains… but I feel in vs 4:15 and vs 4:16 is is talking about two different sets of sexual conduct..
Reason for this is that vs 4:15 uses the word "yatina- al- fahishat"… this for me denotes a particular type of act of "fahishat".. i.e a type of sexual conduct/misconduct.. it could maybe be a sexual conduct between women alone .. As via definition is says this act is between women.. i.e I can take that to mean a sexual conduct practiced by women onlyVs 4:19 uses "yatina bi fahishat mubayinat" i.e proven yatina bi fahishat
Bismillahi...O you who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit what the women leave behind, against their will. You shall not force them to give up anything you had given them, unless they commit a "proven adultery". You shall treat them nicely. If you dislike them, you may dislike something wherein GOD has placed a lot of good.
it refers to women so I feel it is a sexual conduct of women that is not approved by God..
Vs 65:1 also uses this same term "yatina bi fahishat mubayinat"…
O you prophet, when you people divorce the women, you shall ensure that a divorce interim is fulfilled. You shall measure such an interim precisely. You shall reverence GOD your Lord. Do not evict them from their homes, nor shall you make life miserable for them, to force them to leave on their own, unless they commit a "proven adultery". These are GOD's laws. Anyone who transgresses GOD's laws commits an injustice against himself. You never know; maybe GOD wills something good to come out of this.
I DON’T THINK IT IS ADULTERY (WHEN WE USE THE ENGLISH TERM ADULTERY.. CHEATING ON A PARTNER) BECAUSE ADULTERY HAS ALREADY BEEN COVERED VIA THE WORD ZINA.. IN SURAH 24 AS the Author of the article RIGHTFULLY NOTED… BUT ON A LOOSE LEVEL… IT IS ALSO ADULTERY BECAUSE THE SEXUAL ACT IS NOT WITH ONES PARTNER BUT WITH SOMEONE/SOMETHING ELSE.. SO TRANSLATING IT AS ADULTERY IS ALSO RIGHT BUT NOT QUITE “DETAILED RIGHT”
Vs 4:16 does not include the word "fahisha".. but uses the term “yatiyaniha minkun”This I don’t know what is refers to but on an instinct level… it could be an act by couples.. Since the term couples is used in the translation
The deciding word there is then to define "yatina" for same sex women.. or "yatiyaniha" for couples… any help with this guys...
Vs 60:12.. also uses a form of yatina when it says "yatina bi bhutani"…
Bismillahi...O you prophet, when the believing women (who abandoned the disbelievers) to seek asylum with you pledge to you that they will not set up any idols besides GOD, nor steal, nor "commit adultery", nor kill their children, nor fabricate any falsehood, nor disobey your righteous orders, you shall accept their pledge, and pray to GOD to forgive them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
So on closer level.. it is a form of adultery/but to be more specific it could be a form of conduct between women as it refers to women…
To put a twist in things.. Based on the English translation..Vs 4:24 is translated as adultery.. While this is right ( I have coverd how this seems to me) but to be more detailed..
bismillahi...Also prohibited are the women who are already married, unless they flee their disbelieving husbands who are at war with you. These are GOD's commandments to you. All other categories are permitted for you in marriage, so long as you pay them their due dowries. You shall maintain your "morality, by not committing adultery". Thus, whoever you like among them, you shall pay them the dowry decreed for them. You commit no error by mutually agreeing to any adjustments to the dowry. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.
we need to examine the word used for it which is “fa- a- tu huna Ujurahuna fariidhat.”. someone help with this please…I think this refers to either sex; as such it is an act that can be carried out by everyone…
Vs 4:25 uses the term "atayna bi fahishat" and the English has been translated as adultery..This is right also (I have covered this), but to be more detailed we need to examine the word uses.. atayna fahishat.. it is a type of fahishat/sexual conduct.. help with this please..
I am thinking crux here is the translation of such acts as adultery, which I think I may have established as being right.. But it is not quite detailed in English as which particular type of adultery it is..
Vs 5:5 has also been described as adultery but the word fahishat is not used..
bismillahi ....Today, all good food is made lawful for you. The food of the people of the scripture is lawful for you. Also, you may marry the chaste women among the believers, as well as the chaste women among the followers of previous scripture, provided you pay them their due dowries. You shall maintain chastity, not "committing adultery", nor taking secret lovers. Anyone who rejects faith, all his work will be in vain, and in the Hereafter he will be with the losers.
The Arabic used for this is” muhsinina ghayra”.. so help with this as well please…
Now to put all things in perspective..Vs 17:32 uses a a word to describe adultery..the arabic used is zina..This I feel may refer to the English understanding of adultery.. i.e cheating of married partners…bismillahi... You shall not commit adultery; it is a gross sin, and an evil behavior.So guys this is my own take on the matter.
Whilst i agree with the author of the article that the vs 4:15 refers to same sex coupling in the particular verse referring to women.. i am also looking for us to examine the other uses of the word relating to sexual acts...
(using RK translation)
With afterthought and un reading the quran again, I am trying to make sense of the Arabic words as it relates to the english translation..
I must stress that I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE OPINION (same as the author of the article) THAT THE ONLY CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF THE QURAN IS VIA THE ARABIC SCRIPT but as I am not a native Arabic speaker but what I try to do is that I follow the translations via the words used in Arabic.
I.e. “Qul”: is used in various verses and via translation it means “Proclaim” or “Say” so anywhere I see “Qul” I know it is an instruction asking the reader to “Say”
It is with this approach, “using the Quran language to understand the Quran with Guidance from God and inspiration as well to enlighten my own limited capabilities” that I use as such sometimes I find some errors in translations which I willput as “ overtly right but not quite detailed right”
For example Verse 1 of Surah 110 An- Nasr
“Idha ja ha Nasru llahi wa-al Fat-hu” this is wholly translated as “When triumph comes from God and Victory” (RK)or “When comes the Help of God and Victory” (YA)
On closer look I can see that I feel there is a slight faux pas in the translation because, firstly the word “Nasr” is the word used for Victory.. However via reading, Nasr is in the middle sentence not the end..
As such it should maybe read, “When Gods victory and triumph comes” or “When Gods Victory and Help comes” (which co-incidentally is how it is translated via progressive Muslims i.e. victory before)
For it I understand it as that because before triumph – jubilation, smugness of overcoming adversity -one has to first be the victor/winner in the situation..
So Victory comes before triumph”
Simple things like that…
I guess at first I didn’t notice it, but after reading the Quran again as an ongoing process, these things start to jump out at me..
The more recent one is on surah 3…which is interesting because I have already given my first hand intake on surah 3.. But as I am reading it again, different things are jumping out at me and making me - not re-evaluate - but expand on what I had thought earlier…
Like I have said before, I can only thank my creator for what he has given me and I do thank Him immensely.. Gw I can get my act together and focus as I should be focusing..
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