Selected Passages from the Quran with Interpreted Meanings: A Pragmatic and Contextual Translation Approach

Preface

Part 1: Introduction to Islam with Questions and Answers

Why do we need to know about Islam?

How was Islam started?

Who is Allah?

 Different Names (Attributes) of Allah, God

Who is the Prophet Muhammad?

What is the Quran?

Authenticity of the Quran

What do Muslims believe?

Six Faith Pillars of Islam

Who is God for Muslims?

The Belief in the Creator

God: The Divine and the Creator

Why is belief in one God the core of Islam?

How do Muslims understand miracles?

Miracles

Who is a prophet or messenger in Islam?

Believing in Prophets

Do the Muslims believe in the Bible, Psalms, and Torah?

The Belief in the Books

Are the angels in Islam similar to Christianity and Judaism?

Belief in Angels

What is going to happen after death according to Islam?

Life after Death

How is the understanding of evil, good, and destiny?

Destiny, Evil, and Good

What are the worship requirements in Islam?

Five Worship Pillars of Islam

Who is considered a Muslim?

Declaration of Faith

What are the five daily prayers in Islam?

Five Times Daily Prayer

What is fasting or Ramadan?

Fasting

Are the Muslims required to give charity?

Charity

What is Muslim’s pilgrimage or Hajj?

 Pilgrimage

The Kabah

What are the similarities and differences between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity?

Comparing Islam with Christianity, Judaism, and other Religions

Are the Muslims in America and Europe different?

Islam in the West

How is the culture and religion in Islam?

Customs and Culture

Are Muslims violent?

Violence

What is Islamic Law?

Law, Society, and Politics

What is Sufism?

Sufism

What is the role of women in Islam?

Women

How are the contemporary social ethics issues viewed?

Social Ethics

What are the place of art, education, and science in Islam?

Art, Education, and Science

What is Halal?

Muslim’s Diet, Permissible and Impermissible

Part 2: Preferred Methodology of Translation of the Quran

Part 3: Selected Passages from Each Chapter of the Quran with Interpretive Meanings and Discussion Questions

The Names of Chapters in the Quran

Table of Different Names of the Quran

Note on Transliteration and Translated Interpretive Meanings

1. The Opening

The Opening

Commentary

Discussion Questions

2. This Book

This Book

Commentary

Discussion Questions

God

Commentary

Discussion Questions

The Friend and the Friend

Commentary

Discussion Questions

Everyone

Commentary

Discussion Questions

3. Common Word

Family of Jesus

Discussion Question

Adam and Jesus

Discussion Questions

Common Word

Discussion Questions

Rotation of Days

Discussion Questions

4. Creation in Pairs

Creation in Pairs

Commentary

Discussion Question

Does God oppress?

Discussion Questions

Pure Belief

Discussion Question

Don’t they think about this Quran!

Discussion Questions

The Etiquette of Greeting

Discussion Question

More Truthful Words

Discussion Question

Hiding from Who?

Discussion Question

5. Conflict and Justice

Conflict and Justice

Discussion Question

The Prophet, the Quran, and the Followers of the Bible and Torah and the Educated People

Discussion Questions

6. Ecosystem and Species

Knowing about the Prophet with Certainty

Discussion Question

Lying against Their Own Selves

Discussion Question

Ecosystem and Species

Discussion Question

Appreciating the Scriptures Revealed by God

Discussion Question

7. Doing the evil and blaming others?

Doing the evil and blaming others?

Discussion Questions

8. Uniting the Hearts

Uniting the Hearts

Discussion Question

9. Trade

Trade

Commentary

Discussion Question

Categories

Discussion Question

10. Are you going to force people to believe?

Are you going to force people to believe?

 Discussion Questions

Alternation of Night and Day

Discussion Question

11. Continuous Struggle

Continuous Struggle

Discussion Questions

12. Language of the Revelation

Language of the Revelation

Discussion Question

The Best Story

Commentary

Discussion Question

13. Moving the Mountains, Cracking the Earth, and Speaking with the Death

Moving the Mountains, Cracking the Earth, and Talking with Death

Discussion Questions

14. A Nice Word and a Nice Tree

A Simple Good Word and a Nice, Strong Tree

Discussion Questions

15. Upgraded and Downgraded

I Wish

Discussion Question

Upgraded and Downgraded

Commentary

Discussion Question

16. Bee

Milk, Blood, and Excretion Bee

Commentary

Discussion Questions

Things Other Than God

Discussion Question

Two gods?

Commentary

Discussion Question

Ethical Behavior

Discussion Questions

17. Beautiful Names of God

Doing Good

Discussion Question

Calling Evil as Good

Discussion Question

The Levels of People

Discussion Questions

Chanting and Glorification of God by All the Beings

Discussion Question

The Character of the Person

Discussion Question

Challenge to All Creation about the Quran

Discussion Questions

What prevents a person from believing and accepting?

Discussion Questions

The Beautiful Names of God

Discussion Questions

18. Appreciating the Book

Appreciation for the Book

Discussion Questions

19. Do you hear anything from death?

Talking of Baby Jesus in the Cradle

Commentary

Discussion Questions

Do you hear anything from death?

Discussion Question

20. Is the Quran for difficulty?

Taha

Discussion Questions

21. The Manual of a Person

The Manual of a Person

Discussion Question

22. Creation Process

Creation Process

Discussion Questions

23. The Purpose

Purpose

Discussion Question

Power struggle?

Commentary

Discussion Question

24. Walking on Belly and Feet

Walking on Belly and Feet

Discussion Question

25. Shadow and Change

Shadow and Change

Commentary

Discussion Questions

Arrogance or prostration as a sign of respect?

Commentary

Discussion Question

26. The Poets and Magicians

The Poets and Magicians

Discussion Questions

The Poets and Magicians

Commentary

Discussion Questions

27. God from the Bird’s Eye

God from the Bird’s Eye

Commentary

Discussion Questions

28. Choice of the Religion and Fear of Losing the Wealth

Choosing a Religion and Fear of Losing the Wealth

Discussion Questions

29. Struggle

Trials and Struggle

Commentary

Discussion Question

Struggle

Discussion Questions

Experts of the Disciplines and Understanding the Quran

Discussion Questions

30. Calmness with Your Spouse

Calmness with Your Spouse

Discussion Question

Effect of Human’s Mischief on Land and Sea

Commentary

Discussion Question

Cycle of Weakness and Strength in a Person’s Life

Discussion Question

31. Child Education

Child Education

Commentary

Discussion Question

Self-Accountability

Discussion Questions

32. The Disputes and the Day of Judgment

The Disputes and the Day of Judgment

Discussion Questions

33. Abuse of the Wife

Two Things in One Heart or Two Hearts in One Person

Commentary

Discussion Question

Differentiating the Role of Wife and Mother

Commentary

Discussion Questions

34. Truth and Attitude

Truth and Attitude

Commentary

Discussion Questions

35. The Evil and its Outcome

Commentary

Discussion Questions

36. Embryo and the Enemy

Embryo and the Enemy

Commentary

Discussion Question

37. Removing the Misunderstandings about God

Removing the Misunderstandings about God

Commentary

Discussion Question

38. Satan and His Mission

Critical Thinking on the Quran

Discussion Question

Satan’s Judgment of His Value

Discussion Question

Satan’s Permission Request from God

Commentary

Discussion Question

39. Opening the Chest and Heart

The Chest

Commentary

Discussion Questions

True Appreciation of the Divine

Commentary

Discussion Question

40. Proving their superiority by argument?

Discussion Questions

41. Straight Path and Consistency

Straight Path and Consistency

Discussion Questions

Humility

Discussion Question

Language of the Scripture

Discussion Question

42. How God Communicates with Humans

How God Communicates with Humans

Discussion Questions

43. Angels and Speculations

Angels and Speculations

Commentary

Discussion Question

44. Signs before the Termination of the Earth

Signs before the Termination of the Earth

Commentary

Discussion Question

45. Accountability

Accountability

Commentary

Discussion Question

46. The Mother, the Father, and the Child

The Mother, the Father, and the Child

Commentary

Discussion Questions

47. Know That There Is No Deity except God

Know That There Is No Deity except Allah

Discussion Questions

48. Tranquility and Calmness on the Heart

Tranquility and Calmness on the Heart

Discussion Question

49. Social and Ethnic Classifications

Social and Ethnic Classifications

Commentary

Discussion Question

50. Escape from Death

Closer than Jugular Veins

Discussion Question

The Intoxication of Death

Discussion Question

51. Escape to God

Escape to God

Commentary

Discussion Question

Benefit of Advice

Discussion Question

52. God as the Just and the Merciful in Accountability

Discussion Question

53. Following a Fantasy

The Star

Commentary

Discussion Question

Following a Fantasy

Discussion Question

54. The Easy Quran

The Easy Quran

Commentary

Discussion Questions

55. Which favors of your Merciful, Nourishing, and Caring God will you deny?

Which favors of your Lord will you deny?

Commentary

Discussion Questions

Sun and Moon by Precise Calculation

Discussion Questions

56. Coordinates of Stars in the Universe

Drinking Pure Wine

Commentary

Discussion Questions

Coordinates of Stars in the Universe

Commentary

Discussion Question

57. Hardened Hearts and Remembrance of God

Hardened Hearts and Remembrance of God

Commentary

Discussion Questions

58. Secret Conversations

Secret Conversations

Discussion Question

59. Self and God

Self and God

Discussion Question

60. Enemies Becoming Friends

Enemies Becoming Friends

Discussion Questions

61. Advising What You Don’t Practice

Advising What You Don’t Practice

Discussion Question

62. Run Away from Death

Discussion Question

63. Not Worshipping God Due to Being Busy

Not Worshipping God Due to Being Busy

Discussion Questions

64. As Much as You Can

As Much as You Can

Discussion Questions

65. Financial Concerns in Divorce

Financial Concerns in Divorce

Commentary

Discussion Question

66. Two Model Women: Virgin Mary and the Wife of Pharaoh

The Wife of Pharaoh

Commentary

Discussion Question

Virgin Mary

Discussion Question

67. Birds

Birds

Discussion Question

68. Grasping with the Eyes

Commentary

Discussion Question

69. Very Little Thinking, Reflection, and Belief

Very Little

Discussion Question

And for Sure

Discussion Questions

70. Elevators and Paths

Elevators and Paths

Commentary

Discussion Question

71. My House

My House

Commentary

Discussion Questions

72. The unseen beings and the humans, dare to lie against God?

The unseen beings and the humans, dare to lie against God?

Discussion Questions

73. Importance of Nights Compared to Daytime

Importance of Nights Compared to Daytime

Commentary

Discussion Question

74. Clean Dress, Clean Body, and Clean Heart

Clean Dress, Clean Body, and Clean Heart

Discussion Question

75. Fingerprints

Fingerprints

Commentary

Discussion Question

Self-Awareness

Discussion Question

76. The Human Being

The Human Being

Discussion Questions

77. Embarrassment and Denying the Truth

Embarrassment and Denying the Truth

Commentary

Discussion Question

Which word after this Quran?

Discussion Question

78. The Great Event

The Great Event

Commentary

Discussion Question

79. Extractors

(Soul) Extractors

Discussion Question

80. Preference in Teaching

Discussion Question

81. Wrapping up the Sun

Wrapping up the Sun

Discussion Question

82. Deception

Deception

Discussion Questions

83. Cheating

Discussion Question

84. Earth, Sky, and Their Relationship with God

Earth and Sky and Their Relationship with God

Discussion Question

85. Love of God

Love of God

Discussion Question

86. Human Fertilization and Implantation

Human Fertilization and Implantation

Discussion Questions

87. Purification of the Heart and Success

Purification of the Heart and Success

Discussion Questions

88. Reminder

Discussion Questions

89. The Happy Self

The Satisfied and Happy Self

Commentary

Discussion Question

90. Two Eyes, Two Ears, and One Tongue

Two Eyes, Two Ears, and One Tongue

Discussion Question

91. Success and Failure of the Self and Animal Rights

Success and Failure of the Self

Discussion Question

Right of an Animal

Commentary

Discussion Questions

92. The Night

The Night

Discussion Questions

93. What Is after Will Be Better

What Is after Will Be Bette

Discussion Questions

94. Open Chest

Open Chest

Commentary

Discussion Questions
95. Perfection in Human’s Creation

Perfection in Human’s Creation

Commentary

Discussion Questions

96. Read, think, and learn!

Read, think, and learn!

Commentary

Discussion Questions

97. The Night of Power

The Night of Power

Commentary

Discussion Questions

98. What is the correct and true religion for Christians and Jews?

What is the correct and true religion for Christians and Jews?

Discussion Questions

99. Atom’s Weight of Good or Evil

Atom’s Weight of Good or Evil

Discussion Question

100. Self-Witnessing the Ungratefulness

Self-Witnessing the Ungratefulness.

Discussion Question

101. Mercy and Justice of God

Discussion Question

102. Knowing with Certainty

Discussion Questions

103. Importance of Time

Importance of Time

Discussion Questions

104. Slanderer and the Mean Person

Slanderer and the Mean Person

Discussion Question

105. Holy Sites and Invalidation of the Evil Plans by God

Discussion Questions

106. Holy Sites and Safety

Holy Sites and Safety

Discussion Questions

107. Being Mindful in Chants and Prayers

Being Mindful in Chants and Prayers

Discussion Questions

108. The River and Expiration

Discussion Questions

109. Dialogue, Tolerance, and Acceptance

Dialogue, Tolerance, Acceptance

Commentary

Discussion Question

110. Victory and Humbleness

Victory and Humbleness

Commentary

Discussion Question

111. Plot and Evil

Plotting and Evil

Commentary

Discussion Questions

112. Who is God?

Chapter of Sincerity and Unity

Commentary

Discussion Questions

113. Day

Day

Discussion Questions

114. Full Protection

Full Protection

Discussion Questions

Appendix: Perils of Translation: Text and Behavior “A Common Word among Us” in the Quran [3:64]

Preferred Methodology of Translation

Introduction

Translation Theories and the Quran

Common Word

Previous Translations and Their Glitches

Quranic Pragmatic Strategy

Review and Analysis of the Exegetical Meanings

The Core: Kalimah—A Word

Possibilities in Genres Reflected in Translations

Concluding Remarks for the Preferred Methodology of Translation

Bibliography

Glossary

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Index