To dhimmi no more: Your help needed again

Submitted by Plato (United Arab Emirates), May 25, 2007 at 00:18

Hello again dhimmi,

I need your comments once more. In the three translations of 17:16 I notice that only Pikthal's version clearly says that Allah sends a commandment to the town he wishes to destroy to commit abomination. The other two translations seem to have obfuscated it. Which one is the more correct version?

Similarly in 8:67 Pikthal has Allah wanting Mohammed to slaughter before taking prisoners. The other two seem to have worked around the word slaughter. I remember reading in Ibn Hisham (Ibn Ishaaq) slaughter in the translation by Guillaume.

Thanks again

Plato

YUSUFALI: When We decide to destroy a population, We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly.
PICKTHAL: And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation.
SHAKIR: And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.

YUSUFALI: It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.
PICKTHAL: It is not for any prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
SHAKIR: It is not fit for a prophet that he should take captives unless he has fought and triumphed in the land; you desire the frail goods of this world, while Allah desires (for you) the hereafter; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

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