Sometimes the text of the Koran is translated in such a way as to cover up what it really says. One place that jumped out to me was this statement about King David,
“So we forgave him that his sin; and truly he shall have a high rank with Us, and an excellent retreat in Paradise.” Surah 38, “Sad,” verse 25
That is the Rodwell version. The Muslim version says that David will have a “happy journey’s end.” This is a bit different from the one translated by the Englishman. Why? Obviously I can’t see into the heart of the translators but it seems pretty obvious that for a Muslim to admit that David went to Paradise would cause some obvious problems. You see, David was a Jew. Jews can’t go to Paradise. Thus you need to translate in such a way as to convey what you want to convey, not what it says.
All Koran quotes are from the translation by Rev. J.M. Rodwell, M.A. provided by the Gutenberg Project.
homo unius libri
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.