SEX AND QURAN BY MR AWAIS DURRANI

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Regarding Quran Translations by MR. AWAIS DURRANI

Quran can't be translated word by word but only through paraphrasing ---Some of the Quranic terms have special significance & it is not just possible to translate them not only in other languages but even in Arabic .The exclusively Quranic terms like Allah,Deen,Hamd,Kafir,Momin,Mushrik,Nabi ,Rahman,Raheem,Rasool,Salat,Zakat ,Sabr,Shukr ,Riba ,Saum ,Zikr ,Taqdeer etc can't be translated even in Arabic in one word ,as had been done by almost all the translators ,would only convey Biblical or conventional concepts which in many cases is contrary & far away from the concepts of the Quran.Arabic language is the richest language in the word . Just take one example ,Quran has used three different words while describing various stages of creation of the universe ,Khalaqa,Fatara,Bada'a while in English there is only one word--created which fails to express these stages .In general it is very difficult to translate a piece of literature & art from one language to another ;particularly Quranic terms ,The Quran retaining its force, beauty ,force,seriousness,& grandeur ,it is not just translatable .A language coins particular words according to the traditions of its people,culture,concepts & values ;so how could it be possible for English ,or for that matter ,any other language to give one word for a concept which did not exist in their culture ? So the necessity of retaining these words in Arabic & adding a Glossary of these terms is of paramount importance & must be kept in view .Quran can't be translated but its exposition can rendered paraphrase tically .It is worth-mentioning that our efforts are serious & honest to convey the pristine concepts .The original Arabic text of WAHI ,however is eternal & its interpretations during any span of time can't be taken as the last word,which shall to be left to the last man on this earth.As the Quran says -41/53--" The Truth of his Guidance shall ever continue to manifest itself in the outer space & within the human psyche till it is finally established .The reflection of any human error therefore ,should in no case be attributed to Allah's message Quran has been declared as His last message to mankind.As such it should embody a complete code of life & permanent values, which remain unalterable even with the passage of time & give guidance to all the problems which mankind would face for all times to come.This message should obviously be in such a language which,on the other hand,should be simple,clear,unambiguous & definite & on the other all-comprehensive ,deep, dignified & consciously superior .To meet this challenge & all the requirements ,Arabic seems to be the only language in the world having these unique characteristics .There appeared no rasool in Arabia in between the time of Ishmael & Muhammad the exalted .It seems that during all this time of three thousands years ,the arabs remained busy in enriching their language so that it should be capable of containing the last message of Almighty .Just imaginee that in Arabic language there are 80 different words for honey ,200 for snake,500 for the lion ,1000 for the sword & 5744 for the camel -(ref;- Cosmic Consciousness by Richard Mauvice Bucke ) So when Arab used he a particular word for camel ,the listener would know its age ,colour & all the numerous qualities.This was the language in which Quran was revealed neither poetry nor prose but with altogether a unique style ,its own rhythm ,with rare beauty & grandeur .It is sublime ! to translate such a language into another retaining its spirit ,its beauty,its force,seriousness depth & grandeur is just impossible.One may still make an attempt ,if it is only a piece of art or literature ,but when it contains a charter of human rights ,a book of universal constitution ,one has to be very very careful.As mentioned earlier that a language coins particular words according to its traditions ,culture, concepts ,& values ;so how it could be possible for English or for that matter any other language to give one word for a concept which did not exist in their culture?This difficulty is apparent when one reads Persian & Urdu translations-which per force ,retain original Quranic words viz Kafir,Momin, etc All these words existed in arabic language before the advent of islam,so the actual meanings of these terms were known to them,therefore the actual & specific concepts of all such terms must be known to the reader & their simple translation in English ,would either give Biblical meanings or negate the very spirit of the message .

"CHASTITY" BY MR. AWAIS DURRANI

CHASTITY is declared a Cardinal & Central virtue by Quran - Chastity is regarded as central virtue & as such helps forward the mental & moral progress of man..Chastity is essential for moral purity & mental health.The Freudian theory of sex has wrongly encouraged men that sexual abstinence is harmful to mental health.It is supposed to be fruitful cause of neurotic troubles .Those with this view are doing an injustice to Freud .He himself did not defend licentiousness .It is not sexual abstinence but repressed sexuality that produces neurotic disorders.This is what Freud actually taught.Some medical men with superficial knowledge of the psychoanalytic doctrine ,actually advise their neurotic patients to overcome their sexual inhibitions & let themselves " go" no wonder that the patients sometimes get worse instead of getting better.Because of a constitutional bias the neurotics are obsessed with sex & also proven to repression .Sexual abstinence does not appreciable harm to normal men.Rather, abstinence is conducive to mental health..What a man is to do if circumstances do not permit him to marry ?The Quran advises him to guard his chastity & to abstain from gratifying his sex appitite till it is possible for him to get a suitable mate.(24/32) " And let those who can't find a match keep chaste till Allah enriches them by His grace."The drives off hunger & thirst are imperative & must be satisfied under any circumstances .The satisfaction of sex drive ,however,can safely be postponed for a fairly long period or even for ever .Unlike the drives of hunger & thirst ,sex appetite never rouses itself ;it is excitable by conscious volition.The point needs further elaboration .A man even when busy & deeply absorbed in his work ,will feel thirstily when his system needs water,irrespective of the fact whether he is conscious about the need or not.At first the feeling would be mild ,but as time passes ,it will become unbearable so much so that he will have to leave aside his work & attend to it if he wishes to survive.The same will hold good in the case of food.But the sex urge is quite different .It never becomes a compelling drive on its own unless it receives a stimulus ,mental or physical. The most exciting factor is the thought of sex itself which has to be held in check.That is why chastity is not a psychological ouran by emphasising the importance of chastity also helps to solve population problem. Chastity is not only in extramarital relationship but even a married couple should turn towards the sex urge only when they are ready to welcome an addition to the family..This ideal will benefit both the body & the human self alike; & also make a sensible check on the growth of population.Today, with the current state of morals ,this may seem a counsel of perfection .It is so only because the pursuit of pleasure is the dominant aim .Self-indulgence has dimmed the vision of the purpose of life which is to befit oneself for for a higher plane of existence .The Quranic advice is meant for those who are alive to the demands of this purpose.It is not just a pious advice.The Quran gives it a practical shape .The first thing is to cultivate the right attitude towards sex .The way to do this is to to bear in mind that the purpose of sexual activity is procreation & not mere pleasure.I will exercise a moderating influence on passion & will engender a sense of responsibility in us.Knowledge of the possible consequences of our intended action will restrain us from acting thoutlessly & so assuming duties which we can't properly discharge.In animals,the sex impulses are controlled by nature & the sex drive arises only when nature wishes to bring about conception.Animals,therefore,can't rear a planned family.man ,on the other hand ,has freedom of choice including sexual matters,so that he may bring children into the world according to his own plans, . he, may however,abuse his choice & indulge in sex for the sake of pleasure,which results in accidental & unwanted births with all the mis- adjustments that follow for the individual & as well as for the society.To save man from such a ruinous situation & to bring about ,instead,healthy results ,the Quran asks us to practice self-control.If this control is practised ,the sex impulse can be directed into healthy channels .Needless to say that it will prove to be beneficial to the individual as well as to to the society at large.It will strengthen the moral fibre of man & at the same time ,avert the danger of overpopulation.To sum up ,the Quran seeks to regulate the sex behaviour of man in the following ways; 1) Keep the eyes steadily on the purpose of life .It assures him that he can achieve this purpose through absolute values. 2) It ensures woman that you are not a tool for the sex gratification of man ;that she too is a free,independent & rational being.She is an end unto herself.Her aim in life should not be to make herself a source of temptation to men but to impart a meaningful partnership. 3) The Quran condemns lewdness ,indecency ,pornography & all things that excite & ponder to the sex passion.(7/33) ---4) It affirms the value of chastity & commands men & women equally to lead a pure & chaste life.Chastity is of top top priority. 5) It reminds man of his duty to children to bring them up properly ,to educate them ,to inculcate in their minds human values with a fair start in life. Some modern philosophers,after an extensive study of the sex life of primitive as well as civilised men ,have come to the conclusions that chastity is essential to the progress of humanity.JD Unwin of Cambridge University ,has studied the sex life of some eighty tribes & of sixteen civilised nations.In the preface of his book "SEX & CULTURE" he writes : " My final conclusion is that the cultural behaviour of any human society depends,first,on the inherent nature of the human organism & secondly,on the state of energy into which ,as the result of its sexual regulations ,the society has arrived.The conclusion from primitive tribes is as follows; 1) That group was on the lowest level of culture in which sexual intercourse without marriage was openly permitted. 2) the tribe in which there were some restrictions on sex without marriage ,were on the middle level .3) on the highest level were the tribes which insisted on premarital chastity. He sums up " I submit therefore ,that the limitations of the sexual opportunities must be regarded as the cause of the cultural advance.No society can display social energy unless a new generation inherits a social system under which sexualopportunity is reduced to a minimum.If such a system be preserved ,a richer & yet richer tradition will be created ,refined by human entropy . His concluding remarks needs your attention ," If a vigorous society wishes to display its productive energy for a long time ,& even for ever ,it must recreate itself ,I think, first by by placing the sexes on a level of complete legal equality & then by altering his economic & social organisations in such a way as to render it both possible & tolerable or sexual opportunity to remain at a minimum for an extended period & even for ever .In such a case te face of the society will be set in the Direction of the Cultural Process; its inherited tradition would continually be enriched ,it would achieve a higher culture than has yet been attained ;by the action of human entropy its tradition would be augmented & refined in a manner which surpasses our present understanding " The Quran by granting to woman the status of a free responsible citizen ,by placing the sexes on the level of complete legal equality & by reducing sexual opportunity to the minimum ,is only seeking to set up the conditions which find support from human research.