How Some Traditional Translations Mislead

The Qur'an calls for critical thinking.

Let's see how some traditional translations mislead Muslims, using 98:6 as an example.

Remember that the Qur'an asks us to think about what we're reading (tadabbur), so let's think about this...

“Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikoon will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures” Quran 98:6

As you can see from the graphic below, the words in brackets are not in the original Arabic, they were added to the translation as a purported "explanation" of who the disbelievers are.

When someone reads this translation, he assumes the translation is correct and doesn't have to think "who does the Qur'an mean by disbelievers?" and "who are the people of the Scripture?"

But what does the translation tell you?

Those who disbelieve in Islam, the Quran and Prophet Muhammad from among the Jews and Christians, will abide in the fire. On top of that, this translation leads Muslims to believe Christians and Jews are "the worst of creatures".

REALLY? Is this really correct? Why should Jews and Christians believe in Islam and the Qur'an? Wouldn't that make them Muslims?

SO. WHAT IF the explanations were not there?

"Verily, those who disbelieve from among the people of the Scripture, and Al-Mushrikoon will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures” Quran 98:6

Now it's a lot simpler — there are People of the Scripture, and there are people among them who disbelieve. And those disbelievers and the mushriks are the worst of creatures, not Jews and Christians.

Clearly, the traditional translation is misleading.

Only one question then remains, "who are People of the Scripture" and you have to look to the Qur'an for the answer (since it provides all the explanations), and it's not "Jews and Christians", which is the second misleading parentheses in the traditional translation.

People of the Book (or Scripture, also People of the Reminder) have been sent the message from God - via their respective messengers - including the one sent through Muhammad, as this verse tells us

Say, “We believe in God and what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abram, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We do not distinguish between any of them, and we submit to Him.” Qur'an 2:136

To reiterate, the Qur'an tells us the same message was sent to all communities (10:47) speaking in their own language (14:4), some which were mentioned in the Qur'an, and some which were not (4:163-164, 40:78). Essentially, the Qur'an is telling us all of humanity are actually People of the Book.

Now you have a better perspective of that verse - disbelievers are simply people who disbelieve in the message sent to them and will abide in hell.

The other group mentioned in the verse are the Al-Mushrikoon. Who and what are they? The common translation of this word is idol-worshipper, or polytheist - but that's another misleading translation. Mushrikoon are thoise who associate God with someone (or something, or some place, time, anything). Read more.

I make no claim that this is definitive - this is my understanding after thinking about it. You should do your own thinking, too, instead of swallowing whatever translation or interpretation is given to you...

Allah knows best, and He has given us the criterion to judge between right and wrong.