December 1986: Page 1, 2, 3

Masjid Tucson

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In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Muslim Perspective

Monthly Bulletin of United Submitters International ***

Proclaiming the only religion acceptable to God

December 1986

[No 23]

Rabi 1407

Editor: Rashad Khalifa, Ph.D.

Announcing A Historical First:

Participate in authoring the Qur’an’s new official, God-authorized, English Version

THE BEST WAY EVER TO STUDY QUR’AN

 

Preparations are under way for a new English translation of Qur’an, and the signs are already abundant that it is going to be a historical event. For example, if you look in my first translation you will see that Verse 9 of Sura 2 indicates that the hypocrites attempt to deceive God and the believers. This is wrong. While preparing the new translation, backed by the wealth of experience, feedback and education gained from the first translation, it became evident that the hypocrites are not trying to deceive anybody; they simply are unaware that they do not believe. The Arabic word Yukhaadi’oon does not mean “attempting to deceive.” Hence, the new translation is:

2:8  Then there are those who say, “We believe in God and the Last Day,” while they are not really believers.

2:9  In doing this, they do not deceive God and the believers; they only deceive themselves without being aware.

See the difference? These people actually, and sincerely,

believe that they are true believers. This, of course, is confirmed by Verse 22 of Sura 6, where the idol worshipers, even face to face with the Almighty God, will swear by God that they were not idolaters.

To participate in this historic project, the only qualification you need is to be a true Muslim: one who upholds Qur’an, the whole Qur’an and nothing but Qur’an. Let me assure you that only those worthy of this divinely guided project will be able to participate.

No one is going to screen the potential participants. God is the only one who knows the innermost convictions, and He alone knows who is worthy of participating.

 You do not need to know Arabic (see the ONLY qualification above). Let me give you a perfect example of not needing Arabic to participate. I mailed the first few pages of the new translation to Sister Soussan Rey of Monte Carlo. She phoned back and said that Verse 6 of Al Faatihah should be changed from

“Guide us in the right path” to “Guide us in the straight path.” She convinced me immediately by saying that there are Christians and Jews who are on the right path (see Qur’an 3:113-114 for example), but they are not on the “straight” path. Because Islam did not lose the basic duties of worship such as the contact prayer (Salat) (see 19:59), the true Muslims are on the shortest, fastest and most efficient path to God, the straight path. Since I agreed to incorporate Soussan’s excellent suggestion, I have to give her credit. This led to the idea that all believers can contribute if given the chance. It didn’t take me long to see that this is the way God has willed it. So I am asking all the believers out there to help me with the translation.

If you are fortunate enough to participate, God will teach you the Qur’an in accordance with His word in 55:2; in the best manner ever. Your name will be immortalized as a contributor to this God-authorized English version of God’s message to the world.

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