How can people be so stupid that they believe that arabic can't be translated?

Question

do brainwashed people believe that arabic can't be translated?

Answer 1

It won't be the same.

I don't speak Arabic, but I'll give an example from Chinese. In English, you say "I went again" and "I'll go again". 'Again' remains the same word. But in Chinese, you say 'I went GUO" and "I'll go ZAI" (ie. wo qu guo / wo zai qu). When these two Chinese words are translated to one word in English, it now has half the meaning of its true original Chinese word. When I hear 'guo' I immediately know it's something that happened several times in the past and has nothing to do with the future; when I hear 'zai' I know it's something that will happen again but hasn't happened yet. When each word of the quran can carry a special meaning, the chance for misunderstanding is huge. Eg. imagine if people fell into dispute over whether there's a verse referring to a future prophesy or if it's just an example of what happened in the past. It can completely change the meaning around.

I'll give a simple example from arabic: hajj. In English, the closest equivalent is 'pilgrimage', but going on umrah would also be 'pilgrimage'. The English translation doesn't carry the true meaning of the Arabic word.

People think the central teaching of Buddhism is about 'suffering'. This is translated from the word 'dhukkha'. But dhukkha doesn't mean suffering; it doesn't mean unsatisfactoriness either; there's no English equivalent. So when this essential term of Buddhism is translated, people mistakenly think it's a cynical religion. Dhukkha is just dhukkha!

Multi-lingual people are well-aware of the problems of translation from one language to another.

Answer 2

Yes/no.  

Here is an english example.   When i go to the reastaurant, i'll say....can i see the menu.

I've said that same phrase somewhere else, and the waitress looked baffled.   Replied...do you mean you would like to read over the menu?

Sometimes the arabic word has a contextual meaning......but translating it literally loses the meaning.....using a more appropriate english word is used, but then its not a translation by definition.  

Answer 3

Of course it can.

But sometimes it can't

The Qur'an can never be understood fully, unless you understand Arabic.

I'll give you a beautiful translated verse.

"And the earth, moreover, hath He made in the shape of an ostrich egg" 79:30

1400 years ago.

It would have been amazing enough if it had just said 'round'.

But the Earth is not 'round' like a ball, but flattened at the poles.

The geo-spherical shape of an ostrich egg.

Subhan Allah.

And may He guide you brother.

Edit:

If the people you are referring to speak arabic

and you don't...

then I think they know better than you if it can be translated or not.

Answer 4

Arabic can be translated of cours , they just use it like an exuse

Arabic is 8 times larger than english , that's why they have no idea about Arabic.

SALAM

Answer 5

No one believes that. It is just an excuse used when one has no answer or else when one wishes not to answer. It's like saying "No speaky English" when you get pulled over. Anything bad in Islam is a "mistranslation"...the real meaning is always much nicer I am told.

Answer 6

lol look whos brainwashed...

Answer 7

Of course it can be translated.  ALL languages lose a little something in the translation.  Arabic is not special.  

Answer 8

Arabic text from Quran is infinate meaning..... english is a pathetic language compaired to Al Quran.

The word Sabr you can spend you entire life telling someone the meaning of it....

but in Arabic its just SABR!

I suggest you think again! Each word bridges to the next and words in between.. for those who can see WE have seen it US! YES and I see it clearer and clearer everyday! Al hamdoullah Rub Alameen those of the book are protected by the book, for he protects the book! If your with the book you are with him!

Answer 9

The Qur'ãn in the reavealed original Arabic language has no equal!

Only reciting the Qur'ãn in the original form of Arabic is praising beauty and flowing melody of the heart!

Arabic is still retained when giving the Azaan, performing Salaat, Hafiz reciters, reading at qabrastaan, etc...

(The subject is beyond your intellectual capacities!!!???)

Answer 10

Any translation is an interpretation.

For example, translate this "He threw a Molatov Cocktail"

It could be a makeshift bomb or a Russian diplomat's drink.

Answer 11

The Quranic Arabic is Sufah(highest literature). It has many deep contations. The language itself is so rich on concepts which is the true depth of language when concepts can be described through words. The word SABR in arabic has 800 meaning. The word patience to it never comes close. When Allah uses it with adjective Jamil (Sabr-e- Jamil....Chapter 12 Al yousuf) it acquire a deeper meaning on acceptance with grace at the loss of dearest one. In concept description other language which is developed is Sanskirit but for Sun it has only four words where in Arabic it has 1200 such words to describe sun in various stages.   Beside reading Quran in Arabic is for many other reasons than translations alone

Answer 12

Arabic CAN be translated but cannot be read backwards, and it is the only language that can't be read backwards. I wish i knew arabic and learn and understand quran w/o translatin it. Though Arabs have no idea what a blessing they have from Allah which they don't use it!