Verses 2:16-18

Index · **Joined:** 08 May 2009, 14:16 **Posts:** 1994

Suggested translation^1,2:

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¹This translation may have been updated from the original suggested translation as a result of the discussions that follow.
²Click on the {verse number} of a translation to see other good translations of the verse.

Poetic · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2009, 12:00 **Posts:** 16

{2:16} They're the ones who bought misguidance with guidance, therefore their trade brought them no profit, and they were never guided.
{2:17} Their example's like the one who lit a fire, but when he was surrounded by light, God retook their light away, and left them blind in darknesses.
{2:18} Deaf and mute and blind are they, therefore they will not return.

Linguistic · **Posted:** 08 Jul 2009, 17:24

Poetic wrote:

{2:16} They're the ones who bought misguidance with guidance, therefore their trade brought them no profit, and they were never guided.

Excellent translation! I like the fact that you used "trade" to translate تجارة and that you caught the meaning of وماكانوا when you translated it to "they were never."

Quote:

{2:17} Their example's like the one who lit a fire, but when he was surrounded by light, God retook their light away, and left them blind in darknesses.

I'd say "left them in darkness unable to see." "Blind" is not mentioned in this verse but in the following one. Also, I'd say, "but when it lighted up his surroundings..."

Poetic · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2009, 12:00 **Posts:** 16

Noted and agreed. Please also note "darknesses" as plural (recall the verses of the one light = Allah and the many darknesses for those who cover the truth: ظلمات بعضها فوق بعض إذا أخرج يده لم يكد يراها).

Linguistic · **Posted:** 11 Jul 2009, 03:02

Poetic wrote:

Noted and agreed. Please also note "darknesses" as plural (recall the verses of the one light = Allah and the many darknesses for those who cover the truth: ظلمات بعضها فوق بعض إذا أخرج يده لم يكد يراها).

True. However, my understanding is that "darkness" is an uncountable noun, i.e., it has no plural in English. What's interesting is that the Quran never once mentioned the singular, ظلمة.

I think, however, that in today's English, making a plural of an uncountable noun is tolerated, so I'll probably use "darknesses" to translate ظلمات like you suggested.

Linguistic · **Posted:** 27 Feb 2010, 19:51

{2:16} They are the ones who bought misguidance with guidance, therefore their trade did not profit, and they were never guided.

{2:17} Their example is like the one who lit a fire, but when he was surrounded by light, God retook their light away, and left them in darknesses unable to see.

{2:18} Deaf, mute, blind. Therefore, they do not return.

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Verses 2:16-18

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