There are different versions of the Qur’an openly on sale in the Islamic world (the Hafs, Warsh, Qalun and al-Duri versions).
Different parts of the Muslim world have chosen one of them as the most popular and, in general, have chosen to shun the other three. They contain marked differences, to the point of sometimes even changing the objects of verbs. Admittedly the differences are mostly on a linguistic rather than a theological level. This does not, however, change the fact that different Qur’anic textual traditions survive into the present day. Even more troubling, from the Muslim perspective, are the Qur’an’s circulated by some Shi’a groups that contain two extra chapters (Suras). Some Shi’a scholars allege that these chapters (known as Sura al-Nurayn and Sura al-Wilaya) were left out of the Qur’an during Uthman’s standardization of the text of the Qur’an. The very existence of these Suras, once again, casts doubt on the firm Muslim belief in a ‘Perfect Qur’an, Perfectly Transmitted.
’It should be clear, on the basis of the material presented above, that far from being ‘never changed, never altered’, the textual history of the Qur’an is a morass of confusion. Therefore, this claim can only be made on the basis of belief, not in response to the available evidence.
Comment: The same is true of the Bible. Versions differ in important matters. E.g. John 1:1 is ambiguous about the Trinity. Jehovah’s Witnesses have a very good case based on the original Greek. Greek either used capitals (in inscriptions) or minuscules (in manuscripts) but not both in the same texts. Capitalization has serious consequences for the development of languages. Compare German “Da ist der Hans!” to Dutch “Daar hebben we (onze) Hans!”. Dutch doesn’t capitalize common nouns, only proper nouns. German capitalizes both, so German needs the definite article to get the same effect as capitalization. However, Dutch has to take the next step, and uses possessive adjectives, where German can do with the definite article. Arabic still doesn’t have capitals, so uses the definite article: “Allah” = “al-ilah” = “God”.
Or, Matthew 5:43-44:
Vulgate: 43 audistis quia dictum est diliges proximum tuum et odio habebis inimicum tuum 44 ego autem dico vobis diligite inimicos vestros benefacite his qui oderunt vos et orate pro persequentibus et calumniantibus vos 45 ut sitis filii Patris vestri qui in caelis est qui solem suum oriri facit super bonos et malos et pluit super iustos et iniustos
King James Version: 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Statenbijbel: 43 Gij hebt gehoord, dat er gezegd is: Gij zult uw naaste liefhebben, en uw vijand zult gij haten.
44 Maar Ik zeg u: Hebt uw vijanden lief; zegent ze, die u vervloeken; doet wel dengenen, die u haten; en bidt voor degenen, die u geweld doen, en die u vervolgen;
45 Opdat gij moogt kinderen zijn uws Vaders, Die in de hemelen is; want Hij doet Zijn zon opgaan over bozen en goeden, en regent over rechtvaardigen en onrechtvaardigen.
Many people argue that Latin inimicus translates to English personal enemy and Dutch persoonlijke vijand. Or the other way around, English enemy and Dutch vijand translate to Latin inimicus vel hostis. After all, Dutch and English do have adjectives, and Latin does have conjunctions, so why doesn’t the translator use them?!!
And if we read the context, how God provides for evil people as well, this suggests that no action against whomever can be taken at all!
These are only two examples how translators muck up the text. Why still trust translations? Learn Latin, Greek and/or Hebrew, or don’t bother me with any form of Christianity; Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses included. Hell is eternal, hell is eternal, hell is eternal.
oogenhand 