Ahmed Deedat was a Muslim "Scholar". In his booklet entitled: "Is the Bible God's Word?" Deedat catalogues certain allegations upon the Bible, most of which in fact being hurled at it since several centuries passed, were satisfactorily answered by several apologists of old. But Deedat shows his poor scholarship throughout the booklet, resorting to those archaic and slanderous arguments, to substantiate his position against the Bible. G Bibu, a lawyer, looks at the charges made by Deedat and refutes them convincingly-Continuation of chapter 3.
Continuation of Chapter 3
Introducing Own Words in Translation
You would note that Yusuf Ali-
(1) Introduces the word Trinity in translation that to give an impression that Muhammad (or Allah) was knowledgeable of the Christian doctrine as Christians often criticizes that author of Quran does not even know what the Biblical Trinity is.
(2) Changes is to was in regard to the Gospel as Christian often point out Quran testifies that the Gospel that the Christians had at the time of Muhammad is reliable and authentic. If so, it is the same Gospel that is with Christians even now. So to avoid the obvious confession of Quran which exposes every Muslim, Yusuf Ali conveniently translates is to was.
(3) Adds a new sentence to give an impression that the Book (the Bible) is unnecessary today which Quran does not say. The following text for this subtopic is taken from http://www.answering-islam.org/Quran/Versions/ali.html
1. In Surah 5:73 we read
| Pickthall | Yusuf Ali | Shakir |
| They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no Allah save the One Allah. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve. | They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. | Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three; and there is no god but the one Allah, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve. |
Can you see the phrase "in a Trinity" in Yusuf Ali's translation of Surah 5:73? It is not in the Arabic text, neither did he put it in parentheses in his translation to indicate the interpolation. Neither is the word for "trinity" found in 4:171. This is a anti-Christian propaganda translation. In the Qur'an, the verse is directed against polytheism, particularly tritheism, but this version is produced and distributed to indoctrinate Muslims against the Trinity through this deliberate mistranslation. By this way they hope Muslims will not even consider learning about the Trinity, "since Allah has already rejected it".
The Arabic word for the "Holy Trinity" is "al-thaaluuth al-aqdas", pronounced ath-thaaluuth al-aqdas. Yusuf Ali's translation, indeed, is a translation "in view of Christians and Westerners": sometimes sharpening polemics against the Christian creed (see above) and sometimes softening issues which could be embarrassing in a Western environment.
The above passage is to be read in Arabic: "wa-laa taqooloo thalaathatun"&
nbsp; (Surah an-Nisa' 4:171) And this certainly has to be translated as: "And don't say three!"The word "thalaathatun" is the usual cardinal number "three" referring to three things at least one which is of masculine gender. Remember that the Qur'an has the view that the Christian Trinity consists of God (Father), Jesus and Mary. A similar phrase is in Surah al-Maa'ida 5:73 "alladhina qaaloo inna llaaha thaalithu thalaathatin" "those who speak: look, God is the third of three"where we have the ordinal number "thaalithu" "the third" together with the cardinal number "thalaathat" "three". There is no idea that "thalaathat" "three" would also have the specific meaning of a trinity or even the Holy Trinity.
2. For Sura 4:47 we are given the meaning:
| Pickthall | Yusuf Ali | Shakir | Arberry |
| O ye unto whom the Scripture hath been given! Believe in what We have revealed confirming that which you possess… | O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you, … | O you who have been given the Book! believe that which We have revealed, verifying what you have…. | You who have been given the Book, believe in what We have sent down, confirming what is with you… |
Again, the three other translations translate it in present tense, and Ali converts it into past tense for Muslim propaganda sake.3. And in Surah 5:15 Yusuf Ali goes even further:
| Pickthall | Yusuf Ali | Shakir |
| O People of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. now hath come unto you light from Allah and plain Scripture, | O people of the Book! There hath come to you our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book, – | O followers of the Book! indeed Our Messenger has come to you making clear to you much of what you concealed of the Book and passing over much; indeed, there has come to you light and a clear Book from Allah; |
Who inspired or authorized Yusuf Ali to add to the Qur'an the words "that is now unnecessary"? There is nothing in the text that justifies this addition. Woe to those who currupt for a small gain.
A word about the word “Revisions”
When presented with the Bible which has a cover ‘Revised Standard Version” etc, Muslims are quick to conclude and dismiss the Bible as corrupted without posing to think what it means. If so, we would like to show Revised Quran’s as a matter of interest.
“The Holy Qur’an: Text, Translation and Commentary” by Abdullah Yusuf Ali says NEW REVISIED EDITION printed by Farid Book Depot (Pvt.) Ltd. A
nd this is what an eminent scholar of Islam has to say on this Quran.
“As for Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s, as already stated, it has got revised by two different institutions and by a different group of scholars. Still I find a large number of errors in both the revised versions of which I am presently dealing with only three” (Three Major Errors: In Twelve English Translations of the Quran by Sayyid Ameenul Hasan Rizvi, Page Number 9, Emphasis ours).
So, Muslims before you point finger at the Holy Bible translations, examine yourself.
Conclusion:
Rejoice O Christian, You're once again on the winning side. Your God said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" And you still have his word with you. He has made good his undertaking. Deedat's god made claims to that effect, but failed. What Deedat has with him is not his god's word as given originally. Thus The God of the Bible has given no revelation whatsoever, unto Muhammad, for then would He have preserved it, as He did the Bible. Has Muhammed appealed unto Your God O Christian, saying "Our God and your God is one and the same"? (Surah 29:46).
Do not be taken for a ride. Take heed to remember what our God has spoken concerning such "Prophets. "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:25-28).
Let then Deedat, and such as are deceived by him, spread abroad the words of a "Dreamer", but since you have GOD's WORD O Christian, proclaim it faithfully. "What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD".
To Read Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 click here and here.
Next Chapter – Errors in the Bible!!!
Forthcoming chapters-
Chapter 5 The Authorship Controversy Resolved,
Chapter 6 Is the Bible Self- Contradictory,
Chapter 7 Is the Bible Pornographic.
Chapter 8 Conclusion and Bibliography
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