CORRECT TRANSLATION OF VERSE 2:22 OF SURAH AL BAQARAH, CHAPTER 2 OF THE QURAN

The above verse 2:22 of Surah Al Baqarah, chapter 2 of the Quran starts with the relative pronoun "???????" (allazi) to mean "Who" that is the pronoun of Sustainer "???" (Rab) mentioned in the phrase "?????????" (Rabbukum) Who (???????) is our Creator as mentioned in the phrase "??????????" (Khalaqakum) in the preceding verse 2:21. In other words the verse 2:22 starts with the relative pronoun of God, Who is our Sustainer and Creator. Hence, the verse 2:22 that we are studying here is coming in the continuity of its preceding verse 2:21.

Therefore, in the verse 2:22 it is said "??????? ?????? ?????? ????????" Who made for yourselves the earth, in which "??????" (jála) is a perfect (past) verb means ‘made’ or ‘manufactured’, "??????" (lakum) ‘for yourselves’ and "????????" (al Ardh) means ‘the earth’, ‘the land’, ‘the world’ and ‘the body’. The next word "????????" (firasha) is a combination of active participle "??????" (firash) and the suffix of ‘Alif’ (??) in which "??????" (firash) is really important to correctly understand the verse 2:22 that we are studying in this article.

Although, Arabic word "???" (FRSH) is phonetically similar to Persian word "???" (FRSH) but it is quite different in meaning in both languages. Our scholars, their disciples, translators and even researchers and majority of general readers of the Quran take the Quranic word "??????" (firash) to mean bed, floor, flat surface and carpet etc. This is because Persian word "???" (FRSH) is normally taken to mean ‘floor’, flat surface, spreading carpet, furnishing, mattress, bed or bedding in Persian language.

This is the reason why Quranic word "??????" (firash) or Arabic word "???" (FRSH) is also given in Arabic to English dictionaries to mean ‘mattress’, ‘bed’, ‘carpet’, ‘bed spread’ and ‘furniture’ etc. The purpose of the aforementioned corruption in Arabic language was to sabotage the actual message of the Quran due to which some people became the proclaimers of ‘flat earth’ and some claim that the earth was spread like a ‘flat carpet’ or made like a ‘flatbed’ or a flat ‘mattress’. The above mentioned forgery was made to turn the statement of the Quran towards the shape of the earth which is not the actual topic of the context of verse 2:22 but majority of us think that the verse 2:22 describes the shape of the earth which is flat like a floor. This is all a misconception and not true because the Quran itself urges us to understand the Quranic words within their columns or contexts where they appear and compiled according to their gradual grammatical formations. I have raised this issue in my numerous articles in which I have correctly explained the Quranic verse 73:4 "????????? ?????????? ??????????" to mean "And columned the Quran, a context form of grammatical style of understanding" (word to word correct translation 73:4). It simply means that the Quran has been columned in its context and formed in steady grammatical style to understand it within its context.

The word "???????" (rattili) means ‘made or formed in context’ or ‘columned’ and "??????????" (tarteela) means ‘a word to word gradual grammatical progression of understanding within the context’. This is because the Arabic word "????????" (tarteel) is a synonym of Arabic word "?????" (Tajveed) means: having gradual grammatical progression within the contexts or columns of Quranic speech to understand or to translate the Quran in its true spirit.

Therefore, the column or context of the verse 2:22 does not support that the word "????????" (firasha) was used to describe the shape of earth because the next verse 2:23 "?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ?????" is talking about God’s "revelation" and the preceding verse 2:21 "??? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ??????" is urging to "serve God"!. Hence, the context of verse 2:22 is ‘to serve God and God’s revelation’. Therefore, the verse 2:22 between the verses 2:21 and 2:23 is telling us about the implementation, execution and transmission of God’s revelation instead of abruptly discussing the shape of the earth which is not only irrelevant but also not important in the speech. 

However, those who are still adamant to translate the verse 2:22 in the context of the shape of the earth they should know that Arabic word "???" (FRSH) is a synonym of Arabic word "???" (QáR) and used to mean ‘concave’, ‘curvy’, or ‘curved’, ‘hollow’, ‘excavate’, ‘cavern’, ‘dish like’, ‘deep in the middle’ and ‘executing something’. Hence, the word "??????" (firash) is a synonym of "????" (MQáR) which exactly and correctly means ‘CONCAVED’. So, the earth is ‘CONCAVED’ if you take the statement of the verse 2:22 in the context of the shape of the earth.

This is the reason why a butterfly is called "?????" (frasha) in Arabic language because of its proboscis, made up of two concave parts which interlock like a zip. The two parts are interlocked when the adult butterfly first emerges from the pupa, forming a tube through which nectar, minerals and moisture can be sucked up. 

Also, this is a well-known and proven fact that a concaved shape refers to a recipient, receiver, beneficiary and addressee, and we all know that the earth is a receiver and a beneficiary and an executor of transmission and communication. 

Even, if you carefully look at the shape of a mattress you will find it concaved since it sinks in the middle and becomes concaved with the weight. 

Likewise, brushes are called "?????" (frsh), "????" (frsha) and "?????" (frshah) in Arabic language because of their concaved shape. This is because the concaved shape of brushes makes an exclusive reservoir in them that holds polishing or rubbing material and also their concaved shape makes them easy to use and easy to buff in a circular or semi-circular motion for solid, flawless and smooth cleaning.  

If for some reason you’re not happy with the concaved shape of the earth, just to save my time, please don’t ask me anything about the shape of the earth and kindly avoid sending me your researches and translations but you can carry on conducting your own research, include the Biblical concave earth study in your research and note the results for yourselves.

However, I am coming back to the same point which I have mentioned earlier in this article that the shape of the earth is not discussed in the verse 2:22 and neither the shape of the earth is supported by the context of the verse 2:22 nor is it important in the context of Serving God and His revelation. 

Therefore, the more accurate and more suitable meaning of the word "????????" (firasha) of the verse 2:22 in the context of revelation of God are as follows:

"an executor", "a relaying transmitter", "a communicator", "a booster", "a broadcaster", "an amplifier", "moving from place to place freely or to circularize", "spreader" (like a conveyor or propagator of message),"a displayer", "a presenter", "an attendant" and "a sorter"

You can see the Arabic word "?????" (FRSH) to mean "relay", "display" and "execute" in all standard Arabic dictionaries along with the list of so many false meaning of Arabic words "?????" (FRSH) and "??????" (firash). However, "????????" (firasha) is an executor of the same "relay" that is used in the sentences such as "TV station relays the news" or "such and such programme will be relayed or transmitted today". Hence, Arabic word "?????" (FRSH) to mean "relay" refers to execute transmission, telecasting, broadcasting, propagating, spreading or conveying the information in highly professional levels.

If you look into the depth of the meaning of the phrase "????????" (firasha) of the verse 2:22 you will find it in the sense of a "relay station" for restoring the strength of a transmitted signal which amplifies, boosts and increases the strength of signals passing through it.

Likewise, we also have a "relay station" in our brain, called the "substantia nigra", which is responsible for centrally controlling the execution of all movements. Hence, to relay something means to communicate information, news, or a message to someone that is like telling someone something, to give information or to carry forward messages or information. Therefore, in the words "?????? ?????? ???????? ????????" of the verse 2:22 is actually telling us that "the earth has been made an executing relay transmitter". You know very well that "executing" means "implementing" therefore the earth is also a place of implementation.

If you relay something, you pass it to other persons which means something passed in motion that is also called broadcasting, transmission, communication and telecasting, the execution of which is being said in the phrase "????????" (firasha) of Quranic verse 2:22 and it makes proper sense when you read this verse 2:22 with other verses in its context.

In light of the above stated facts taking the word "????????" (firasha) into any other meaning is not justified. Hence, in the current translations of Quranic verse 2:22 the phrase "????????" (firasha) is falsely taken to mean spreading earth flat as a floor, as a coach, as a bed, as a resting place, a habitat or a habitable etc.

Our Traditional and Quranist scholars, their disciples and anyone else who conveys to others the teaching of the Quran in person, on youtube channels and by writing articles in magazines or on internet they are deceiving us by hiding the actual message of the verse 2:22 with their abrupt and inconsistent translations. They don’t even know what is actually written is the Quran but they teach us the Quran and make their graves in the Hell fire for spreading the false in the name of the Quran.

So, "????????" (firasha) correctly means "a relaying executor", "a communicator", "a broadcaster", "a telecaster", "a presenter", "a displayer", " a concaved, a curved, a hollow sphere", "an excavated or a deep hollow out", "a cavern out", "a deepen cave",

In some other context Arabic word "???" (frsh) can also be taken to mean style, design, arrangement, structure, formation, configuration, set-up, pattern, outline, plan, sketch, map, frame up, provision, model, line up, placement, constitution, composition, organisation, proportion, weave, architecture, scheme, idea, and method.

The next phrase "?????????????" (wassamá) is coming with a prefixed conjunction "?" (wao) in which the word "??????????" (assamá) is a definite noun of "???" (Seen – Mem - Hamza) which is falsely derived from a fake root word "???" (Seen – Mem - Wao) so that they can falsely translate those verses of the Quran in which the derivatives of proto root "? ?" (Seen – Mem) are coming.  

On page 74 of the book ‘The Biradical Origin of Semitic Roots’, Dr. Hecker mentions that "????" (samá) is the product of the biradical root "?m" and it is used to express sky, heavens, sun, divine, and azure. In Arabic, the verb "???" (smá) means: was high, was lofty, and raised high and "???" (samuw) noun, means height and altitude.

On page 2107 of Ibn Man?ur’s Arabic Dictionary “Lisan Al-Arab” (The tongue of Arabs) it is mentioned that from the meaning of ‘high’, i.e. "???" (sma) the word ‘sky’, i.e. "????" (samá) was derived and the root "???" (sma) means arise, climb, altitude, highness, and "????" (samá) means sky, heaven, cope, welkin, firmament, and "???" (smuw) means loftiness, highness, eminence and elevation.

On page 230 of The Hebrew Dictionary of the Torah, the word ?āmayim is given to mean ‘names’, ‘heavens’, and ‘wisdom flowing to achieve fullness of life’.

On pages 665 and 666 of Klein’s comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language the word ?āmayim is given to mean ‘visible heavens’, ‘sky’, ‘abode of God’, ‘God’ and it is also mentioned that the original meaning of these words is probably “high place and height”.

In Aramaic and Syriac the word ?maya also means height, highest part, ceiling and roof, besides heaven and sky. In Akkadian, the word ?amai means roof and on pages 833 and 834 of Gesenius, H.W.F. Hebrew Chaldea Lexicon to the Old Testament the word ?amay is mentioned to mean heaven, and the word ?āmāh is given to mean to be high, to be lofty; the sky (as a loft); the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve, the biradical root could be "?m".

According to its Semitic origin and etymology the Quranic word "??????????" (assamá) does not directly refer to the sky but it actually represents the height, the high place, the highest part, the highness and the altitude from which the word "??????????" (assamá) is taken to mean ‘the place of high altitude’ and translated to mean ‘sky’ and ‘heaven’. Since, the Arabic word "??????????" (assamá) is a synonym of Arabic word "????????" (altamah), therefore the derivatives of "???" (smá) including "??????????" (assamá) are also taken as synonym of "???" (tmh) to mean "aspiration" and "ambition".

The same Quranic word "??????????" (assamá) is also a synonym of Arabic words "?????" (ishtaq) to mean "yearn" and "???" (hadaf) to mean "aim". Therefore the Arabic word "??????????" (assamá) is also taken to mean "the yarn " and "the aim".

Likewise, Arabic word "??????????" (assamá) is a popular synonym of Arabic words "????" (fizá) to mean "space" and "environment". Therefore the Arabic word "??????????" (assamá) is also taken to mean "the space" and "the environment".

Hence, the word "??????????" (assamá) is used in many places in the Quran to mean "the aspiration", "the ambition", "the aim", "the environment", "the space", "the yarn", "the status", "the honour", "the dignity ", "the highness ", "the above", "the eminence"; "the top"; "the prestige"; "the excellence"; "the goodness"; "the glory", "the harmony", "the superiority", "the heaven", "the exaltedness ", "the height", "the grandeur ", "the grandness", "the greatness ", "the magnificence ", "the nobleness ", "the high standard ", "the highest degree", "the advanced", "the development", "the important", "the high-minded ", "the standing", "the designation", "the reputation", "the determination", "the object", "the aim", "the magnitude ", "the strength ", "the purpose", "the objective".

However, Arabic word "???" (smá) is also used in the following meaning: Upper atmosphere, exalted, superior, rise above, surpassing, loftiness; loudness; sublimity; superiority; elevation, (???????), gravity, augustness; majesty; portliness; solemnity; splendour; stateliness, sublime, superb, uplift, transcend, elevated, having very high moral standards, highest in position, high in importance, high in rank, soar, having very high moral standards, more than average height, refined, rising, superior, educated, exquisite, fine, grand, high-class; high-ranking, developed; elevated; high; upper, tall, designation, appellation (?????? ????? ????), status was raised, become exalted, having honour, determinate, designate, reconciliation, appeasement, settlement, reconciliation , reconciliation , reconciliation, harmony (????), appropriated it to a particular or special object, "?? ??????" appropriated the benefit or bounty, high level, high grade, extent, intensity, high rising, tower, uplift, 

The next word "???????" (bina) means building, constructing, compiling, setting up, erecting, founding, forming, proving something, making, styling, composing, affirmative.

Therefore, the correct translation of the opening clause of the verse 2:22 is a follows: 

"??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????????? ???????" Who made for yourselves the earth an executor and built the environment.

In the next clause "?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????" of the verse 2:22 the word "?????" (maán) is significant and mere important to understand the verse 2:22 correctly. This is because to bring the pagan worshiping ritual "????" (wudu) or ablution in the false translations of the Quran the Quranic word "?????" (maán) is distorted to mean "water" and falsely translated throughout the Quran.

If you read my articles part 7 and 8 on "????" (wudu) you will understand the correct meaning of Quranic word "????" (maá).

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/ablution-%D9%88%D8%B6%D9%88-wudu-part-7-correct-translation-quranic-verses-khan/

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/ablution-%D9%88%D8%B6%D9%88-wudu-part-8-correct-translation-quranic-verses-khan/

In the above articles I have explained with evidence that the word "????" (maá) never used to mean "water" in Arabic language but the true meaning of Quranic word "?????" (maán) is a life, a living thing, a "???" (Ruh), a spirit, an essence, a kernel or a substance of something, a source, a principle, an element, a constitution, an enlightenment, an explanation, a knowhow, an insight, a science, an education, a motivation, a frame of mind, a soul, a mind, a theme, a notation, a content, a truth.

Now, you can correctly translate the words "?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????" (wa anzala min assamaái maán) of the verse 2:22 in which an imperative or elative noun "???????" is coming with a prefixed conjunction "?" to mean ‘and caused to reveal’ or ‘and caused to bring down’ and preposition "????" (min) is coming to mean ‘from’. Whereas, the words "??????????" (assamaái) and "?????" (maán) have been already explained in the above paragraphs. Therefore, the correct meaning of the clause "?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????" of Quranic verse 2:22 is as follows: ‘And caused to reveal/bring down from the environment/sky an enlightenment/an insight/a motivation/a frame of mind/a theme/a notation’.

In the next clause "?????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ??????? ???????" (fa akhraja bihi min assamarati rizqallakum) of verse 2:22 an imperative or elative noun "????????" (akhraja) is coming with a prefixed resumption particle "??" to mean ‘then caused to bring out/come out’, "????" (bi hi) ‘with it’, "????" (min) ‘of’, "????????????", (athamarati) ‘fruitfulness’, "???????" (rizqan) ‘a sustenance’, "???????" (la kum) ‘for yourselves’.

The word "????????????" (athamarat) correctly means: the fruitfulness, benefits, profits, gains, effects, outcomes, crops, fruitages, produces, yields, results and outcomes. Whereas, the word "???????" (rizqan) correctly means: a sustainability, provide with the means of subsistence, bestow upon; bless with; endow with; provide with, be blessed with; be endowed with, Daily money on which one lives, Blessing of God, God's favour, subsistence, sustenance, wealth, livelihood, living, maintenance, possessions, property, dwelling, inhabitant.

Hence, the correct meaning of the clause "?????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ??????? ???????" of Quranic verse 2:22 is as follows: ‘Then caused to bring out/come out/produce with it the fruitfulness of a sustenance for yourselves’.

The last clause "????? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ?????????? ???????????" (fala tjálou lillahi andadaoun wa antum tálamoun) of the verse 2:22 begins with the combination of resumption and negation particles "?????" (fa la) means ‘so don’t/not at all’. The next phrase "???????????" (tajálou) is a combination of reflective verb "????????" (tajál) and 2nd person plural subject pronoun "???" (ou). In my articles on preceding verses of Surah Al Baqarah I have already explained the reflective verbs in detail which you can read from there. In principle, if the verb "???" (jál) is used to mean ‘make’ its reflective verb "????" (tajál) is used to mean ‘make oneself’ or ‘become’. Therefore, "????? ???????????" (fala tajálou) correctly means “So don’t make yourselves”, "??????" (lillahi) means ‘for/to God’, and "?????????" (andadan) is derived from the root word "???" (Nun Dal Dal) correctly means: ‘a rival’, an opponent, alike, equal to someone, a peer, an inveigh, a fulminate, a declaim, a protest, a rage, a remonstrate, a storm, a denounce, a censure, a condemn, a decry, a criticize, a stigmatize, a denounced, an accusation, a deploring, an admonish, a rejection, a disapproval, a disagree, a disallow, a disrespect, a degrade, an attack, a leave out, a rule out, an objection, an elimination, an exclusion, an omission, a condemn, a curse, fight, an oppose, a pirate.

Hence, the sentence "????? ??????????? ?????? ?????????" (fala tajálou lillahi andadan) correctly means “so don’t make yourselves a rival to God”.

However, our scholars and translators did not look at the words of the Quran nor did they follow the grammar and falsely translated the Quranic words "????? ??????????? ?????? ?????????" to mean “do not set up rivals to Allah”, “So do not make any equals with God”, “shall not set up idols to rival GOD”, “do not then give peers to God”.

The above cited false translations of Quranic words "????? ??????????? ?????? ?????????" look good in reading but unfortunately they are not what the Quran says in its own words. Therefore, in the false translations of the Quran we are not learning the Quran but the fabrications of our dumb scholars.

Apart from taking the wrong meaning of reflective verb "???????????" the blind scholars and translators of the Quran did not see that the suffix alif with tanveen Fat Ha coming in the end of "?????????" singles it out but they translate "?????????" as a plural word to mean "rivals", "equals", "compeers", "peers" and "idols" etc.

They did the same with the last phrase "?????????? ???????????" (wa antum tálamoun) of verse 2:22. The verb "???" is taken to mean "to teach" or "to teach others" but its reflexive form "????" is used "to learn" or "to teach oneself".

Hence, the phrase "?????????? ???????????" (wa antum tálamoun) is falsely translated to mean "and you know" which seems quite abrupt in the translation and makes no sense as to why the Quran will say "you know" after saying “so don’t make yourselves a rival to God” ???

Let alone the scholars or translators of the Quran, even a layman knows very well that the verb "????" (tálam) is a reflective verb of "???" which is used ‘to learn’, ‘to teach oneself’ or ‘to educate oneself’. Hence, if "????" means ‘learn’ or ‘teach oneself’ then how can they translate "???????????" (tálamoun) to mean ‘you know’???

Actually, "???????????" (tálamoun) is a plural reflective verb of continuous learning that is coming in the perspective of the earlier clause of speech "?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????" (wa anzala min assamaái maán) in which "?????" (maán) was revealed from the sky or the environment (?????????? ???? ??????????) and this "?????" (maán) was an insight, an enlightenment, a principle, a frame of mind, an education, a science, a knowhow and a wisdom which is to be learned. This is the reason why a verb of learning or educating yourselves or enlightening yourselves is used in the form of "???????????" (tálamoun). Therefore, the phrase "?????????? ???????????" (wa antum tálamoun) should be correctly translated to mean: And you learn, and you teach yourselves, and you educate yourselves, and you enlighten yourselves.

The reason why the translation of the phrase "?????????? ???????????" (wa antum tálamoun) seems abrupt to mean "you know", "knowingly" or "knowing" in all translations of Quranic verse 2:22 because our scholars took the false meaning of Quranic word "?????" (maán) at first place and in their false translations they invented that 'water" was revealed from the sky instead of revelation of a ‘beneficial enlightenment’, ‘a useful frame of mind’, ‘a fruitful knowledge’ or ‘a beneficial insight’ which is actually stated in the verse 2:22 of the Quran, and with the reflective verb "???????????" (tálamoun) we are urged to learn and teach ourselves the "?????" (maán) which was revealed. However, "water" is not something which is learned or taught therefore our scholars took abrupt and inconsistent meaning of closing phrase "?????????? ???????????" of verse 2:22 to mean "you know".

Hence, the correct translation of the last clause "????? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ?????????? ???????????" of verse 2:22 is as follows:

"so don’t make yourselves a rival to Allah and you learn/teach yourselves/ enlighten yourselves/educate yourselves"

Now, you can see the word for word correct translation of verse 2:22 of Surah Al Baqarah, chapter 2 of the Quran.

"Who made for yourselves the earth an executor and built the environment and caused to reveal from the environment an insight, then caused to bring out with it the fruitfulness of a sustenance for yourselves, so don’t make yourselves a rival to Allah and you teach yourselves"

(Word for word correct translation of verse 2:22 of the Quran)

"Who made for yourselves the world a hollow presentation display transmitter and overlaid the sky and caused to bring down from the sky an enlightenment, then caused to bring out with it the benefits of a subsistence for yourselves, so don’t make yourselves a rival to God and you educate yourselves"

(The next generation advance scientific translation of the verse 2:22)

Regards

Kashif Khan

The same article in Urdu is as under for Urdu readers.