Quran Talk Blog

In Sura 74 of the Quran we read the following verse. [74:38] Every soul is trapped by its sin. (٣٨) كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ And you will see this verse translated in various ways. The literal translation for this verse is that "Every soul is pledged/bound by what it earned." This root for the word pledge … Continue reading Mortgaging Our Souls

One of the common criticisms of the Quran is the claim that the lessons it cites are "tales from the past" that do not apply to today's world. This criticism was made at the time of the Quran 1400 years ago, and is oftentimes still made today. [16:24] When they are asked, "What do you think … Continue reading Idols and Abortion

There are different words in the Arabic Quran that are used around the concept of giving to charity. The word that most people are probably familiar with is the word Zakat (الزَّكَاة) which is the obligatory charity 2.5% submitters give from the money they earn to those they know directly in need. The word Zakat … Continue reading Spending in the Cause of God

In 1982, Nick Yarris was convicted of the rape and murder of Linda Mae Craig. He was sentenced to death and was sent to death row where he awaited his execution date. Two decades into his sentence he sent a petition to the Pennsylvania Courts asking for all his appeals to cease and for this … Continue reading Capital Punishment and the Quran

In Arabic, every letter has a corresponding gematrical value, and each letter can be interpreted either as a letter or a number, similar to Roman numerals. Gematrical Values of the Arabic Alphabet While there are many Quranic phenomena based on the gematrical value of the Arabic letters, the item that I want to discuss in … Continue reading W-A-H-D in the Quran

[26:37] "Let them summon every experienced magician." [26:38] The magicians were gathered at the appointed time, on the appointed day. [26:39] The people were told: "Come one and all; let us gather together here. [26:40] "Maybe we will follow the magicians, if they are the winners." [26:41] When the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, … Continue reading The Magicians Were Thrown Down

In 2002, Rogers Communications Inc., a Canadian communications and media company, initiated a contract with Bell Aliant to access its power poles at an annual rate of $9.60 per pole. Rogers intended to used the poles for its cable lines. The challenge was that some of these poles that Rogers was leasing were owned by … Continue reading Importance of Translating The Quran

In 13:4 of the Quran, there is an interesting word that oftentimes is mistranslated in most translations. The word is صِنْوَان ṣin'wān [13:4] On earth, there are adjacent lots that produce orchards of grapes, crops, palm trees— صِنْوَانٌ (ṣin'wānun) and other than صِنْوَانٍ (ṣin'wānin). Although they are irrigated with the same water, we prefer some of … Continue reading Dioecious And Non-Dioecious

The Quran uses the word sukārā (سُكَارَىٰ) for the state of being intoxicated, while using the word khmar (خَمْرِ) for intoxicants. Sukārā (Intoxication) [4:43] O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated (sukārā), so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual orgasm without bathing, unless you are on … Continue reading Khamr (Intoxicants) vs. Sukara (Intoxication)

Millions of Muslims throughout the years have spent much of their lives memorizing the Quran, yet spend virtually no time to understand the meaning of what it is that they are reciting. Usually when Muslims are questioned about this they claim that God credits those who recite His revelations in Arabic, and so understanding is … Continue reading Importance of Understanding