✦ Are We Writing What Allah Never Said?

The Weight of Translation and the Hidden Meaning of “Follow” in the Qur’an

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❖ The Moment That Shook Me

I was reciting the Qur’an in Arabic, not thinking, not translating — just immersed in its sound and flow — when I reached this verse:

“So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ to gain a small price. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.”
(Qur’an 2:79)

Before I even knew its meaning in English, my body began to shake. Tears flowed freely. I was being stopped by the verse — called to pause and reflect deeply.

Later, I sought the translation. But the verse had already spoken to me through vibration — it had reached the fitrah, the primordial soul — beyond words.

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❖ The Crisis of Translation

The Qur’an is the Word of God — in His Arabic words. When we write or read translations and treat them as “the Qur’an,” we risk echoing what Allah warns against in 2:79:

Those who write the Book with their own hands and claim it is from Allah for gain.

Translations, no matter how sincere or scholarly, are interpretations filtered through human language, culture, and bias. They lack the divine form, sound, and hidden codes.

Thus, translation is a tool, never a substitute for the Qur’an itself.

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❖ What Does It Mean to “Follow” the Qur’an?

In Surah Yasin, Allah commands:

“Follow those who ask no reward of you and are rightly guided.”
(Qur’an 36:21)

The Arabic word for “follow” (ittabiʿū) means to move behind, trail, or imitate, not necessarily to intellectually understand first.

To follow the Qur’an is to place oneself behind its vibration:

• To recite the Arabic, even without full comprehension

• To let its rhythm and sound reshape body and soul

• To respond emotionally, as the trembling shows

• To embody its guidance through the ethics preserved by the Ahlulbayt

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❖ The Role of Nahj al-Fasaha and the Imams’ Teachings

The Qur’an’s vibration is the root; the branches are the sayings, prayers, and ethics of the Prophet ﷺ and the Imams (ع), such as:

• Nahj al-Fasaha — the Prophet’s refined Arabic

• Nahj al-Balagha — Imam Ali’s wisdom

• Sahifa Sajjadiya — prayers of purification

• Risalatul Huqquq - rights and Duties

• Du’as of the Ahlulbayt (as), embodying Qur’anic morality

These teachings translate the Qur’an’s vibration into living ethics — helping the intellect and heart to align with its message.

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❖ Conclusion: A Call to Reverence and Caution

The shaking I felt at verse 2:79 is a sacred warning:

• Not every writing claiming Divine origin is truly from Allah

• Not every interpretation captures the Qur’an’s essence

• True following is not blind reading but placing ourselves behind the Divine current

When we recite, reflect, and embody — that is how the Qur’an becomes alive within us.

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❖ Suggested Practices

• Recite Qur’an daily in Arabic, even if not fully understood

• Approach translations as contextual aids, not replacements

• Study the teachings of the Ahlul bayt (as) for guidance on application

• Listen to your body’s response; let it guide your spiritual reflection

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