the Arabic translation of Genesis 1& my translations and notes:
DRAFT Study in progress
فِي الْبَدْءِ خَلَقَ اللهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ
1. for the very first time, created Allah the skies and earth,
notes: the word الْبَدْءِ means something new, an invention, so the skies and earth were a new type of creation, the example of which did not exist prior to it.
The Quran informs us that Allah is the badīʿ (بَدِيع) of the Skies and Earth, as in, He invented the skies and earth. The invention of skies and earth is purposeful. Surah al-Anbiya states that these have not been created for amusement (Q21:16, 17). Also, this invention is for a limited time (Q11:107,108).
The Quran uses the term خَلَقَ to mention the creation of something from some material.
وَإِذْ كَانَتِ الأَرْضُ مُشَوَّشَةً وَمُقْفِرَةً وَتَكْتَنِفُ الظُّلْمَةُ وَجْهَ الْمِيَاهِ، وَإِذْ كَانَ رُوحُ اللهِ يُرَفْرِفُ عَلَى سَطْحِ الْمِيَاهِ
2. and when the earth was مُشَوَّشَةً and مُقْفِرَةً, and تَكْتَنِفُ darkness on face of the water, and Ruh of Allah was يُرَفْرِفُ upon the surface of the water,
notes: The Quran, Surah al-Isra informs that the Ruh is from the Amr of Allah, and that we have been given very little knowledge of it. The Quran also informs us that when Allah created Adam, He blew His Ruh into Adam. Surah as-Sajdah also informs of Allah blowing His Ruh into the human.
the Ruh of Allah was يُرَفْرِفُ the surface of the water; Q55:76 uses the word رَفْرَفٍ to describe the throne / cushions upon which the people of the two gardens will be seated. The Quran informs us that Allah's throne has been upon the water (Q11:7 ... وَّكَانَ عَرۡشُهٗ عَلَى الۡمَآءِ ...).
The Quran informs us that all living things have been made from water.
Throne indicates King, and kingdom includes living things.
what is the difference between الْمِيَاهِ and الۡمَآءِ ?
there was darkness (الظُّلْمَةُ) upon (تَكْتَنِفُ?) the face of the waters; darkness (الظُّلْمَةُ) is generally also translated as evil or the consequence of sin upon the soul. Google translates تَكْتَنِفُ as 'it surrounds'. So, the 'face' of the water (الْمِيَاهِ) was surrounded by darkness. End times is described in Hadith sources as a time of great darkness, and devoid of any believer. The Quran mentions the heating of the seas, and the seas set on fire. The Quran mentions the climate changes when life as we know it is about to end.
So, was there life on Earth once before? Did everyone die, and the Earth drown? Have we been given a second chance?
Google translates مُشَوَّشَةً to confused, and مُقْفِرَةً to desolate. Confusion is a result of lawlessness and disorder, while Desolation pertains to land not growing anything resulting in famine, and slavery, as in Genesis 47:19. Desolation is a term we come across in the Book of Daniel, and the consequent terrible events described in the Book of Revelation pertaining to end times. The Quran mentions twice that the Earth has been reformed (Q7:56, Q7:85 (... and do not corrupt the earth after it has been reformed ...)). Ancient civilisations were destroyed when they refused to believe and give up corruption. Many individuals and nations have already been destroyed. Now, we await a worldwide tribulation.
Surah al-Anbiya, after stating that the earth and skies have not been created for amusement (Q21:16, 17), also states that we hurl the truth against falsehood, so it strikes its brain, destroying it, ... (Q21:18).
From narrations about Ancient Egypt in the scriptures, we know that there have been climate changes, bringing about drought and famine, and people ending up in poverty and slavery. We also expect end times to be similar, with the Deceiver being given power and control, and people having to choose between the True God and the Deceiver. The period of great tribulation, when the saints will be given in his hands for a time, times, and half a time (Book of Daniel 7:25).
Eventually, the pious will inherit the Earth (Daniel 7:27, Q21:105)
أَمَرَ اللهُ: «لِيَكُنْ نُورٌ». فَصَارَ نُورٌ
3. Allah commanded, 'let it be Nur', so it became Nur
notes: Surah Al-Nur is a Surah in The Quran. The very first ayat states that this surah is revealed and ordained (made compulsory) and its ayaat are clear, perhaps you may remember. The very next ayat commands punishment for adultery. The surah links it to Deen (The Law of Compensation on the Day of Judgement in the Hereafter). So, Deen is linked to morality, that is the moral legal code.
Regarding the Day of Judgement, when people are raised up, The Quran Surah az-Zumar states that the Earth will shine in the Nur of its Lord (Q39:69).
وَرَأَى اللهُ النُّورَ فَاسْتَحْسَنَهُ وَفَصَلَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الظَّلامِ
4. and saw Allah the Nur, so it was good, and there was distance between it and between the darkness
notes: Nur is always mentioned in singular in The Quran, while darknesses are in plural.
Similarly, here also the Nur (النُّورَ) is singular.
The Quran uses a similar construction (ظَلَّامٍ) five times stating that Allah is not unjust to His servants (بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ).
In the Quran, the first root ظَّ with the shaddah ( ّ ) occurs in the plural (الظَّالِمِينَ , الظَّالِمِ) as an adjective, while referring to sinful people.
The Quran questions how can you do kufr with Allah, when you were dead, He gave you life ... (Q2:28). The ayah mentions two deaths and two lives in that order. This statement is made early on, right before mentioning Adam's appointment as Khalifa. Also, this statement comes after the mention of the female mosquito and that which is upon her. We now know that the female mosquito is public enemy number one.
وَسَمَّى اللهُ النُّورَ نَهَاراً، أَمَّا الظَّلامُ فَسَمَّاهُ لَيْلاً. وَهَكَذَا جَاءَ مَسَاءٌ أَعْقَبَهُ صَبَاحٌ، فَكَانَ الْيَوْمَ الأَوَّلَ
5. and named Allah the Nur 'Day', as for the darkness He named 'Night'. And that was the evening followed by the morning, that was the first the day.
notes: the evening and the mornings are the transition period between Nur and darknesses. The three veils of darknesses are dispelled in the early morning (Fajr time onwards), while the three veils of darknesses overshadow and envelop in the evening (Magrib time onwards). Dawn and Dusk are widely observed phenomenon occurring daily almost everywhere in the world, except the polar regions, where the day itself is a year long.
ثُمَّ أَمَرَ اللهُ: «لِيَكُنْ جَلَدٌ يَحْجُزُ بَيْنَ مِيَاهٍ وَمِيَاهٍ»
6. then commanded Allah 'let it be a skin reservoir between water and water
فَخَلَقَ اللهُ الْجَلَدَ، وَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الْمِيَاهِ الَّتِي تَحْمِلُهَا السُّحُبُ وَالْمِيَاهِ الَّتِي تَغْمُرُ الأَرْضَ. وَهَكَذَا كَانَ
7. so created Allah the skin, and cleaved the water which carried the clouds, and water which submerged the earth, and so it was
notes: Google translates السُّحُبُ as 'clouds', even though none of the English translations I've seen include the word 'clouds'. The Quran uses the same root for a noun form (سَحَاب) which is translated as 'clouds', and a verb form which is translated as dragged (يُسْحَبُ).
وَسَمَّى اللهُ الْجَلَدَ سَمَاءً. ثُمَّ جَاءَ مَسَاءٌ أَعْقَبَهُ صَبَاحٌ فَكَانَ الْيَوْمَ الثَّانِي
8. and named Allah the skin 'sky'. Then was the evening followed by the morning, so that was the second day.
notes: The Quran informs that Allah is the 'Fatir' of the Skies and Earth. Fatir means Separator. There is an entire surah titled Fatir. Moreover, Abraham, Joseph, and others are quoted in The Quran stating that they worship the One who Fatir the skies and earth, and who fatir you / me (فَطَرَنِي , فَطَرَكُمْ).
ثُمَّ أَمَرَ اللهُ: «لِتَتَجَمَّعِ الْمِيَاهُ الَّتِي تَحْتَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ وَاحِدٍ، وَلْتَظْهَرِ الْيَابِسَةُ». وَهَكَذَا كَانَ
9.
وَسَمَّى اللهُ الْيَابِسَةَ أَرْضاً وَالْمِيَاهَ الْمُجْتَمِعَةَ بِحَاراً. وَرَأَى اللهُ ذَلِكَ فَاسْتَحْسَنَهُ
10.
وَأَمَرَ اللهُ: «لِتُنْبِتِ الأَرْضُ خُضْرَةً، وَشَجَراً مُثْمِراً فِيهِ بِزْرُهُ الَّذِي يُنْتِجُ ثَمَراً كَجِنْسِهِ فِي الأَرْضِ». وَهَكَذَا كَانَ
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References & Links
Arabic translation of Genesis 1 copied from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201&version=NAV&interface=print
Quran search tool: https://corpus.quran.com/
Quran text: https://quran.com/
