Granted and given

[Ibn El-Sheikh]

Introduction:

This is the first time i've translated something about the Arabic language into English, so I'm unsure as to how it will come off. My friend, Abu Dujanah, thinks that most English speakers will not be able to understand let alone benefit an English translation of something inherently Arabic.

So I decided to translate this anyways, just to see if he was right or not. Please, after reading this, leave a short message as to whether you found it clear, or not. And if you found it clear, if you found it beneficial.

Jazakum Allahu Khayr.

The original article is two part, I limited my translation to the first part.

From the works of Dr. Fadhel Al-Samara’y on the subject of a’jaz al-Quran (Quranic eloquence):

Firstly: The Dr. Fadhel says: Why has Allah ta’ala used a’ttaynak ( أعطيناك ) instead of ataynak ( آتيناك ) And why has he not used ataynak ( آتيناك ) instead of a’ttaynak ( أعطيناك ) (i.e.in some situations and not others)?

There is a similarity between the two words, both in sound and in meaning, with the exception that aty ( آتى )is used in more generic sense, however they both elude to the same understanding.

Aty( آتى ) is used in affiliation to wisdom, guidance, and wealth:

يُؤتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ
{He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted} وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى تِسْعَ آيَاتٍ
{And indeed We gave to Musa (Moses) nine clear signs.}

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ
{And indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibrahim (Abraham) his (portion of) guidance}

وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي
{…and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it}

It is also used when referring to a number of illustrative meanings:

وَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ مِن لَّدُنَّا ذِكْراً
{And indeed We have given you from Us a Reminder (this Quran).}

As for a’ta ( أعطى ) then it is used solely in connotation with material affairs.

وَأَعْطَى قَلِيلاً وَأَكْدَى
{And gave a little, then stopped (giving)?}

فَأَمَّا مَن أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى
{As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him}

However, as we have seen aty (آتى)is used both with regards to material issues, and other issues of broader meanings such as guidance, authority and wisdom. These are concepts which are not to be brought together with the word a'ta (أعطى).

So although the word aty (آتى) is broader in its use, but the question remains as to why aty (آتى) was not used instead of a'ta (أعطى).

The difference between the two lies in personal authority.

تؤتي الملك من تشاء وتنزع الملك ممن تشاء
{You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will}

Here, Allah speaks of Kingship and how it is both given and retracted, using the word aty (آتى) in doing so. This is because personal authority is not found in Kingship; rather Kingship is to be executed solely under the commands of Allah.

A’ta (أعطى) however, is used when what is ‘granted’ or given, is subservient to one’s personal authority.

هَذَا عَطَاؤُنَا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
{ [Saying of Allah to Sulaiman (Solomon)]: "This is Our gift, so spend you or withhold, no account will be asked."}

Meaning, this as ‘ata (عطاء) to Sulaiman (alayis-salam) and for him is the right to deal with it, under his personal authority, however he sees fit.

[caramel]

Examples are confusing.

[Editor]

As-salamu`alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Masha Allah. Yea it was pretty clear for me, alhamdulillah.

I remember someone mentioning the difference between the two words in tafseer and what they learnt was that when Allah grants (a'ta) someone something, it is not based on what the person has earned. Like just in the last ayah you quoted, it's a gift (and not a reward). And similarly, just like inna a'taynaka 'l-kauthar... Al-Kauthar is given to Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam as a gift.

I might have remembered it wrongly, wallahu a'lam, correct me if so.

And yea, just like in surah al-kauthar then, what's granted is something material and it is subservient to the one it is given to. So yea, makes perfect sense, alhamdulillah :)

Wa jazakallahu khairan kathira...

[Ibn El-Sheikh]

Wa iyaakum Ameen. Yeah I guess it can be confusing, i'll try to re-word it in a better way insha'allah.

My other question is, are you guys (english speakers) interested in this sort of thing? Or is it just like "oh thats nice" coupled with flipping the page?

[wildstar]

My friend, Abu Dujanah, thinks that most English speakers will not be able to understand let alone benefit an English translation of something inherently Arabic.

I kinda agree.

[Editor]

My other question is, are you guys (english speakers) interested in this sort of thing? Or is it just like "oh thats nice" coupled with flipping the page?

I only replied cos you'd asked for comments. Otherwise it would've been the latter reaction. It was beneficial though and I'd be interested in more of "this sort of thing".

I think the problem with some translations is that they're too literal.

[Umm Khawla]

It would be beneficial if you continue with it, but its just the examples like others said.