Some Mistakes of Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s

Translations

1. QS.Al Baqarah(2):16

16 It was We who created man and We know what dark

suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him
than (his) jugular vein.
17 Idz yatalaq qal mutalaq qiya_ni anil yamini wa anis
sima_li qaid
17 Behold two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his
doings) learn (and note them) one sitting on the right and
one on the left. 4953
18 Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him
ready (to note it). 4954

Idz never means Behold. It is translated as “When” by

Pickthall. This is true.

2.Tha Ha(20):5

Tha Ha(20):5 Ar rahma_nu 'alal arsyis tawa_

5 (Allah) Most Gracious is firmly established on the throne (of

authority).
While Pickthall translated that as:

5 The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne

This is true.

3. QS.Al Baqarah(2):15
Alla_hu yastahzi'u bihim wa yamudduhum fi tugya_nihim
ya'mahu_n(a).

QS.Al Baqarah(2):15 Allah will throw back their mockery on

them and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will
wander like blind ones (to and fro).

While the correct translation is as Pickthall said:

Allah (Himself) doth mock them, leaving them to wander

blindly on in their contumacy.

Yastahzi’u means doth mock him, and Allah’s ways in

mocking couldn’t be illustrated well, and what is deserve for
Him is higher illustration than any illustrations.

4. Al Baqarah(2):29

Every time he found the word sky, he usually translate it as

Heaven

Huwal lazi khalaqa lakum ma_ fil ardi jami'an summas tawa_
ilas sama_'i fasawwa_hunna sab'a sama_wa_t(in), wa
huwa bikulli syai'in 'alim(un).

His wrong translation: It is He who hath created for you all

things that are on earth; moreover His design comprehended
the heavens for He gave order and perfection to the seven
firmaments; and of all things he hath perfect knowledge.

Pickthall wrong translation: He it is Who created for you all

that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and
fashioned it as seven heavens. And He is Knower of all
things.
They are both wrong, because Allahu Ta’ala nor Rasulullah
never said that Heaven(Paradise) number is 7, the correct
translation is “7 skies,” not about atmosphere layers, but the
skies below Heaven or garden of Eden(Jannah). They
repeated the same mistakes in QS.2:59

5.QS.Al Baqarah(2):31

Wa 'allama a_damal asma_'a kullaha_ summa 'aradahum

alal mala_'ikati fa qa_la ambi'u_ni bi asma_'i ha_'ula_'i in
kuntum sa_diqin(a).

His translation: And He taught Adam the nature of all things;

then He placed them before the angels and said: "Tell Me the
nature of these if ye are right."

The correct translation for asma’ is names, Allahu Ta’ala

only asked an easy things that was the things name.
And he (Abdullah Yusuf A.)repeated the same mistake in
QS.2:33,

6.Al Baqarah(2):56

Summa ba'asna_kum mim ba'di mautikum la'allakum

tasykuru_n(a).

His right translation: Then We raised you up after your death;

ye had the chance to be grateful.

Pickthall's wrong translation: Then We revived you after

your extinction, that ye might give thanks.
7. QS.Al Baqarah(2):58

Wa iz qulnad khulu_ ha_zihil qaryata fa qulu_ minha_ haisu

syi'tum ragadaw wadkhulul ba_ba sujjadaw wa qu_lu_
hittatun nagfir lakum khata_ya_kum, wa sanazidul
muhsinin(a).

And remember We said: "Enter this town and eat of the

plenty therein as ye wish; but enter the gate with humility in
posture and in words and We shall forgive you your faults
and increase (the portion of) those who do good."

The word “hittatun” means repentance not “with humility

in posture and in words.”