Greetings Chummachos.
I was browsing your glorius forum looking for treasure, when I found this by accident! (I like Hassan somewhat-so the topic Thank You Hassan interested me!).
Anyway, I looked into the matter to see for myself if there is a mistake-not that I am AS' lap dog, and I have no idea who AK really is-I just want to see the truth and find out whether his articles which I do read sometimes are trustworthy. Anyway.
According to USC-which is a politically correct website when it comes to the Islamic sources it uses, I found three translations for each verse:
012.019
YUSUFALI: Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his bucket (into the well)...He said: "Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!" So they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah knoweth well all that they do!
PICKTHAL: And there came a caravan, and they sent their waterdrawer. He let down his pail (into the pit). He said: Good luck! Here is a youth. And they hid him as a treasure, and Allah was Aware of what they did.
SHAKIR: And there came travellers and they sent their water-drawer and he let down his bucket. He said: O good news! this is a youth; and they concealed him as an article of merchandise, and Allah knew what they did.
012.020
YUSUFALI: The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him!
PICKTHAL: And they sold him for a low price, a number of silver coins; and they attached no value to him.
SHAKIR: And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver, and they showed no desire for him.
I don't think AK made a huge mistake, I think as someone said he was using the YusufAli version which was a mistake considering the (inserted) word in Quranic translations is usually as reliable as an interfaith dialogue. So he should have used a firmer version, or translated it himself.
I personally am a Arabic understander (I forgot most words) but I can't understand a word of these verses-too cryptic and old styled or gobldegook. But maybe someone who understands Quranic arabic could write a word for word transliteration.
Aside from that, many Quranic contradictions do exist, everyone sees them, so perhaps it's not best to debunk the man's articles so quickly? By the way I don't think AS can afford to pay AK-he would probably rather write the articles himself.
