The perfection of the Qur'an has often been challenged, and skeptics go to far lengths to assert their positions. One of such methods used, is hastily looking for any and everything they are unable to understand in the Qur'an , and calling it a contradiction. Some of these claims mostly go unanswered, largely due to complacence on the part of Muslims, thereby causing antagonists to perpetuate these erroneous claims.
One of such alleged contradictions is the disparity between the translation of Surah Imran(3): 42,45 and Surah Maryam(19): 17. The following are from one of the English translations of The Qur'an:
- 3:42 --AND LO! The angels said: "O Mary! Behold, God has elected thee and made thee pure, and raised thee above all the women of the world.
وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَى نِسَاء الْعَالَمِين
- 3:45 --Lo! The angels said: "O Mary! Behold, God sends thee the glad tiding, through a word from Him, [of a son] who shall become known as the Christ Jesus, son of Mary, of great honour in this world and in the life to come, and [shall be] of those who are drawn near unto God.
إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلآئِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِالدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
- 19:17-- and kept herself in seclusion from them, whereupon We sent unto her Our angel of revelation, who appeared to her in the shape of a well-made human being.
فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا
Notice, that in Surah 3:42,45, the expression used is "Al Malaaikatu" (الْمَلاَئِكَةُ)
which literally means "the angels" while the expression used in Surah 19: 17 is not angel but "Spirit," "Ruhanaa"(رُوحَنَا)
So, linguistically, there can be no numerical contradiction between two different expressions with two different meanings, especially as these two expressions do not even emphasize number.
Furthermore, the expression "Al Malaaikatu" literally means "the angels." This expression can also take the linguistic pattern that God uses in The Qur'an to refer to Himself. God refers to Himself in the first person plural. This is a general theme in the Qur'an. Anyone who is familiar with the Arabic language instantly realizes the reason for this. "I" is a generic term used by humans in language, but since the status of God is above that of humans, the word "We" is rightly used to denote superior status.
So, when God speaks of particular angels given specific responsibility, like the angel of death, or the angel to whom righteous humans are sent, He refers to them as "Al malaaikatu" denoting a superior status than other angels.
Therefore, "Al Malaaikatu" which in some verses is translated as "the angels," should have been translated as "The Angel." The translation should reflect a proper noun for a superior status, instead of pluralizing the term.
We can see again, that what is often considered as a contradiction is based in part, on careless translations, and more as a result of hasty conclusions on the part of skeptics.
Wa Salam.
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