March 23, 2026 - Drew Golden
If you have not read the introduction to this series on Arabic Bible Translations, please do so before proceeding with this post.
The following five Arabic bible translations are compared across multiple topics below:
The Van Dyck
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
All English scripture will be provided from NIV. The Arabic transliteration and English translation of the Arabic texts has been done by AI. If you are interested in the process you can find an explanation here.
*The order the translations are listed here is arbitrary and not meant to signify a ranking system.
NIV
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
The Van Dyck
«اِسْمَعْ يَا إِسْرَائِيلُ: ٱلرَّبُّ إِلَهُنَا رَبٌّ وَاحِدٌ .
Ismaʿ yā Isrāʾīl: ar-Rabbu ilāhunā Rabbun wāḥid.
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
اسْمَعُوا يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ: الرَّبُّ إِلَهُنَا رَبٌّ وَاحِدٌ،
Ismaʿū yā Banī Isrāʾīl: ar-Rabbu ilāhunā Rabbun wāḥid.
Hear, O sons of Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord,
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
اِسْمَعْ يَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، الْمَوْلَى إِلَهُنَا هُوَ اللهُ الْأَحَدُ.
Ismaʿ yā Isrāʾīl, al-Mawlā ilāhunā huwa Allāh al-Aḥad.
Hear, O Israel, the Master, our God, he is Allah, the One
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
”إسمعوا يا بَني إِسرائيلَ: الرّبُّ إلهُنا ربٌّ واحدٌ،
Ismaʿū yā Banī Isrāʾīl: ar-Rabbu ilāhunā Rabbun wāḥid.
Hear, O sons of Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord,
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
يا بني يعقوب اسمعوا وعوا، الله هو الواحد الأحد،
Yā banī Yaʿqūb ismaʿū waʿū, Allāhu huwa al-wāḥid al-aḥad.
O sons of Jacob, hear and understand, Allah—he is the One, the One.
Key takeaways:
In Deuteronomy 6:4, the Van Dyck, Kitāb al-ḥayāh, and Good News translations all preserve the LORD language while keeping it linguistically distinct from the common noun for “our God” (often “ilāhunā”) in this verse.
The Sharif and the True Meaning translations view the affirmation of God’s supremacy and oneness in the Hebrew Shema as an opportunity. With it, they try to bridge the gap to Islam. Yet doing so conflates the biblical definition of God’s oneness with the Islamic definition.
Both translations use one of the 99 names of Allah in Islam when they say “Allāh al-Aḥad” or “God, the One” instead of “Rabbun wāḥid” or “one LORD.” This particular name of God in Islam carries with it an understanding that God can have no partners and stands in opposition to the divinity of Christ.
In addition, the translations undermine the clarity of the uniqueness of the divine name and treat it as if it were just another common noun for God that could be applied to someone other than the God of Abraham, the I AM.
NIV
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
The Van Dyck
لِأَنَّكَ إِنِ ٱعْتَرَفْتَ بِفَمِكَ بِٱلرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ ، وَآمَنْتَ بِقَلْبِكَ أَنَّ ٱللهَ أَقَامَهُ مِنَ ٱلْأَمْوَاتِ، خَلَصْتَ.
Li’anna‑ka in iʿtarafa‑ta bi‑famika bi‑ar‑rabbi Yasūʿ, wa‑āmanta bi‑qalbika anna Allāha aqāma‑hu mina al‑amwāt, khelaṣta.
Because you if you confessed with your mouth with the Lord Jesus, and you believed with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you were saved.
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
أَنَّكَ إِنِ اعْتَرَفْتَ بِفَمِكَ بِيَسُوعَ رَبّاً، وَآمَنْتَ فِي قَلْبِكَ بِأَنَّ اللهَ أَقَامَهُ مِنَ الأَمْوَاتِ، نِلْتَ الْخَلاصَ.
Anna‑ka in iʿtarafa‑ta bi‑famika bi‑Yasūʿa Rabbān, wa‑āmanta fī qalbika bi‑anna Allāha aqāma‑hu mina al‑amwāt, nilta al‑khalāṣa.
That you, if you confessed with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and you believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you obtained salvation.
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
وَهِيَ: إِنْ كُنْتَ تَشْهَدُ بِفَمِكَ وَتَقُولُ: ”عِيسَى هُوَ مَوْلَانَا“ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تُؤْمِنُ بِقَلْبِكَ أَنَّ اللهَ أَقَامَهُ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِنَّكَ تَنْجُو.
Wa‑hiya: in kunta tashhadu bi‑famika wa taqūlu: “ʿĪsā huwa mawlānā” wa in kunta tu’minu bi‑qalbika anna Allāha aqāma‑hu mina al‑mawt fa‑innaka tanjū.
And it is: if you testify with your mouth and say: “Jesus is our Master,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved.
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
فإذا شَهِدْتَ بِلِسانِكَ أنَّ يَسوعَ رَبٌّ، وآمنتَ بِقَلبِكَ أنَّ اللهَ أقامَهُ مِنْ بَينِ الأمواتِ، نِلتَ الخلاصَ.
Fa‑idhā shahidta bi‑lisānika anna Yasūʿa Rabbun, wa‑āmanta bi‑qalbika anna Allāha aqāma‑hu min‑bayni al‑amwāt, nilta al‑khalāṣa.
So if you testified with your tongue that Jesus [is] Lord, and you believed in your heart that God raised him from among the dead, you obtained salvation.
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
كذلِكَ إن كُنتَ شاهِدًا بلِسانِكَ أنّ عيسى سَيِّدُ العالَمِينَ، وإن كُنتَ مُتَيَقِّنًا مِن كُلِّ قَلبِكَ أنّ اللهَ أحياهُ مِنَ المَوتِ، فإنّكَ مِن النّاجينَ.
Ka-dhālika in kunta shāhidān bi‑lisānika anna ʿĪsā Sayyid al-ʿĀlamīn, wa‑in kunta mutayaqqinan min kulli qalbika anna Allāha aḥyā‑hu mina al‑mawt, fa‑innaka min an-nājīn.
Likewise, if you are a witness with your tongue that Jesus [is] Master of the worlds, and if you are certain from all your heart that God raised him from death, then you are among the saved.
NIV
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The Van Dyck
لِأَنَّ «كُلَّ مَنْ يَدْعُو بِٱسْمِ ٱلرَّبِّ يَخْلُصُ ».
Li’anna “kulla man yadʿū bi‑ism al‑rabbi yakhluṣu.”
Because “everyone who calls by the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
«فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مَنْ يَدْعُو بِاسْمِ الرَّبِّ يَخْلُصُ».
Fa‑inna kulla man yadʿū bi‑ism ar‑Rabb yakhluṣu.
“For indeed everyone who calls by the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
كَمَا يَقُولُ الْكِتَابُ: ”كُلُّ مَنْ يَبْتَهِلُ إِلَى الْمَوْلَى يَنْجُو.“
Kamā yaqūlu al‑kitābu: “Kullu man yabtahilu ilā al‑mawlā yanjū.”
As the Scripture says: “Everyone who cries out to the Master will be saved.”
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
فالكِتابُ يَقولُ: ”كُلُّ مَنْ يَدعو باَسمِ الرَّبِّ يَخلُصُ“.
Fa‑al‑kitābu yaqūlu: “Kullu man yadʿū bi‑ismi ar‑Rabb yakhluṣu.”
So the Scripture says: “Everyone who calls by the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
وهو ما وَرَدَ في كِتابِ النَّبيِّ يوئيل: "كُلُّ مَن يَستَغيثُ بمَولانا يُصبِحُ مِنَ النّاجينَ".
Wa‑huwa mā warada fī kitābi an‑nabiyy Yūʾīl: “Kullu man yastaghīthu bi‑mawlānā yuṣbiḥu mina an-nājīn.”
And this is what is recorded in the book of the prophet Joel: “Everyone who seeks help from our Master becomes among the saved.”
NIV
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
The Van Dyck
فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْوَقْتِ أَجَابَ يَسُوعُ وَقَالَ : «أَحْمَدُكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلْآبُ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَاءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ، لِأَنَّكَ أَخْفَيْتَ هَذِهِ عَنِ ٱلْحُكَمَاءِ وَٱلْفُهَمَاءِ وَأَعْلَنْتَهَا لِلْأَطْفَالِ.»
Fī dhālika al‑waqti ajāba Yasūʿu wa qāla: “Aḥmaduka ayyuhā al‑Ābu Rabb as‑samāʾi wa al‑arḍi, li’anna‑ka akhfaita hādhihi ʿani al‑ḥukamāʾi wa al‑fuhamāʾi wa aʿlantahā lil‑aṭfāli.”
At that time Jesus answered and said: “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these from the wise and the understanding ones, and have revealed them to the children.”
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
وَفِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ، تَكَلَّمَ يَسُوعُ فَقَالَ: «أَحْمَدُكَ أَيُّهَا الآبُ، رَبَّ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ، لأَنَّكَ حَجَبْتَ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ عَنِ الْحُكَمَاءِ وَالْفُهَمَاءِ، وَكَشَفْتَهَا لِلأَطْفَالِ!»
Wa fī dhālika al‑waqti, takallama Yasūʿu fa qāla: “Aḥmaduka ayyuhā al‑Ābu, Rabb as‑samāʾi wa al‑arḍi, li’anna‑ka ḥajabta hādhihi al‑umūr ʿani al‑ḥukamāʾi wa al‑fuhamāʾi, wa kashaftahā lil‑aṭfāli!”
And at that time, Jesus spoke and said: “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these matters from the wise and the understanding, and have revealed them to the children!”
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
وَتَكَلَّمَ عِيسَى فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ وَقَالَ: ”أَحْمَدُكَ يَا أَبِي، يَا رَبَّ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ، لِأَنَّكَ أَخْفَيْتَ هَذِهِ الْأُمُورَ عَنِ الْحُكَمَاءِ وَالْعُلَمَاءِ، وَكَشَفْتَهَا لِلْبُسَطَاءِ.“
Wa‑takallama ʿĪsā fī dhālika al‑waqti wa qāla: “Aḥmaduka yā Abī, yā Rabb as‑samāʾi wa al‑arḍi, li’anna‑ka akhfaita hādhihi al‑umūr ʿani al‑ḥukamāʾi wa al‑ʿulamāʾi, wa kashaftahā lil‑busṭāʾi.”
And Jesus spoke at that time and said: “I praise You, O Father, O Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these matters from the wise and the scholars, and revealed them to the simple.”
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
وتكَلَّمَ يَسوعُ في ذلِكَ الوَقتِ فقَالَ: ”أحمَدُكَ يا أبي، يا ربَّ السَّماءِ والأرضِ، لأنَّكَ أظْهرتَ للبُسطاءِ ما أخفَيْتَهُ عَنِ الحُكَماءِ والفُهَماءِ.“
Wa takallama Yasūʿu fī dhālika al‑waqti fa qāla: “Aḥmaduka yā Abī, yā Rabb as‑samāʾi wa al‑arḍi, li’anna‑ka aẓhart lil‑busṭāʾi mā akhfaitahu ʿani al‑ḥukamāʾi wa al‑fuhamāʾi.”
And Jesus spoke at that time and said: “I praise You, O Father, O Lord of heaven and earth, because You have revealed to the simple what You have hidden from the wise and understanding.”
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
ثُمّ تَوَجَّهَ سَيِّدُنا عيسى (سلامُهُ علينا) إلى اللهِ داعيًا: "اللهُمّ أيُّها الأبُ الصَّمَدُ، أحمَدُكَ يا رَبَّ السَّماواتِ والأرضِ، فقد أخفَيتَ سِرَّ رِسالتي عنِ الّذينَ يَحسَبونَ أنّهم حُكَماءُ وأصحابُ عِلمٍ، وكَشَفتَها لهؤلاءِ البُسَطاءِ المُتَواضِعينَ مِن عِبادِكَ!"
Thumma tawajjaha Sayyidunā ʿĪsā (salāmu‑hu ʿalaynā) ilā Allāhi dāʿiyan: “Allāhumm ayyuhā al‑Abu al‑Ṣamad, Aḥmaduka yā Rabb as‑samāwāti wa al‑arḍi, faqad akhfaita sirra risālati ʿani alladhīna yaḥsabūna annahum ḥukamāʾu wa aṣḥābu ʿilmin, wa kashaftahā lihā’ulā’i al‑busṭāʾi al‑mutawāḍiʿīna min ʿibādika!”
Then our Master Jesus (peace be upon him) turned to God, calling: “O Allah, O Eternal Father, I praise You, O Lord of the heavens and the earth, for You have hidden the secret of my message from those who consider themselves wise and knowledgeable, and have revealed it to these humble simple ones among Your servants!”
Key takeaways:
It is clear from Romans 10:9, 13, and Matthew 11:25 that both the Sharif and True Meaning translations make a linguistic distinction between when Christ and God the Father are attributed the title “Kyrios” or Lord.
They are both willing to call the Father “yā Rabb” or “Lord” in Matthew. Yet in both verses from Romans 10, they are unwilling to attribute the same title to Christ, even though the word is the same in the Greek. This distinction undercuts the biblical foundation for the doctrine of the Trinity.
NIV
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
The Van Dyck
ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ قَلِيلًا وَخَرَّ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي قَائِلًا: «يَا أَبَتَاهُ، إِنْ أَمْكَنَ فَلْتَعْبُرْ عَنِّي هَذِهِ ٱلْكَأْسُ، وَلَكِنْ لَيْسَ كَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنَا بَلْ كَمَا تُرِيدُ أَنْتَ».
Thumma taqaddama qalīlan wa kharra ʿalā wajhihi, wa kāna yuṣallī qāʾilan: “Yā Abatāhu, in amkana faltuʿbura ʿannī hādhihi al‑kāsu, wa lākin laysa kamā urīdu anā bal kamā turīdu anta.”
Then he went a little forward and fell on his face, and was praying, saying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, but not as I will, but as You will.”
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
وَابْتَعَدَ عَنْهُمْ قَلِيلاً وَارْتَمَى عَلَى وَجْهِهِ يُصَلِّي، قَائِلاً: «يَا أَبِي، إِنْ كَانَ مُمْكِناً، فَلْتَعْبُرْ عَنِّي هَذِهِ الْكَأْسُ: وَلَكِنْ، لَا كَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنَا، بَلْ كَمَا تُرِيدُ أَنْتَ!»
Wa ibtaʿada ʿanhum qalīlan wa irtamā ʿalā wajhihi yuṣallī, qāʾilan: “Yā Abī, in kāna mumkinan, faltuʿbura ʿannī hādhihi al‑kāsu: wa lākin, lā kamā urīdu anā, bal kamā turīdu anta!”
And he withdrew from them a little and threw himself on his face praying, saying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; but not as I will, but as You will!”
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
ثُمَّ ابْتَعَدَ قَلِيلًا، وَسَجَدَ وَجَبْهَتُهُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَصَلَّى وَقَالَ: ”يَا أَبِي، إِنْ أَمْكَنَ، أَبْعِدْ عَنِّي هَذِهِ الْكَأْسَ. لَكِنْ لَا كَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنَا، بَلْ مَا تُرِيدُ أَنْتَ.“
Thumma ibtaʿada qalīlan, wa sajada wa jabhatu-hu ilā al‑arḍi wa ṣallā wa qāla: “Yā Abī, in amkana, abʿid ʿannī hādhihi al‑kāsu. Lākin lā kamā urīdu anā, bal mā turīdu anta.”
Then he withdrew a little, and prostrated his forehead to the ground and prayed, saying: “My Father, if it is possible, remove this cup from me; but not as I will, but as You will.”
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
واَبتَعَدَ عنهُم قَليلًا واَرتَمى على وجهِهِ وصلَّى فَقالَ: ”إنْ أمكَنَ يا أبي، فلْتَعبُرْ عنِّي هذِهِ الكأسُ. ولكن لا كما أنا أُريدُ، بل كما أنتَ تُريدُ“.
Wa‑ibtaʿada ʿanhum qalīlan wa irtamā ʿalā wajhihi wa ṣallā fa qāla: “In amkana yā Abī, faltuʿbura ʿannī hādhihi al‑kāsu. Walākin lā kamā anā urīdu, bal kamā anta turīdu.”
And he withdrew from them a little and threw himself on his face and prayed, saying: “If it is possible, my Father, let this cup pass from me; but not as I will, but as You will.”
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
ثُمّ ابتَعَدَ عَنهُم وخَرَّ على الأرضِ ساجِدًا مُصَلّيًا مُناجيًا رَبَّهُ: "اللهُمّ يا أبي الصَّمَدُ، ألا أبعَدتَ عنّي كأسَ الآلامِ، ولكنْ ليَكُن ما تُريدُ لا ما أُريدُ".
Thumma ibtaʿada ʿanhum wa kharra ʿalā al‑arḍi sājidan muṣalliyan munājiyan Rabbahu: “Allāhumm yā Abī al‑Ṣamad, alā abʿadta ʿannī kāsa al‑ālam, walākin li‑yakun mā turīdu lā mā urīdu.”
Then he withdrew from them and fell on the ground, prostrating, praying, and communing with his Lord, saying: “O Allah, my Eternal Father, did You not remove from me the cup of suffering? But let what You will be done, not what I will.”
NIV
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
The Van Dyck
وَصَوْتٌ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ قَائِلًا: «هَذَا هُوَ ٱبْنِي ٱلْحَبِيبُ ٱلَّذِي بِهِ سُرِرْتُ».
Wa ṣawtun mina as‑samāwāti qāʾilan: “Hādhā huwa ibnī al‑ḥabību alladhī bihi surirtu.”
And a voice from the heavens, saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
وَإذَا صَوْتٌ مِنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ يَقُولُ: «هَذَا هُوَ ابْنِي الْحَبِيبُ، الَّذِي بِهِ سُرِرْتُ كُلَّ سُرُورٍ!»
Wa idhā ṣawtun mina as-samāwāti yaqūlu: “Hādhā huwa ibnī al-ḥabīb, alladhī bihi surirtu kulla surūrin!”
And behold, a voice from the heavens saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I was pleased with all pleasure!”
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
وَجَاءَ صَوْتٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ يَقُولُ: ”هَذَا هُوَ ابْنِي حَبِيبِي الَّذِي يُفَرِّحُنِي.“
Wa jāʾa ṣawtun mina as-samāʾi yaqūlu: “Hādhā huwa ibnī ḥabībī alladhī yufarriḥunī.”
And a voice came from the heaven saying: “This is my Son, my beloved, who gladdens me.”
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
وقالَ صوتٌ مِنَ السَّماءِ: ”هذا هوَ اَبني الحبيبُ الّذي بهِ رَضِيتُ“.
Wa qāla ṣawtun mina as-samāʾi: “Hādhā huwa ibnī al-ḥabību alladhī bihi raḍītu.”
And a voice from the heaven said: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I was pleased.”
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
وأقبَلَ مِن السَّماءِ صَوتٌ يَقولُ: "هوذا الحَبيبُ، الابنُ الرُّوحيُّ لي، وقد رَضِيتُ عَنهُ كُلَّ الرِّضى".
Wa aqbala mina as-samāʾi ṣawtun yaqūlu: “Hādhā al-ḥabību, al-ibnu ar-rūḥiyyu lī, wa qad raḍītu ʿanhu kulla ar-riḍā.”
And a voice came from the heaven saying: “Behold, the beloved, the spiritual son of me, and indeed I was pleased with him with all the pleasure.”
NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The Van Dyck
لِأَنَّهُ هَكَذَا أَحَبَّ ٱللهُ ٱلْعَالَمَ حَتَّى بَذَلَ ٱبْنَهُ ٱلْوَحِيدَ، لِكَيْ لَا يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ، بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلْحَيَاةُ ٱلْأَبَدِيَّةُ.
Li-annahu hakadhā aḥabba Allāhu al-ʿālam ḥattā badhala ibnahū al-waḥīd, li-kay lā yahlika kullu man yu’minu bihi, bal takūnu lahu al-ḥayāt al-abadiyyah.
And for thus God loved the world, even to the point that He gave His only Son, so that not everyone who believes in him should perish, but may have eternal life.
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
لأَنَّهُ هكَذَا أَحَبَّ اللهُ الْعَالَمَ حَتَّى بَذَلَ ابْنَهُ الْوَحِيدَ، لِكَيْ لَا يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ، بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ.
Li-annahu hakadhā aḥabba Allāhu al-ʿālam ḥattā badhala ibnahū al-waḥīd, li-kay lā yahlika kullu man yu’minu bihi, bal takūnu lahu al-ḥayāt al-abadiyyah.
And for thus God loved the world, even to the point that He gave His only Son, so that not everyone who believes in him should perish, but may have eternal life.
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
أَحَبَّ اللهُ كُلَّ النَّاسِ لِدَرَجَةِ أَنَّهُ بَذَلَ ابْنَهُ الْفَرِيدَ لِكَيْ لَا يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ، بَلْ يَنَالَ حَيَاةَ الْخُلُودِ.
Aḥabba Allāhu kull al-nās li-darajatī annahu badhala ibnahū al-farīd li-kay lā yahlika kullu man yu’minu bihi, bal yanālu ḥayāt al-khulūd.
And God loved all people to the degree that He gave His unique Son, so that not everyone who believes in him should perish, but may obtain eternal life.
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
هكذا أحبَّ اللهُ العالَمَ حتّى وهَبَ اَبنَهُ الأوحَدَ، فَلا يَهلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤمِنُ بِه، بل تكونُ لَهُ الحياةُ الأبدِيَّةُ.
Hakadhā aḥabba Allāhu al-ʿālam ḥattā wahaba ibnahū al-awḥad, falā yahlika kullu man yu’minu bihi, bal takūnu lahu al-ḥayāt al-abadiyyah.
And thus God loved the world, even to the point that He gave His only Son, so that not everyone who believes in him should perish, but may have eternal life.
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
لقد أحَبَّ اللهُ كُلَّ البَشَر حتّى إنّهُ ضَحّى بالابنِ الرُّوحيِّ الفَريدِ لهُ تَعالى فِداءً لهُم، فلا خَوفَ على المؤمنينَ بِهِ مِن الهَلاكِ، لأنّ مَصيرَهُم دارُ الخُلدِ.
Laqad aḥabba Allāhu kull al-bashar ḥattā innahu ḍaḥḥā bil-ibni al-rūḥiyy al-farīd lahu taʿālā fidā’an lahum, falā khawf ʿalā al-mu’minīn bihi min al-halāk, li’anna maṣīruhum dār al-khuld.
And God loved all humanity to the extent that He sacrificed His unique spiritual Son for them, so that there is no fear of perishing for those who believe in Him, because their destiny is the abode of eternal life.
Key takeaways:
In Matt 26:39, the only translation that failed to translate God the Father formally was the True Meaning translation. While it still included the word for father, it added the words Allah and Eternal. In this context, these words downplay the title of father and the relational emphasis that it holds. This implies that “father” is just another way to call God, “creator.”
In Matt 3:17, the True Meaning translation is once again the culprit. It introduces doubt into the nature of Jesus’ sonship by adding the word “spiritual.”
In John 3:16, every translation but the Sharif and True Meaning translates “only son” as “ibnahū al-waḥīd.” Yet the Sharif and True Meaning swap out the word “al-waḥīd” for “farīd,” meaning unique instead.
The way in which Christ is the Son is unique from the way any human male is a son. Yet both translations add the word unique, which is not present in the text, for fear of implying literal sonship. This introduces a way for someone from an Islamic position to downplay the trinitarian father and son language as a metaphor for creator or lord aspects of who God is.
The True Meaning takes this even farther than the Sharif by once again adding the term “spiritual” as well.
NIV
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
The Van Dyck
لِأَنَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ ٱلرَّبِّ ؟ وَمَنْ هُوَ صَخْرَةٌ سِوَى إِلَهِنَا؟
Li’annahū man huwa ilāhun ghayru ar-rabbi? wa man huwa ṣakhratun siwā ilāhinā?
Because who is a god besides the Lord? and who is a rock except our God?
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
فَمَنْ هُوَ إِلْهٌ غَيْرُ الرَّبِّ؟ وَمَنْ هُوَ صَخْرَةٌ سِوَى إِلَهِنَا؟
Fa-man huwa ilhun ghayru ar-Rabb? wa man huwa ṣakhratun siwā ilāhinā?
So who is a god besides the Lord? And who is a rock except our God?
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَلَا مَلْجَأَ غَيْرَ رَبِّنَا.
Lā ilāha illā Allāh, wa lā maljaʾa ghayra Rabbinā.
There is no god but Allah, and there is no refuge besides our Lord.
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
لا إلهَ غيرُ الرّبِّ، ولا خالقَ سِوى إلهنا.
Lā ilāha ghayru ar-Rabb, wa lā khāliqā siwā ilāhinā.
There is no god besides the Lord, and no creator except our God.
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
***Does not include Psalm 18 (many parts of the Old Testament are incomplete)
NIV
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
The Van Dyck
فَلَمَّا رَأَى جَمِيعُ ٱلشَّعْبِ ذَلِكَ سَقَطُوا عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ وَقَالُوا: «ٱلرَّبُّ هُوَ ٱللهُ! ٱلرَّبُّ هُوَ ٱللهُ !».
Fa-lammā raʾā jamīʿu ash-shaʿbi dhālika saqatū ʿalā wujūhihim wa qālū: “Ar-Rabbu huwa Allāh! Ar-Rabbu huwa Allāh!”
And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said: “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
فَلَمَّا شَاهَدَ جَمِيعُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ذَلِكَ خَرُّوا سَاجِدِينَ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ إِلَى الأَرْضِ هَاتِفِينَ: «الرَّبُّ هُوَ اللهُ! الرَّبُّ هُوَ اللهُ!»
Fa-lammā shāhada jamīʿu Banī Isrāʾīla dhālika kharrū sājidīn ʿalā wujūhihim ilā al-arḍi hātifīn: “Ar-Rabbu huwa Allāh! Ar-Rabbu huwa Allāh!”
And when all the children of Israel saw that, they fell prostrate on their faces to the ground, shouting: “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
فَلَمَّا رَأَى كُلُّ الشَّعْبِ ذَلِكَ، رَمَوْا نَفْسَهُمْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَقَالُوا: ”الْمَوْلَى هُوَ اللهُ! الْمَوْلَى هُوَ اللهُ!“
Fa-lammā raʾā kullu ash-shaʿbi dhālika, ramaw nafsahum ʿalā al-arḍi wa qālū: “Al-Mawlā huwa Allāh! Al-Mawlā huwa Allāh!”
And when all the people saw that, they threw themselves on the ground and said: “The Master is God! The Master is God!”
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
فلمَّا رأى ذلِكَ جميعُ الشَّعبِ سجَدوا إلى الأرضِ وقالوا: ”الرّبُّ هوَ الإلهُ، الرّبُّ هوَ الإلهُ“.
Fa-lammā raʾā dhālika jamīʿu ash-shaʿbi sajadū ilā al-arḍi wa qālū: “Ar-Rabbu huwa al‑Ilāh, Ar-Rabbu huwa al‑Ilāh.”
And when all the people saw that, they prostrated to the ground and said: “The Lord is God, the Lord is God.”
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
وعندما رأى ذلك الحاضرون سجدوا على الأرض هاتفين: "لا إلهَ إلاّ الله! لا إلهَ إلاّ الله!"
Wa ʿindamā raʾā dhālika al-ḥāḍirūn sajadū ʿalā al-arḍi hātifīn: “Lā ilāha illā Allāh! Lā ilāha illā Allāh!”
And when those present saw that, they prostrated on the ground, shouting: “There is no god but Allah! There is no god but Allah!”
Key takeaways:
In Psalms 18:31, the Van Dyck and Kitāb al-ḥayāh maintain a formal equivalent translation of the text that mirrors the NIV. They also both maintain the interrogative nature of the verse.
Both the Sharif and the Good News translations maintain dynamic equivalence by attempting to translate the concept of God as Holy and distinct, which lies behind the original question. The Sharif translation takes it a step further than its counterpart by using the first half of the Islamic Shahada as the translation of this idea.
The True Meaning Translation is incomplete and does not currently include Psalm 18.
In 1 Kings 18:39, the True Meaning translation chooses to use the Shahada twice. In this context, the Sharif does not use the Shahada and uses the word “Al-Mawlā” or master instead of Lord. It used this same term to translate “kyrios” when describing Jesus in Romans 10:9 and 13. This is curious because when “kyrios” was used for God the Father in Matthew 11:25, the Sharif translated it to the word “yā Rabb,” which is the more common word for Lord.
In incorporating the first half of the Shahada, the translators of the Sharif and True Meaning translations are trying to provide a “bridge” for Muslim readers. Yet in doing so, they distort God’s Word by forcing it into passages and conflate the Christian and Islamic views of the oneness of God.
NIV
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Van Dyck
كُلُّ ٱلْكِتَابِ هُوَ مُوحًى بِهِ مِنَ ٱللهِ، وَنَافِعٌ لِلتَّعْلِيمِ وَٱلتَّوْبِيخِ، لِلتَّقْوِيمِ وَٱلتَّأْدِيبِ ٱلَّذِي فِي ٱلْبِرِّ، لِكَيْ يَكُونَ إِنْسَانُ ٱللهِ كَامِلًا، مُتَأَهِّبًا لِكُلِّ عَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ.
Kullu al-kitābi huwa mūḥā bihī mina Allāh, wa nāfiʿun lil-taʿlīm wa al-tawbīkh, lil-taqwīm wa al-taʾdīb alladhī fī al-birr, likay yakūna insānu Allāhi kāmilan, mutaʾahhiban likulli ʿamalin ṣāliḥ.
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching and rebuking, for correcting and disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, prepared for every good work.
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
إِنَّ الْكِتَابَ بِكُلِّ مَا فِيهِ، قَدْ أَوْحَى بِهِ اللهُ؛ وَهُوَ مُفِيدٌ لِلتَّعْلِيمِ وَالتَّوْبِيخِ وَالتَّقْوِيمِ وَتَهْذِيبِ الإِنْسَانِ فِي الْبِرِّ، لِكَيْ يَجْعَلَ إِنْسَانَ اللهِ مُؤَهَّلاً تَأَهُّلاً كَامِلاً، وَمُجَهَّزاً لِكُلِّ عَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ.
Inna al-kitāba bikulli mā fīhi, qad awḥā bihī Allāh; wa huwa mufīdun lil-taʿlīm wa al-tawbīkh wa al-taqwīm wa tahdhīb al-insāni fī al-birr, likay yajʿala insāna Allāhi mu’ahhilan taʾahhulan kāmilan, wa mujahażan likulli ʿamalin ṣāliḥ.
16All Scripture, with all that is in it, has been inspired by God; and it is useful for teaching and rebuking, for correcting and disciplining a person in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be fully qualified and equipped for every good work.
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
كُلُّ الْكِتَابِ هُوَ مُوحًى بِهِ مِنَ اللهِ، وَنَافِعٌ لِتَعْلِيمِ الْحَقِّ، وَتَوْبِيخِ الضَّلَالِ، وَتَصْحِيحِ الْخَطَأِ، وَالْإِرْشَادِ إِلَى الصَّلَاحِ. لِيَكُونَ الشَّخْصُ الَّذِي يَنْتَمِي لِلّٰهِ مُجَهَّزًا وَمُؤَهَّلًا لِيَقُومَ بِكُلِّ عَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ.
Kullu al-kitābi huwa mūḥā bihī mina Allāh, wa nāfiʿun li-taʿlīm al-ḥaqq, wa tawbīkh al-ḍalāl, wa taṣḥīḥ al-khaṭaʾ, wa al-irshād ilā al-ṣalāḥ. Li-yakūna al-shakhsu alladhī yantamī li-Allāh mujahhazan wa mu’ahhalan li-yaqūma bikulli ʿamalin ṣāliḥ.
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting mistakes, and guiding toward righteousness. So that the person who belongs to God may be equipped and qualified to carry out every good work.
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
فالكِتابُ كُلُّهُ مِنْ وَحيِ اللهِ، يُفيدُ في التَّعليمِ والتَّفنيدِ والتَّقويمِ والتَّأديبِ في البِرِّ، ليكونَ رَجُلُ اللهِ كامِلًا مُستَعِدًّا لِكلِّ عَمَلٍ صالِحٍ.
Fa‑l-kitābu kulluhu min waḥyi Allāh, yufīdu fī al-taʿlīm wa al-tafnīd wa al-taqwīm wa al-taʾdīb fī al-birr, Li-yakūna rajulu Allāhi kāmilan mustaʿiddan likulli ʿamalin ṣāliḥ.
All Scripture is from the inspiration of God, and is useful for teaching, refuting, correcting, and disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, prepared for every good work.
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
فهذِهِ الكُتُبُ كُلُّها وَحيٌ مِن اللهِ، تُفيدُ في التَّعليمِ وفي رَدِّ الضَّلالِ وفي تَصحيحِ الخَطإ وفي الإرشادِ إلى ما يُرضي اللهَ، وبالإيمانِ بهذِهِ الكُتُبِ يَكونُ المؤمنُ التَّقيُّ الصّالِحُ مُؤهَّلاً لِلقِيامِ بِكُلِّ الأعمالِ الصّالِحةِ.
Fahādhihi al-kutub kulluhā waḥyun mina Allāh, tufīdu fī al-taʿlīm wa fī radd al-ḍalāl wa fī taṣḥīḥ al-khaṭaʾ wa fī al-irshād ilā mā yurḍī Allāh, Wa bi-al-īmān bihādhihi al-kutub yakūnu al-muʾminu al-taqīyu al-ṣāliḥ mu’ahhalan li-l-qiyāmi bikulli al-aʿmāli al-ṣāliḥah.
All these books are inspired by God, and are useful for teaching, refuting error, correcting mistakes, and guiding toward what pleases God, and by believing in these books the devout righteous believer is qualified to carry out every good work.
NIV
He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
The Van Dyck
كَمَا فِي ٱلرَّسَائِلِ كُلِّهَا أَيْضًا، مُتَكَلِّمًا فِيهَا عَنْ هَذِهِ ٱلْأُمُورِ، ٱلَّتِي فِيهَا أَشْيَاءُ عَسِرَةُ ٱلْفَهْمِ، يُحَرِّفُهَا غَيْرُ ٱلْعُلَمَاءِ وَغَيْرُ ٱلثَّابِتِينَ، كَبَاقِي ٱلْكُتُبِ أَيْضًا، لِهَلَاكِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ.
Kamā fī al‑rasāʾili kullihā ayḍan, mutakalliman fīhā ʿan hādhihi al-umūr, allātī fīhā ashiyāʾu ʿasratu al-fahmi, yuḥarrifuhā ghayru al-ʿulamāʾ wa ghayru al-thābitīn, kabāqī al‑kutubi ayḍan, li-halāki anfusihim.
As in all the letters, speaking in them about these matters, in which are things difficult to understand, those not knowledgeable and not steadfast distort them, as with the rest of the Scriptures also, to their own destruction.
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
وَمَا كَتَبَهُ فِي رِسَالَتِهِ إِلَيْكُمْ، يُوَافِقُ مَا كَتَبَهُ فِي بَاقِي رَسَائِلِهِ. وَفِي تِلْكَ الرَّسَائِلِ كُلِّهَا أُمُورٌ صَعْبَةُ الْفَهْمِ، يُحَرِّفُهَا الْجُهَّالُ وَغَيْرُ الرَّاسِخِينَ فِي الْحَقِّ، كَمَا يُحَرِّفُونَ غَيْرَهَا أَيْضاً مِنَ الْكِتَابَاتِ الْمُوْحَى بِها، فَيَجْلِبُونَ الْهَلاكَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ.
Wa-mā katabahu fī risālatihi ilaykum, yuwāfiqu mā katabahu fī bāqī rasāʾilih. Wa fī tilka al‑rasāʾili kullihā umūr ṣaʿbatu al-fahmi, yuḥarrifuhā al-juhhāl wa ghayru al-rāsikhīn fī al-ḥaqq, kamā yuḥarrifūna ghayrahā ayḍan mina al‑kitābāti al-mūḥā bihā, fayajlibūna al-halāka ʿalā anfusihim.
And what he wrote in his letter to you corresponds to what he wrote in his other letters. And in all those letters are matters difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unsteady in the truth distort, just as they also distort others of the Scriptures inspired by God, bringing destruction upon themselves.
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
وَهَذَا هُوَ مَا يَكْتُبُهُ فِي كُلِّ رَسَائِلِهِ، عِنْدَمَا يَتَحَدَّثُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمُورِ. وَتُوجَدُ بَعْضُ الْأَشْيَاءِ فِي رَسَائِلِهِ صَعْبَةٌ عَلَى الْفَهْمِ، يُفَسِّرُهَا الْجُهَلَاءُ وَالضُّعَفَاءُ تَفْسِيرًا خَاطِئًا، كَمَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِبَاقِي الْكِتَابِ. وَبِذَلِكَ يَجْلِبُونَ الْهَلَاكَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ.
Wa-hādhā huwa mā yaktubuhu fī kulli rasāʾilihi, ʿindamā yataḥaddathu ʿan hādhihi al-umūr. Wa tujadu baʿḍu al-ashyāʾ fī rasāʾilihi ṣaʿbah ʿalā al-fahm, yufassiruhā al-juhhalāʾ wa al-ḍuʿafāʾ tafsīran khāṭiʾan, kamā yafʿalūna bi-bāqī al-kitāb. Wa bi-dhālika yajlibūna al-halāk ʿalā anfusihim.
And this is what he writes in all his letters, when he speaks about these matters. And some things in his letters are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and weak interpret wrongly, just as they do with the rest of the Scriptures. And in this way they bring destruction upon themselves.
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
كما هِيَ الحالُ في جميعِ رَسائِلِهِ الّتي تكَلَّمَ فيها على هذِهِ المَسائِلِ. فورَدَت فيها أُمورٌ غامِضَةٌ يُحَرِّفُها الجُهّالُ وضُعَفاءُ النُّفوسِ، كما يَفعَلونَ في سائِرِ الكُتُبِ المُقَدَّسَةِ، لِهَلاكِ نُفوسِهِم.
Kamā hiya al-ḥālu fī jamīʿi rasāʾilihī allātī takallama fīhā ʿalā hādhihi al-masāʾil. Fa-uridat fīhā umūr ghāmiḍah yuḥarrifuhā al-juhhāl wa ḍuʿafāʾ al-nufūs, kamā yafʿalūna fī sāʾiri al‑kutubi al-muqaddasah, li-halāki nufūsihim.
As it is in all his letters in which he spoke about these matters, there appear in them obscure matters which the ignorant and weak of soul distort, just as they do in the rest of the holy Scriptures, bringing destruction upon their souls.
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
حينَ كَتَبَ عن هذِهِ المَسائلِ في كُلِّ رَسائِلِهِ، ولقد جاءَت فيها أُمورٌ يَصعُبُ فَهمُها ويُحَرِّفُ الجَهَلةُ وغَيرُ الرّاسِخينَ تَفسيرَها، كَما يَفعَلونَ في سائِرِ الكُتُبِ المُقَدَّسةِ، وهذا سيُؤدِّي بِهِم إلى الهَلاكِ.
ḥīna kataba ʿan hādhihi al-masāʾil fī kulli rasāʾilihī, wa laqad jāʾat fīhā umūr yaṣʿabu fahmuhā wa yuḥarrifu al-juhhalah wa ghayru al-rāsikhīn tafsīrahā, kamā yafʿalūna fī sāʾiri al‑kutubi al-muqaddasah, wa hādhā sayuʾaddī bihim ilā al-halāk.
When he wrote about these matters in all his letters, there came in them matters difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unsteady distort in their interpretation, just as they do in the rest of the holy Scriptures, and this will lead them to destruction.
Key takeaways:
In this section, the underlying translation choices are less obvious. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the inspiration of scripture is preserved across all five. It is evident that there is no clear way to translate “god breathed,” and the best Arabic translation is “inspired.” None of the translations used “sent down,” which is a common Islamic phrase for inspired.
Yet in 2 Peter 3:16, the translation of the word “scripture” is worth addressing. In all five, it is translated as a form of the word “al-kitāb.” The AI has translated this "scriptures" in English, but may literally translate closer to the word “writings.” While the context informs us that the meaning is “scriptures,” this word on its own does not fully encompass the meaning of the Greek word “graphē” that it is meant to translate.
The word “graphē” does not merely mean any scripture or writing, but specifically the holy and inspired scriptures. In almost every other context, it directly refers to the Old Testament alone. This is what makes this verse so important for our doctrine of the inspiration of the New Testament.
To maintain its formally equivalent nature, the Van Dyck chooses the “word-for-word” option by translating it “al‑kutubi” alone. While the Kitāb al-ḥayāh, Good News, and True Meaning translations try to better encompass the idea of “graphē” by adding the adjectives “inspired” or “holy” to their translation.
While I may be nitpicking, the Sharif translation of “al-kitāb” alone is odd to me. The Sharif is consistently a dynamically equivalent translation. If there is no firm commitment to a word-for-word translation, as with the Van Dyck, the translation is illogical. The Sharif remains vague and leaves the door open for the inspiration of Paul’s letters and the New Testament as a whole to be questioned.
NIV
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
The Van Dyck
ثُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلْعَسْكَرَ لَمَّا كَانُوا قَدْ صَلَبُوا يَسُوعَ، أَخَذُوا ثِيَابَهُ وَجَعَلُوهَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَقْسَامٍ، لِكُلِّ عَسْكَرِيٍّ قِسْمًا. وَأَخَذُوا ٱلْقَمِيصَ أَيْضًا. وَكَانَ ٱلْقَمِيصُ بِغَيْرِ خِيَاطَةٍ، مَنْسُوجًا كُلُّهُ مِنْ فَوْقُ.
Thumma inna al-ʿaskar lammā kānū qad ṣalabū Yasuʿ, akhadhū thiyābahū wa jaʿalūhā arbaʿa aqsām, li-kulli ʿaskarī qisman. Wa akhadhū al-qamīṣ ayḍan. Wa kāna al-qamīṣ bi-ghayri khiyāṭah, mansūjan kulluh min fawq.
Then indeed the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his clothes and made them into four parts, one part for each soldier. And they also took the tunic. And the tunic was without seam, woven entirely from top.
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
وَلَمَّا صَلَبَ الْجُنُودُ يَسُوعَ أَخَذُوا ثِيَابَهُ وَقَسَّمُوهَا إِلَى أَرْبَعَةِ أَقْسَامٍ، فَأَخَذَ كُلُّ جُنْدِيٍّ قِسْماً. وَأَخَذُوا الْقَمِيصَ أَيْضاً، وَكَانَ مَنْسُوجاً كُلُّهُ مِنْ قِطْعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، بِغَيْرِ خِيَاطَةٍ.
Wa lammā ṣalaba al-junūd Yasuʿ akhadhū thiyābahū wa qassamūhā ilā arbaʿat aqsām, fa-akhadha kullu jundī qisman. Wa akhadhū al-qamīṣ ayḍan, wa kāna mansūjan kulluh min qiṭʿah wāḥidah, bi-ghayri khiyāṭah.
And when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, so that each soldier took a part. And they also took the tunic, and it was woven entirely as a single piece, without seam.
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
وَأَمَّا الْعَسْكَرُ فَلَمَّا صَلَبُوا عِيسَى، أَخَذُوا ثِيَابَهُ وَقَسَّمُوهَا إِلَى أَقْسَامٍ، لِكُلِّ عَسْكَرِيٍّ قِسْمٌ. وَأَخَذُوا الْقَمِيصَ أَيْضًا، وَكَانَ قِطْعَةً وَاحِدَةً مَنْسُوجَةً مِنْ فَوْقُ إِلَى تَحْتُ بِغَيْرِ خِيَاطَةٍ.
Wa ammā al-ʿaskar falammā ṣalabū ʿĪsā, akhadhū thiyābahū wa qassamūhā ilā arbaʿ aqsām, li-kulli ʿaskarī qism. Wa akhadhū al-qamīṣ ayḍan, wa kāna qiṭʿatan wāḥidatan mansūjah min fawq ilā taḥt bi-ghayri khiyāṭah.
And as for the soldiers, when they crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier. And they also took the tunic, and it was a single piece woven from top to bottom without seam.
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
ولمَّا صَلَبَ الجُنودُ يَسوعَ أخَذوا ثيابَهُ وقَسَموها أربَعَ حِصَصٍ، لكُلِّ جُنديٍّ حِصَّةٌ. وأخذوا قَميصَهُ أيضًا وكانَ قِطعَةً واحدةً لا خِياطةَ بِها، مَنسوجَةً كُلُّها مِنْ أعلى إلى أسفلُ.
Wa lammā ṣalaba al-junūd Yasuʿ akhadhū thiyābahū wa qassamūhā arbaʿa ḥiṣaṣ, li-kulli jundī ḥiṣṣah. Wa akhadhū qamīṣahū ayḍan wa kāna qiṭʿah wāḥidah lā khiyāṭah bihā, mansūjah kulluhā min aʿlā ilā asfal.
And when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, one share for each soldier. And they also took his tunic, and it was a single piece, without seam, woven entirely from top to bottom.
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
وقَبلَ أن يَرفَعَ العَسكَرُ سَيِّدَنا عيسى (سلامُهُ علينا) على الصَّليبِ، جَرَّدوهُ مِن ثِيابِهِ وتَقاسَموها فيما بَينَهُم أربَعةَ أقسامٍ لكُلِّ عَسكرِيٍّ حِصَّةٌ مِنها، ثُمَّ أخَذوا رِداءَهُ المَنسوجَ قِطعةً واحدة،
Wa qabl an yarfaʿa al-ʿaskar Sayyidunā ʿĪsā (salāmuhu ʿalayh) ʿalā al-ṣalīb, jarradūhu min thiyābihī wa taqāsamūhā fīmā baynahum arbaʿa aqsām li-kulli ʿaskarī ḥiṣṣah minhā, thumma akhadhū ridāʾahū al-mansūj qiṭʿatan wāḥidah.
And before the soldiers raised our Lord Jesus (peace be upon him) on the cross, they stripped him of his clothes and divided them among themselves into four parts, one share for each soldier, then they took his woven robe as a single piece.
NIV
The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
The Van Dyck
فَأَتَى ٱلْعَسْكَرُ وَكَسَرُوا سَاقَيِ ٱلْأَوَّلِ وَٱلْآخَرِ ٱلْمَصْلُوبِ مَعَهُ.
Fa-atā al-ʿaskar wa kasarū sāqay al-awwal wa al-ākhir al-maṣlūb maʿahū.
And the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other crucified with him.
Kitāb al-ḥayāh
فَجَاءَ الْجُنُودُ وَكَسَرُوا سَاقَيْ كِلا الرَّجُلَيْنِ الْمَصْلُوبَيْنِ مَعَ يَسُوعَ.
Fa-jāʾa al-junūd wa kasarū sāqay kilā al-rajulayni al-maṣlūbayni maʿa Yasuʿ.
And the soldiers came and broke the legs of both the men crucified with Jesus.
The Sharif (or al-injīl ash-sharīf)
فَجَاءَ الْعَسْكَرُ وَكَسَرُوا سَاقَيِ الْأَوَّلِ وَالْآخَرِ الْمَصْلُوبَيْنِ مَعَ عِيسَى.
Fa-jāʾa al-ʿaskar wa kasarū sāqay al-awwal wa al-ākhir al-maṣlūbayn maʿa ʿĪsā.
Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and the other who were crucified with Jesus.
The Good News Arabic (or at-tarjamah al-mushtarakah)
فجاءَ الجُنودُ وكَسَروا ساقَي الأوَّلِ والآخِرِ المَصلوبَينِ معَ يَسوعَ.
Fajāʾa al-junūd wa kasarū sāqay al-awwal wa al-ākhir al-maṣlūbayn maʿa Yasuʿ.
And the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and the last crucified with Jesus.
The True Meaning of the Gospel of Christ (al-ma‘nā aṣ-ṣaḥīḥ li’injīl al-masīḥ)
فجاءَ العَسكَرُ للقِيامِ بتِلكَ المُهمّةِ فكَسَروا ساقَي الرَّجُلِ الأوَّلِ ثُمَّ الثّاني،
Fajāʾa al-ʿaskar lil-qiyām bi-tilka al-muhimmah fa-kasarū sāqay al-rajul al-awwal thumma al-thānī.
Then the soldiers came to carry out that task and broke the legs of the first man, then the second.
Key takeaways:
All of the translations except the True Meaning translate clearly about the crucifixtion of Christ.
The True Meaning translators were clearly uncomfortable with how to translate that Jesus was crucified. In verse 23, they begin by saying he was lifted onto the cross instead of saying crucified. This is ambiguous enough to fit within the Islamic narrative of it "appearing" as if Jesus was crucified. Then, in verse 32, where there is a definitive statement that Jesus was crucified in the past, the word is removed.
The core gospel message of the bible has been removed by the True Meaning translation.
References:
[1] Overview of Islamicized Bibles (Part 1) | Biblical Missiology Translation. (n.d.). https://translation.biblicalmissiology.org/islamicized-bibles-part-1/
[2] Translation examples and analysis | Biblical Missiology Translation. (n.d.). https://translation.biblicalmissiology.org/translation-examples-and-analysis/