Because of One Vowel

This is how Professor A. J. Arberry has translated Verse 39 of the chapter of the Quran entitled “Pilgrimage”:

Leave is given to those who fight because they were wronged—surely God is able to help them.

It can be seen that he has rendered the verb “to fight” into the active voice, whereas in the original Arabic it is in the passive voice. There is a difference of one vowel between the active and passive forms of this verb. N. J. Dawood has correctly translated the verse as follows:

Permission to take up arms is hereby given to those who are attacked, because they have been wronged: God has power to grant them victory.

This translation shows that the Prophet and his companions only fought when they were attacked, whereas Professor Arberry’s translation gives one the impression that Muslims took up arms themselves, without provocation from the other side. □