Chapter 14
Conviction No.9
“The "Real‟ Meaning of "Maheez"
in Quran is Not Menstruation”
The Quranic term AL-MUHEEZ does not define menstruation by women. It describes the spilling of blood in battles.
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“As the context of Verse 2:222 deals with battles, therefore, “AL- MUHEEZ” in fact describes the bloodshed during battles. Why would Quran describe a natural phenomenon encountered by women as a routine, and which has always been well known to humans?”
Please check the learned translator's translation of Verse 2:222 of Chapter Al-Baqarah on his forum, and the corresponding interpretation and discussion thereof. It goes like this:-
Verse No.2:222: “WA YAS‟ALOONA-KA „AN-IL-MUHEEDH; QUL HUWA AZAN, FA-A‟TAZILOO AN-NISAA‟A FIL-MUHEEDH; WA LAA TAQRABOO- HUNNA HATTAA YATAHHURNA; FA IZA TATAHHURNA FA-ATOO- HUNNA MIN HAYITHU AMARA-KUM-UL-LAAH; INN-AL-LAAHA YUHIBB- UT-TAWWABEENA WA YUHIBB-UL-MUTATAHHIREEN”.
Translation: And they will ask you about BLOOSHED; tell them that that's painful, therefore, in the case of bloodshed of weaker people, stay away from bloodshed; and do not establish relations with them as long as they do not purify themselves from non-divine commandments. However, when they are rid of non-divine commandments, go to them as is ordained in divine commandments. Verily, God's Kingdom favors those who repent and those who are free from non-divine commandments.
Now have a look at his subsequent interpretation:
“In this Verse the word used is “AL-MUHEEDH”. Its Root is h-y-dh. Allama Rashid Na‟maani writes : “….this is Noun of Time (Time of Hayidh), Noun of Space (Place of Hayidh) and Verbal Noun (Menstruation) meaning Menses, viz. that obnoxious blood which secrets from the ……..bacha-dani) of healthy, young, non-pregnant women during a particular time in a particular way”. (Lughat-ul-Quran, Vol.V, Page 332). Maheedh, as stated by Allama Sahib, is “Noun of Time and Space”, which means that the question is not about Menstruation's Place and Time, otherwise, the question will be out of place and the answer too will be out of place. Now the question remains whether the word “AL-MUHEEDH” should be taken in its “verbal noun” meanings, again the answer is in negative. Can a question be made about the particular state of a woman in her special days? ……..No sir………because the answer makes it clear that the question does not relate to this particular state of a woman. The answer to this question is given as : “Qul huwa azan” – Say that it is painful. This is such a categorical statement where we find no margin of doubt…………but is this answer based on reality………..if it is confirmed then this translation is final otherwise it is faulty………..because in the state of menstruation some of the women do experience pains but it is a rule. Every mother looks worried that her daughter may not smear her clothes with menstrual bleeding and she might not be aware of it. Quite a few women but need to consult doctors for this problem? The other important factor is that this word is AL-MUHEEDH, viz. “muarraf ba laam” which suggests some particular Hayidh. Therefore, this verse is absolutely not talking about the particular state of women which is called Hayidh.”
Dear Readers, this humble writer has never read a more confusing explanation than the above by our learned translator. It is full of contradictions and absurdities. According to him, Allama Rashid Nomani does state that :
Allama Rashid Na‟maani writes : “….this is Noun of Time (Time of Hayidh), Noun of Space (Place of Hayidh) and Verbal Noun (Menstruation) meaning Menses, viz. that obnoxious blood which secrets from the ……..bacha-dani) of healthy, young, non-pregnant women during a particular time in a particular way”. (Lughat-ul-Quran, Vol.V, Page 332)
But the learned translator still insists on the opposite of it:
….. is “Noun of Time and Space”, which means that the question is NOT about Menstruation's Place and Time,
The learned translator states a rule of grammar, provides a lexical authority in its support, and, in the very next sentence, stands to violate this rule openly! What can be made out of this blatant contradiction? Why the question is “not about the place and time of Hayidh? Isn't the Ism-e-Zarf (Noun of Time and Space) there to describe the time and space? Why then MUHEEDH (ism-e-Zarf) is not about the time/place of menstruation? Has anyone an explanation about this special style of argumentation? What can we call it except an effort to create complications where there are none, in order to paint the translation in a color of one's own choice! This is another proof of the learned translator's inconsistent style of writing.
To incorporate the time and space in a verb, a noun of time and space is formed on the measure of “mif'al” or “maf'al”. This is the simple rule of Ism-e-Zarf. "Maqtal‟: the place of Qatl, Qatl gaah, the time of Qatl. "Maghrib‟: the place of sunset or time thereof. "Masjid‟: the place of prostration or the time thereof. "Miq'ad‟: place of sitting or the time thereof, etc.
Supposing for a few minutes that “AL-MAHEEDH” does mean “bloodshed during a battle”, let us see whether or not this definition fits suitably at other places too or not. So, let us check the use of “AL- MUHEEDH” in another Verse, applying the principle of Tasreef-ul- aayaat to confirm that the learned translator's viewpoint is not right and this word probably does deal with women's natural cycle:-
Verse No. 65:4: “WAL-LAA‟EE YA‟ISNA MIN AL-MAHEEDH MIN NISAA‟IKUM INIR-TABTUM FA-„IDDATU-HUNNA THALAATHATU ASHHURIN WA ALLAA‟EE LAM YAHIDHNA; WA OOLAAT-UL-AHMAALI, AJALU-HUNNA AN YADHA‟NA HAMALA-HUNNA; WA MAN YATTIQ-IL- LAAHA YAJ‟AL LA-HU MIN AMRI-HI YUSRAN”.
Translation: 65:4 And of your women who have become hopeless of the cycle of Hayidh, if you happen to be doubtful about them, then the count of “Iddat” for them is three months, as well as for those who do not bleed at all. And the maturity of time for pregnant women is the time of birth. Those who abide by Allah‟s commandments, He makes things easy for them.
Dear Readers, here the context of narration is DIVORCE. The word Nisaa'a too is used here for WOMEN in pure "Nakrah‟. Can the learned translator prove the meaning of "AL-MUHEEDH” here as “the bloodshed during battles”? Probably, n-e-v-e-r.
Secondly, the learned translator's statement above: “The other important factor is that this word is AL-MUHEEDH, viz.
―muarraf ba laam‖ which suggests some particular Hayidh.
Therefore, this verse is absolutely not talking about the particular state of women which is called Hayidh,,,,,,,,,,,, becomes null and void when applied to Verse 65:4, as here too the word used is “AL-MUHEEDH”, and is undeniably applicable to the particular state of women called Hayidh, which holds much significance in counting the period of IDDAT.
Hence it is proved that the learned translator's assumption detailed in the context of Verse 2:222 is based on personal hypothesis. It's another effort to distort the translation under a personal conviction which does not accord with the principle of "Tasreef-ul-Ayaat‟.
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