Editor’s note: Recently in The Voice, the announcement was made of the death of the conductor of the column, Ask Grandpa, which provided readers with 503 weeks of sage advice, humor, and continuity. Below is the repeat of the September 23, 2021 column. The Voice will continue to offer previous columns. We invite special requests of previous columns.
Grandpa,
I am not trying to bash anybody which my buddy does, but he showed me something in the Quran that I can’t explain. He hates anyone who is not just like him and his current target is anyone of Middle Eastern decent. He showed me a passage that clearly says if you fear your woman is rebelling, you must beat her. I can’t argue with what I saw with my own eyes. Please explain it to me.
Grandpa says: It is all in the translation. Every Holy writing that has been translated has these types of slips. Look at the Book of Acts, 12:4, KJV. It says that the king had Peter put into prison, intending to hold him until after Easter. Easter was not celebrated back then, yet the translators slipped up and referred to Passover as Easter. It is the same with what you read. The chapter is discussing how married couples facing discord should go about the task of rebuilding the relationship instead of seeking to divorce right away. The particular Quranic verse, 4:34 –, when translated to English does seem to promote domestic violence. Here is how the verse reads in English; (4:34) […]as for those women on whose part ye fear rebellion (nushuzbeing the original word), admonish them and banish them to beds apart, (and last) beat (adriboobeing the original word) them. Then, if they obey you, seek not a way against them. The key words here are nushuzandadriboo. Nushuz means Animosity, hostility, rebellion, ill-treatment, discord; violation of marital duties on the part of either husband or wife. Adriboo, which comes from the word daraba, can mean any of these; to beat, to strike, to hit, to separate, to part. So, lets boil it all down to what the original text is telling us. When there is marital discord, don’t seek to severe the relationship. Do not seek to force compliance. Do not force yourself upon your wife. Step back, separate yourselves from the discord, giving both of you chance to think clearly. One more word that needs some clarification is “obey”. Just as it is used in the Christian scriptures, obey means to honor and respect. It is not a term indicating subservience. So, the Quran is saying that once you both have had a chance to clear your minds and think rationally, come together in Holy reunion. With this information, you can now go back to your friend and lovingly explain to him that there is no justification for physical violence. I bid you peace.
Grandpa,
Just got a letter that you should know about. It appears to be from the Social Security Administration. But it is off just enough to make me wonder. The scariest part is that it has the last four of my social security number in the letter. It is telling me to call a specific phone number and I can set up an appointment to apply for and receive Medicare benefits. I am only 37 and in very good health.
Grandpa says: Get that letter to the Social Security Administration now!