I have come across several possible translations to this verse:
Those who reject Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) are deaf and dumb in darkness. Allah sends astray whom He wills and He guides on the Straight Path whom He wills.
(Translation taken from http://www.quraan.com/index.aspx?tabindex=1&tabid=27&bid=6)
006.039. Those who reject our sings are deaf and dumb,- in the midst of darkness profound: whom God willeth, He leaveth to wander: whom He willeth, He placeth on the way that is straight. (Yusuf Ali Translation)
006.039. Those who deny Our revelations are deaf and dumb in darkness. Whom Allah will sendeth astray, and whom He will He placeth on a straight path. (Pickthall Translation)
(Taken from http://soundvision.com/info/~quran/search.asp?transtable=yusufali&sura=6&ayah=39&word=&Search=Search
In a Quran class recently, we reached this verse.
The teacher informed us that this verse does not mean to say that Allah misguides people intentionally. What it means is that for those who do not want to follow the Straight Path , Allah leaves. For those who look for the Straight Path, Allah will help.
This is also confirmed by a Hadith , but I cannot remember it exactly in terms of wording & reference, probably someone else could help. It goes something like this 'if a person comes to Allah by a hand , Allah comes to him by an arm's length...if he comes to Allah walking, Allah comes to him running'
It also shows the difference in meanings obtained from translations, which proves that it is always better to get it from the source i.e. Arabic. We should be wary of basing our thoughts/conclusions on translated verses. We should rather consult a scholar BEFORE jumping to any conclusions. The Arabic language is vast and many subtleties cannot be conveyed in English. The translations are very approximate ways of conveying the meaning of the Quran.
May Allah make it easy for us all to learn Arabic, Ameen.
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Assalaamu alaikum SD,
There is a hadith Qudsi referring to what you speak of. Its as follows:
Hadith Qudsi 15:
On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: Allah the Almighty said:
I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.
It was related by al-Buhkari (also by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn-Majah).
Taken from: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/hadithqudsi.html
(This website also contains Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Muwatta Imam Malik - very useful)
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