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القرآن
1 God and oneness 7 / 8

"Has glorified" and "glorifies": the aspect of the openings in سبّح

Established rule 2 examples 1 min

Five neighbouring suras open with the glorification of God by all that is in the heavens and on the earth. Three use the perfect سَبَّحَ (57, 59, 61), two the imperfect يُسَبِّحُ (62, 64). The translation keeps the difference: "has glorified" for the perfect, "glorifies" for the imperfect.

The five openings are so alike that one could think them identical; they are not. « سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ » (57:1) states a glorification accomplished, established; « يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ » (62:1) states a glorification ongoing, continuous.

The translation therefore renders the perfect with the present perfect: "a glorifié", "has glorified", "ha glorificado", "ha glorificato", "telah bertasbih", "восславило". Rendered in the present, it would erase the difference intended by the text.

This rule is one of the demonstrated cases where verbal aspect carries meaning (see also “Where the aspect of the verb makes the meaning”); on this precise point it replaces the over-general statement of “Verbal aspect carries meaning” (rejected).

In the text

Example 57:1
سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ
“All that is in the heavens and the earth has glorified God.”
Perfect سَبَّحَ: "has glorified".
Example 62:1
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ
“Whatever is in the heavens and on the earth glorifies God”
Imperfect يُسَبِّحُ: "glorifies".