Al-Kahf 18:1

The issue

In one section of this passage, the Arabic literally states “did not make to it crookedness that is strait.” Without his albeit helpful insertions, Sale’s translation more closely reflects the Arabic wording: “…and hath not inserted any crookedness, [but hath made it] a strait [rule]”. Sale’s insertions reveal that the verse’s syntax in Arabic is awkward. A grammatically better construction would have been the following word order: “who sent down to his servant the Book that is strait and made no crookedness to it.” This suggested word order is confirmed by Islamic commentators’ explanations concerning the meaning of this verse. They state that this verse means “he sent down on him a strait book and did not make crookedness.” Ibn ‘Abbās similarly concurs, stating “he sent down the book as strait justice and did not make crookedness to it”.

Islamic commentators’ rearrangement of the words to support their explanation yet again questions the claim that the Qur’ān contains the highest rhetoric.