RE: Arabic Quran XML data

[Mete Kural <metekural at yahoo dot com>]

Thank you for your responses.

So I understand that what we are waiting for is
assistance from the Qurancomplex. Last year I tried
making similar inquiries to the Qurancomplex multiple
times via email but my inquiries were not fulfilled.
It seems like they area not good at handling inquiries
via email. Which person from Arabeyes.org took the
responsibility to correspond with the Qurancomplex?
What is the progress so far? Is there anything that
can be done to accelerate the progress with the
Qurancomplex?

Unfortunately I am not familiar enough with Linux and
C++ to be able to help the Quran project in terms of
application code. Although if there is any Java
programming to do, God willing I can help in that
domain. Besides that my area of interest is encoding
the Quran in Unicode text and I think I can be more
helpful in that area than writing application code
since it seems like libquran is written in C++.

Thanks,
Mete

--- Maher Ben Moussa <maher_dev at hotmail dot com> wrote:
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: general-bounces at arabeyes dot org
> [mailto:general-bounces at arabeyes dot org]
> > On Behalf Of Nadim Shaikli
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 7:34 AM
> > To: General Arabization Discussion
> > Subject: Re: Arabic Quran XML data
> > 
> > --- Mete Kural <metekural at yahoo dot com> wrote:
> > > Ossama K wrote:
> > > > Fixing? Like what? Mistakes, glyphs or what?
> > >
> > > The current text in the CVS is missing many
> diacritics
> > > and other special characters as you may have
> noticed.
> > > I was referring to adding those special
> characters.
> > 
> > I don't think any of us should be adding/modifying
> anything
> > until we get a proper authority to guide us in
> order for us
> > to do the "right" thing.
> 
> 
> You're right. We can't modify things on the CVS
> without the permission
> of Yousif.
> But we shouldn't freeze the work, until Yousif is
> back.
> I suggest you can always submit your modification to
> directory
> "projects/quran/experimental", or am I wrong on
> this?
> 
> > 
> > > > As far as I remember, various previous threads
> noted
> > > > that you'll not be able to modify things and
> that
> > > > the content will be correct and solid.
> > >
> > > I understand not being allowed to make changes
> once
> > > the content is "correct and solid" but until
> that is
> > > so someone has to make changes and correct it.
> As of
> > > now, there are still many changes that need to
> be
> > > made, i.e. adding special characters.
> > 
> > No one claimed that the XML data is complete.  I
> suggest you
> > concentrate on the actual application code and not
> the contents
> > of the XML data as I'm sure there are plenty of
> areas worth
> > looking into and improving upon (let alone
> implementing new
> > features and whatnot).  Until we get proper
> guidance from
> > Qurancomplex (or similar), I am _VERY_ uneasy
> about making or
> > introducing any changes or even remotely claiming
> that the data
> > files are complete and/or accurate.
> 
> 
> You're right. We could better wait, until we get
> data from a trusted
> source like QuranComplex
> 
> > 
> > > > As discussed before, the GPL wouldn't be
> suitable at
> > > > all, because it allows _anyone_ to do _any
> changes_
> > > > which is so dangerous.
> > >
> > > I believe that changes should be allowed for
> purposes
> > > of modifying the Arabic text to comply with
> > > manuscripts other than the King Fahd manuscript,
> such
> > > as the Tashkent Quran and other newer
> manuscripts.
> > 
> > Not to start a non-related thread on this, but
> again we are not
> > to make such decisions until a proper higher
> authority can give
> > us guidance.  What has happened in the course of
> history is no
> > justification for continual deviation and I for
> one suggest we
> > get someone in here who is appropriately schooled
> and justified
> > to make correct decisions.
> > 
> > > > I think this isn't 100% correct. Having
> different
> > > > readings doesn't mean we also have different
> > > > spelling.
> > >
> > > Well, as you may be aware of it, there are
> visible
> > > spelling differences among different Quran
> manuscripts
> > > that are popular in different countries. For
> instance
> > > many Quran manuscripts in Iran and Turkey have
> extra
> > > alefs in them that are not in the King Fahd
> printing.
> > > Some 19th century manuscripts have different
> spellings
> > > as well. So it is not just a difference in
> reading,
> > > but also spelling. Even if it was only a
> difference in
> > > reading, it would still be necessary to change
> the
> > > diacritics in the text in order to comply to
> different
> > > readings.
> > 
> > Read my comments above - we are not qualified to
> make any
> > changes period (and I realize that what we are
> holding now
> > is not proper/correct), but we need to stop any
> further
> > changes so as not to fool ourselves into thinking
> we are
> > doing anything useful and get outside proper help
> ASAP.
> > 
> > I highly recommend all people put in the extra
> effort to contact
> > world respected and renowned authorities for
> proper help and in
> > the meantime, concentrate on polishing and
> finishing up the
> > application code and GUI along with the art work,
> etc (and don't
> > be too preoccupied with the XML data content).
> 
> Yup, There is still enough work to do in
> developments tasks. Every help
> in development is more than welcome
> 
> > 
> > Salam.
> > 
> >  - Nadim
> > 
> > 
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