Blogging The Qur'an

[Red Knight]

Islam has become a bit of a hotbutton issue here at phatmass. In an attempt to start fresh with an open and impartial mind, I am linking in Blogging the Qur'an.

Background:
Blogging the Qur'an is a joint venture of [url="http://hotair.com"]HotAir[/url] and Robert Spencer (of [url="http://jihadwatch.org/"]Jihad Watch[/url]). Understood, some here have a very negative view of Robert Spencer, however, please read his posting of [url="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/05/27/blogging-the-quran/"]May 27, 2007[/url]

excerpts:

[quote]So over the course of the next few months, I’m going to read it, and discuss it in a series of columns. All of it. Not “cherry-picked” or “out of context.” The whole thing, beginning to end. Some of you may be familiar with David Plotz’s series on Slate, “Blogging the Bible.” This series will be similar to that one, but rather than just write about what I think or feel about a certain passage, I will, unlike Plotz, refer to commentaries – all Muslim ones – on the Qur’an. I’ll try to explain how mainstream Muslims who study the Qur’an will understand any given passage, and what its import might be for non-Muslims.[/quote]

[quote]This will be a weekly feature — to be posted every Sunday at Hot Air — with within-post updates as warranted. I intend this to be a participatory exploration of the Qur’an — a two-way conversation. Thus I welcome feedback and criticism in the comments section, in e-mail correspondence, and on other blogs, and will answer questions and respond to the most thoughtful comments, criticism, and challenges.[/quote]

My hope is that in sharing this with others, more people will come to understand the beliefs of Muslims and how that impacts the non-Muslims of the world. I am posting this on the Debate Table primarily to foster an open and civil debate on Islam, as opposed to the bitter threads I have regrettably participated in in the past.

Here are the links so far:

[url="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/05/27/blogging-the-quran/"]May 27, 2007: Blogging the Qur’[/url]an
[url="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/03/blogging-the-quran-sura-1-the-opening/"]Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 1, “The Opening”[/url]
[url="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/10/blogging-the-quran-sura-2-the-cow-verses-1-39/"]Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 2, “The Cow,” verses 1-39[/url]
[url="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/17/blogging-the-quran-sura-2-the-cow-verses-40-75/"]Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 2, “The Cow,” verses 40-75[/url]
[url="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/24/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-2-%e2%80%9cthe-cow%e2%80%9d-verses-75-140/"]Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 2, “The Cow,” verses 75-140[/url]
[url="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/07/01/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-2-%e2%80%9cthe-cow%e2%80%9d-verses-141-210/"]Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 2, “The Cow,” verses 141-210 [/url]

[cmotherofpirl]

thank you.

[kenrockthefirst]

Thanks for this. One caveat, though: as I'm sure you know, traditionally only the Arabic rendering of the Koran is viewed as "official." As Mr. Spencer notes, "In traditional Islamic theology, the Qur’an is essentially and inherently an “Arabic Qur’an” (as the Qur’an describes itself repeatedly: see 12:2; 20:113; 39:28; 41:3; 41:44; 42:7; and 43:3). Its meaning can be rendered in other languages, but those translations are not the Qur’an, which when no longer in Arabic is no longer itself. Some Muslim scholars even claim that the Qur’an cannot be fully understood except in Arabic..." This may render his commentary as invalid in the eyes of some.

[Red Knight]

[quote name='kenrockthefirst' post='1310887' date='Jul 3 2007, 11:26 AM']Thanks for this. One caveat, though: as I'm sure you know, traditionally only the Arabic rendering of the Koran is viewed as "official." As Mr. Spencer notes, "In traditional Islamic theology, the Qur’an is essentially and inherently an “Arabic Qur’an” (as the Qur’an describes itself repeatedly: see 12:2; 20:113; 39:28; 41:3; 41:44; 42:7; and 43:3). Its meaning can be rendered in other languages, but those translations are not the Qur’an, which when no longer in Arabic is no longer itself. Some Muslim scholars even claim that the Qur’an cannot be fully understood except in Arabic..." This may render his commentary as invalid in the eyes of some.[/quote]


He continues:
[quote]but those translations are not the Qur’an, which when no longer in Arabic is no longer itself. Some Muslim scholars even claim that the Qur’an cannot be fully understood except in Arabic, but the blizzard of translations made by Muslims for Muslims who don’t speak Arabic (who are the great majority around the world today) as well as to proselytize among non-Muslims belies that claim.[/quote]

I think that there is a fundamental flaw in the system based upon Mr. Spencer's observation. If it must be Arabic, then how do you bring non-Arabic speaking people into the fold?
It bears a limited similarity to the point in the Church's history where Bibles were being printed in vulgar languages in addition to latin.
I think there can be a good study in how the two religions faced this challenge, however, I am afraid I don't have the time to devote to it. Maybe, another phatmasser could look into it and post their findings.

[Apotheoun]

I wrote a paper on the Qur'an while working on my second Bachelors degree at SF State University. My paper does not involve a close reading of the text of the Qur'an itself, but is focused instead upon the overarching theological disputes that arose within the Muslim community about the nature of the Qur'an as the Speech ([i]Kalam[/i]) of Allah, with special attention paid to the interaction of Christian and Muslim scholars in the religious debates of the early centuries of the Muslim era. Those interested can read it by clicking on the link below:

[url="http://www.geocities.com/apotheoun/paper19b"]The Nature of the Qur'an in Early Islamic Theology[/url]

[kenrockthefirst]

[quote name='Red Knight' post='1311129' date='Jul 3 2007, 12:53 PM']I think that there is a fundamental flaw in the system based upon Mr. Spencer's observation. If it must be Arabic, then how do you bring non-Arabic speaking people into the fold?[/quote]
You don't, and that's my point. Some will dismiss his observations by saying, "He doesn't know Arabic, that's not [i]really[/i] what the Koran says."

[journeyman]

So, with the caveat that a devout and conservative follower of Islam may say that everything you think you know is wrong, there is a resource for those who wish to know more.

(and that caveat might be equally applicable if one spent a year or two learning Arabic in order to read the text in the Arabic)