The western endeavors towards academic study of the Qur’ān The case study of Encyclopedia of the Qur’ān

Authors

  • Dr. Iffat Batool International Islamic University, Islamabad
  • Dr. Muhammad Saeed International Islamic University, Islamabad

Keywords:

Qur’ān, orientalism, academic, objectivity, Encyclopedia of the Quran.

Abstract

The existence of academic works concerning the genre of Qur’anic studies in the west is a sign of grave interest of western scholars in the Quran. In twenty first century, an immense increase in production of academic works on the Qur’ān can be witnessed.  The significant point is that despite the presence of the vast corpus of western scholarship on the Qur’ān, it is not generally accepted in the Muslim world. The Muslim opinion is that despite the claims of objectivity, the Western scholars see Islam with their own lens and perceptions. In fact, many western intellectuals have admitted this reality in their writings.  It is also argued that the so- called academic study of the Qur’ān is a presentation of the old views in new guise and appearance of the old wine in a new bottle. On the contrary, the western scholars claim for the rise of objectivity and scientific approach in their studies. The encyclopedia of the Qur’ān, being a major production of the 21st century has been the focus of discussion in this regard. This article intends to analyze the scientific approach in the above mentioned work by highlighting some of its features. 

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Published

2022-01-20