Orientalism and the Quran - Dr. Ahmad Sanusi Azmi · 2020. 6. 15. · The term “Orientalism,”...
Transcript of Orientalism and the Quran - Dr. Ahmad Sanusi Azmi · 2020. 6. 15. · The term “Orientalism,”...
Orientalism and
the Quran
Dr. Ahmad Sanusi Azmi
What is Orientalism?
The Orient means the East. It is a traditional designation for
anything that belongs to the Eastern world
Traditionally the term 'Orientalism' has denoted the study of
the languages, cultures or religions of the Orient. (Hauser,
Stefan R)
The term “Orientalism,” later known as “Oriental Studies,”
began in reference to the study of languages and cultures of
the so-called Orient.
Although initially focused on the ancient and modern Near
East, the term “Orient” was indiscriminately used for all of the
Asian civilizations encountered by Europeans in their eastward
imperial and colonial expansion. (Oxford Bibliographies)
The Origin of the Term
The term “orientalist” first occurs in English around
1779,
in French in 1799; “orientalism” had then the
broad meaning of “being oriented towards an
oriental culture”.
Edward Said’s Definitions
Said offers three key definitions for 'Orientalism' that in
his opinion are interrelated:
1) the academic discipline of Orientalism,
2) more generally, a “style of thought based upon an
ontological and epistemological distinction made
between 'the Orient' and (most of the time) 'the
Occident'” that is found among writers, philosophers,
economists, politicians, etc. and,
3) resulting from both, “a Western style for
dominating, restructuring, and having authority over
the Orient ”[30. 2-3].
(Brill New Pauly by Hauser, Stefan R. (Berlin))
Why Did They Learn About East?
Theological/
Polemical
Encounters?
Pure
Academic?
Colonial
Apparatus?
Economic
Motives?
Religious Factor
Muṣṭafā al-Sibāʿī ranked religion as the main factor behind the
western’s interest in pursuing research on the east.
This was based on his study of the major pioneers who explored
this area. Most of the patrons who inspired the ideas, advocated
and encouraged the orientalist’s enterprises were priests or those
who were related to the church in some way.
He named the Cluniacs, Benedictines, Dominicans and
Franciscans as a few of the main church establishments which
undertook an important role in the western’s research on Islam
Colonialism Factor
Having failed totally in the Crusades, the
west did not give up their efforts to conquer
the eastern territories.
They began their quest to study the east in
order to find the way to physically conquer
the Arabs in general and Islam in particular.
Colonial
For example, the encyclopaedia about
Egypt entitled Description de l’Egypte
which was compiled between 1809 and
1822 was produced by French scholars
during France’s occupation of Egypt, led
by Napoleon Bonaparte. In fact, this work
was written by or at the very least
commanded by Napoleon himself.
Similarly, a work by Christiaan Snouck
Hurgronje (1857-1936), who for several
years was the adviser in religious matters
to the government.
Economic and Political Factor
The establishment of Chairs of Arabic, academic positions which
were created in western universities such as at Oxford and
Cambridge were often supported financially by British traders or
companies who wished to expand their business network and
beyond the Mediterranean areas.
Waardenburg, furthermore, explains that economic, politics and military progress under the reign of the ʿUthmāniyyah Empire
became the main factor which spurred studies on social and
cultural aspects of the east. Strong development in the middle
of the 16th century attracted many western researchers to
conduct studies on the success of the Uthmāniyyah Caliphate
CRITICISM ON THE QURAN
Early Non Muslims Views on the Quran
John of
Damascus:
“Heresy of
the
Ishmaelites
1- Peter the
Venerable
2- Rober of
Ketton
8th Century 9th Century10th Century-
12 century 13-14 Century 15-16 Century
1-Refutation of the Qurʾān.
(Tafnīd al-Qurʾān)
2-Apology of al-
Kindī”
3-Niketas of
Byzantium
4- Eulogius of
Cordoba
The conquest of
Constantinople in
1453
1- Dionysius Rijkel
2- John of Segovia
3-Nicholas of Cusa
4- Petrus de Pennis
5- Alfonso de Spina
6- Juan Andrés
1- Mark of Toledo
2- Liber
denudationis
3- Raymond Lull
4- Jaen, Pedro
Pascual
5- William of Tripoli
6- Riccoldo da
Monte Croce