This lecture by Dr Omar Ali-de- Unzaga gives a glimpse into the multitude of interpretations of the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽that have been in coexistence for more than a thousand years.
Dr Ali-de-Unzaga points out that while each interpretation may invariably claim to be the true one to the exclusion of others, it is remarkable that many of these interpretations have been in coexistence for more than a thousand years.
At the heart of the lecture is the call to appreciate the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽as a 鈥榩rocess鈥 and not as a product. Dr Ali-De Unzaga argues, based on the fact that the Prophet Muhammad received divine revelations over a span of 22 years (610-632 CE), that the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽is best understood 鈥榠n the making鈥. As the Prophet conveyed the revelations to his contemporaries in the form of 鈥渞ecitations鈥 (the literal meaning of the word 鈥蚕耻谤鈥檃苍Muslims believe that the Holy 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. More鈥), these were memorised, gathered together and ultimately recorded in writing in the form of a book, latter only after the prophet鈥檚 demise. Therefore, any study of the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽should appreciate the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽in its own time, within the contextual specificities that it has, as well as the universal messages that it embodies.
The lecture also highlights that the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽is mainly concerned with personal and social ethics, and not only the theological issues. Thus, in essence,聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽advocates the creation of a just society. Dr Ali-De-Unzaga points out, through the various examples, how the believers have interpreted the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽differently under different times, places and circumstances – right from the time of revelation, and through the lenses of various disciplines such as Philosophy, Theology, and Linguistics amongst others –聽 throughout Muslim history and in contemporary times.
Exploring the diverse interpretations of the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍, Dr Ali-de-Unzaga invites Muslims and non-Muslims to appreciate the聽蚕耻谤鈥檃苍聽in the light of the 鈥榲enerable鈥 history of interpretation of the scriptures 鈥 not only as a historical phenomenon but also as a living text that provides a key to making some sense of today鈥檚 turbulent world. To this end, he urges the audience to become familiar with their own intellectual history as well as with the complexities of Muslim intellectual history.
