THE QURANIC ORIGINS OF THE WASAṬIYYA CONCEPT: A CRITICAL VIEW

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  D. Shestopalets

Abstract

The article grapples with the issue of the origins of the concept of al-wasaṭiyya, which has become the central theological presupposition for one of the most famous Muslim theologians and activists of the modern era Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Based on the variety of medieval and modern exegetical treatises, the author analyses the text of the ayah al-Baqara: 143, which has served as the major source for introducing and legitimization of this term. In addition to that, the paper deals with the problem of translation of the Quranic verse in question into European and Slavic languages. In conclusion, it is asserted that the meaning of al-wasaṭiyya as “moderation” or “middle way”, designated to represent the essence of the Islamic doctrine, comes as result of highly selective understanding of the ayah al-Baqara: 143 and not as a direct and unequivocal statement of the Quran itself.

How to Cite

Shestopalets, D. (2015). THE QURANIC ORIGINS OF THE WASAṬIYYA CONCEPT: A CRITICAL VIEW. The World of the Orient, (4 (89), 111-118. https://doi.org/10.15407/orientw2015.04.111
Article views: 50 | PDF Downloads: 25

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Keywords

Concept, Critical View, The Quran, Wasaṭiyya

References

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Bobzin H. (2010), Der Koran, München. https://doi.org/10.17104/9783406640483

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Hanapi M. Sh. (2004), “The Wasaṭiyyah (Moderation) Concept in Islamic Epistemology: A Case Study of its Implementation in Malaysia”, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 4, No. 9 (1).

Hilali Taqi al-Din (1997), The Noble Qur’an, English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary, Al-Madina.

Hoigilt J. (2010), “Rhetoric and Ideology in Egypt’s Wasaṭiyya Movement”, Arabica, Vol. 57. https://doi.org/10.1163/157005810X502655

Ibn al-Jawzi, Abu al-Faraj (1404), Zad al-Masir fi ilm al-tafsir (9 vol.), Vol. I, Bayrut. (In Arabic).

Ibn Kathir al-Dimashqi, Ismail b. Amr (1401), Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Azim, Bayrut. (In Arabic).

Kamali M. H. (2008), “The Middle Grounds of Islamic Civilization: The Qurannic Principle of Wasaṭiyyah”, Journal of Civilisation Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1.

Kamali M. H. and Ramadan T. (2015), The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam: the Qur’ānic Principle of Wasaṭiyyah, New York. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190226831.001.0001

Lane E. W. (1863), An Arabic-English lexicon: derived from the best and the most copious eastern sources, Vol. 8, London.

Mandaville P. G. (2007), Global Political Islam, London.

Mazlan I. et al. (2013), “Wasaṭiyyah Discourse according to Muslim Scholars in Malaysia”, Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, Vol. 7, No. 1.

Paret R. (1982), Der Koran, 2, verb. Aufl. Stuttgart.

Pickthall M. (2001), The Glorious Qur’an: The Arabic Text with a Translation in English, No city.

Qutb S. (2001), In the Shade of the Qurʼān (Fī Zilāl Al-Qurʼān), in 30 vol., Markfield.

Rubin B. M. (2010), The Muslim Brotherhood: the Organization and Policies of a Global Islamist Movement, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230106871

Rubin U. (1993), “Qur’an and Tafsir: the case of ‘an yadin’”, Islam, No. 70.

Shafi M. (n. d), Maariful-Qur’an, N. p. (In Arabic).

Shestopalets D. (2014), “Moderation, Unity, and Tolerance: The Representation of Islam in the Discourse of ‘Alraid’”, Shìdnij svìt, No. 4.

Starkovsky N. (2005), The Koran Handbook: an Annotated Translation, New York.

The Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies (2013), Freeden M. (Ed.), Oxford, United Kingdom.

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