Ahab Bdaiwi: The Study of Shiism in Islamic Studies | Who are the Mushrikun in the Qur’an?
In this interview, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Ahab Bdaiwi. Dr. Bdaiwi studied at the Universities of London and Exeter, and received his PhD in Arabic and Islamic Intellectual History from the University of Exeter (2014). He spent three years as a lecturer in Islamic and Iranian intellectual history at the University of St Andrews (2013-2016). In January 2016 he was Visiting Scholar of Medieval Studies at the College of William and Mary. Since August 2016 he is Assistant Professor of Medieval Arabic Philosophy and Islamic Intellectual History at Leiden University. He was also a former Cook-Crone Fellow at the University of Cambridge.
Today we talk about his journey to Qur'anic studies from the study of mathematics, his work on Shii Studies, and his distinguished research on the Qur'anic Mushrikun.
I hope you enjoy this video and if you do please be sure to like, subscribe, and share this content!
Excellent work Dr Reynolds
Wow... My favorite video so far.
Very informative thanks Dr Ahab thanks Reynolds Sir for this awesome discussion.
Very excited for his monograph on the mushrikun, keep up the great work with this channel, love it
Indeed awesome discussion
👏🙂 Very interesting. It's always exciting to hear about pre-islamic and early islamic Arabia. Great interview.
Circling back to watch this session fully. You know it is a good installment when Dr. Reynolds is listening so intently. I appreciate the perspective on multiple early Islamic traditions converging. Much like current views on diverse early Christian traditions converging to “orthodox” views.
Excellent interview. I look forward to more sessions with Prof Bdaiwi and to learn about his thoughts on the “Syro-Aramaic reading of the Quran by Dr Christoph Luxenburg.
The "Syro-Aramaic reading of the Quran" by Dr Christoph Luxenburg was reviewed by a lecturer at SOAS, University of London, soon after the book came out. I no longer have the reference, at least ready to hand, but essentially he said that Luxenberg (btw, that is a pseudonym for a Lebanese scholar- he is NOT German!) does not seem to have a really good grasp of Syro-Aramaic, beyond an intermediate level, and he expects all of us to believe that the Quran was written not in Arabic but Syro-Aramaic! Given that Semitic languages have many cognates, one can easily fool oneself to think that a particular text in a language is not really written in that one but in an altogether different language! Anyway, I have another reference for you: "Apart from individual passages, L. makes larger claims about the Koranic text. For him, the Koran is an Arabic lectionary on the model of the Syro-Aramaic lectionaries of the time. Even the word "Koran" is a reflex of the Syro-Aramaic word qeryānā (70). The original Koranic text was written in Garshuni, and the misunderstandings and misinterpretations of terms are largely due to misunderstanding their Syro-Aramaic originals. Not all of L.'s readers will read-ily accept these claims. L. concludes with a completely new translation of the earliest two Su-ras (Suras 108 and 96) with the Syro-Aramaic taken into account." - from SOLOMON I. SARA, S.J. Georgetown University, Washington The Syro-Aramaic Reading of the Koran: A Contribution to the Decoding of the Lan-guage of the Koran.(Book review) www.christoph-heger.de/Solomon_I_Sara_rev_Christoph-Luxenberg_Theological_Studies_2008-03-01.pdf But I'm afraid some of L's (Luxenburg's) claims are very strange. I mean the bona fide Arabic word قرأ qara'a (and the 'hamza' makes it very Arabic!) gives rise to the wholly Arabic word قُرأن qur'aan on the pattern َفَعَل fa'la --> فُعلان fu'laan، just as the verb رَکَب rakaba gives us َرُکبَان rukbaan. So, قُرأن qur'aan is bona fide Arabic word and not a Syro-Aramaic borrowing!
@@Zarghaam12 thank you for your reply. I am familiar with Christoph Luxenburg’s work and all the criticism surrounding his claims. There is however a valid case regarding the Arabic alphabet which had 16 letters. By the time of the Abbasids the alphabet increased to 28 letters. It was similar to the Hebrew and Aramaic letters. The first Quran was written in the Rasm letters without the hamza, dots or diacritical marks. They were later additions in the 8th and 9th century. Also the case for the احرف المقطعة. All the Muslim theologians didn’t understand them and provided hundreds of different explanations. Luxemburg provides a logical explanation and provides possible meanings in Aramaic. They were used before commencing prayers from the lectionaries. I cannot confirm anything because there is no way of knowing. The earliest explanations were written by 8th and 9th century scholars during the end of the Umayyad era and beginning of Abbasids, at least a 150 years after the death of the prophet Muhammad.
Great discussion , btw this guy looks like Javier Berdem
Thanks Dr Reynolds, this was a great interview. More of the same please,
Great Interview. I wonder why, in his Twitter account, Dr. Badaiwi has his name written Latin, Aramaic, & Hebrew alphabets, but not in Arabic?
maybe because he is trying to tell you he is not an Arab? 😅
@@mqa1297 That would be strange given he is definitely not Latin, Aramean, or Hebrew
@@StuckNoLuck I thought he was an Iraqi Assyrian.
@@mqa1297 That would be interesting, any sources?
@@mqa1297 is he shia?
58:14 (a small note) Akkad is from Syria as far as I know but he died in Jordan.
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Professor Gabriel, regarding the view of Bdaiwi on exaggeration and or over polemicization of the pagan narrative, I would like to point out that the matter is very serious and the emphasises is necessary as the crime is very serious. Surely Allah would not 'brush' over this matter. If He (Allah) did, maybe your guest would be theorising as to why this is the case. وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَلَدًۭا ٨٨ لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَيْـًٔا إِدًّۭا ٨٩ تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلْجِبَالُ هَدًّا ٩٠ It is a very serious matter.
I have heard a pre Islamic talbiya given in a more traditionally religious lecture and it went لا شريك لك إلا.... And then gave exepctions. I think something like except those that you allow. Is this not thought to be historically accurate? I guess it could be understood as a later addition as if the talbiyah doesn't have an exception, it doesn't seem pre Islamic.
… and since the “polytheists” in today’s sense of idol-worshippers were not a threat or competition to the “believers” - the term “mushrikun” may simply apply to Christians, as a jab, linking them or positioning them together with the “pagan polytheists”. It was not truly the “polytheists” who were the enemies of “Allah and his messenger” but those who denied the spiritual, Abrahamic heritage of the “believers”. At the end - that was what truly mattered to the believers - their legitimacy
Wished you'd get rid of commercials every 3 minutes on these serious and classy discussions - just ruined it for me...
Wainsbrough! Read his work.
Josef Van Ess is a legend, especially in Ibadi Studies! God have mercy on him
Hubal stones exist in Petra. Idols existed in Petra. Sacrifice altars exist in Petra.
Isn't high paganism called henotheism (تفريدية)?.
The Prophet used the word Shia. Ibne Abbas says that by the term 'Khairal Bariyya' from surah al-Bayyinah is meant Ali ibne Abi Taleb and the Holy Ahlul Bayt. Hafiz Abu-Nayeem Isphahani in his book Holyatul-Aulia reports on the authority of Ibne-Abbas that the Holy Prophet said "O' Ali, Thou and thy Shias will be in heaven." (Manhajus Sadiqeen Tafsir). Haskani in 'Thawahidut Tanzeel,' from Yazeed ibne Sharaheel-e-Ansari--- Ali Askarani--- from Ali--- that the Holy Prophet told him at the time of his death when, his head was lying on my breast quoting this verse and said: "'Khairul-Bariyya' are thy Shias and the place for me to meet them is the 'Houz' the Cistern (of Kathar) when the people will be gathered for accounting---and thy followers will be called 'Ghorral-Mohajjaleen'"---and Haskani narrates from 'Maqatil-ibne Suleman," one of the well-known earliest commentators on Quran from ibne Abbas that 'Khairal-Bariyya' was revealed for Ali and those of his family.
These are all later reports.
@@aksarayi9211 According to Tabari and Suyuti, the Prophet (saww) said in regards to the verse: "Thoe who believe and do righteous deeds -- they are the best of creatures" (Quran 98:7), "These are you, O Ali, and your Shiah" (Tafsir Tabari and Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, verse 98:7. Other traditions expound that this verse refers to Ali and can be found in Shawahid al-Tanzil #1125-1148, verse 98:7). Additionally, Rasoolallah said, "By He in Whose hand is my soul, this man (Ali) and his followers (Shiah) are the blissful on the Day of Judgement. He was the first of you to believe, the most devoted of you to the covenant of Allah, the best of you in upholding the decisions of Allah, the most just of you in regards to the public, the strictest of you in maintaining fairness, and the most superior of you in the eyes of Allah." During this time the verse "Those who believe and do righteous deeds -- they are the best of creatures," was revealed, referring to Ali, and whenever Ali would arrive, the companions of the Prophet would say, "The best of creatures has arrived" (Kifayah al-Talib 245, chapter 62, Manaqib Khwarazmi #120, Tarikh Damishq 42:371, Shawahid al-Tanzil #1139, verse 98:7, Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, verse 98:7). An additional hadith states the Prophet (saww) said: "O Ali, have you heard the saying of Allah, the oft-high, "Those who believe and do righteous deeds -- they are the best of creatures?" This is you and your Shiah. My meeting with all of you will be at the Fount [of Kawthar] when you and your Shiah will be called to rise from among the nations when they appear for their accounting [on the Day of Judgement]" (Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, verse 98:7, Kifaya al-Talib 246, chapter 62, Shawahid al-Tanzil #1139, verse 98:7). Ibn Abbas said that when this verse was revealed, the Prophet told Ali, "You and your Shiah will appear on the Day of Judgement ocntent and approved of, while your enemies will appear angry and humiliated" (Shawahid al-Tanzil #1126-30, verse 98:7. Similarly Shawahid al-Tanzil #1131-48 states that this verse was revealed in regards to Ali and his Shiah. Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, under verse 98:7, the tradition is truncated as, "You and your Shiah will appear on the Day of Judgment content and approved of").
@@aksarayi9211Dhahabi says al-Hasakani (a Hanafi in his school of jurisprudence) is an expert in traditions and possessing complete mastery of the science of hadith, such that numerous scholars relate traditions from him (Tadhkirah al-Huffaz #1032 (al-Hasakani al-Qadi al-Muhaddith Abu al-Qasim Ubayd Allah ibn Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hasakan al-Qurashi al-Amiri al-Nisaburi al-Hanafi al-Hakim)). Ahmed ibn Hanbal said, "What has been related in regards to Ali through excellent chains of transmission has not been related in regards to any other companion" (Riyad al-Nadirah 3:188. Similar traditions in Tarikh al-Khulafa 150, Isabah 2:1294 #5690 (Ali ibn Abi Talib)).
Why can’t someone give us something educated about the Satanic verses.
The tafsir and hadith, and most importantly Ahlul Bayt (see thaqalayn) who are second to none in importance except Quran (ie Fatima, Ali, Hassan, Husayn, and the 9), say that the meccans interjected while the Prophet was reading the verses 53:19-20. The meccans interjected (see Quran 41:26) while the Prophet was reciting 53:19-20, and said "and their intercession we seek" or something of that nature. And then fell down in prostration.
kzhead.info/sun/i5x8dNqghGWXpZ8/bejne.html
Most of the points theological and historical made by Shia are found in the texts of the majority (Sunnis). Anyone who thinks that Shi texts are solely biased haven’t actually looked at their polemics.
Like which text?
@@batman-sr2px sahih burkari is one example he's right go buy those books and see
@@hasanhaytham4455 shias interpet those books differently. You have to qoute the text and how sunnis understand them.