Shawkat Toorawa: The Qur'an as Literature, Translating the Qur'an, and Assessing Qur'anic Beauty

In this interview I discuss many topics in Qur'anic Studies with Dr. Shawkat Toorawa. We touch on everything from how the Qur'an can be understood as literature to the principles of translating the Qur'an and how to understand the "beauty of the Qur'an" from a scholarly perspective.
Dr. Shawkat M. Toorawa obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and is the chair of NELC at Yale University. His scholarly interests include: classical and medieval Arabic literature, especially the literary and writerly culture of Abbasid Baghdad; the Qur’an, in particular hapaxes, rhyme-words, and translation; the Waqwaq Tree and islands; Indian Ocean studies, particularly Creole literatures of Mauritius and the Mascarenes; modern poetry; translation; and SF film and literature.
His books include a study co-authored with the academic alliance RRAALL on autobiography in the Arabic literary tradition; a study of the ninth-century Baghdad bookman Ibn Abi Tahir Tayfur; a critical edition and translation of a collection of long poems by the Syro-Lebanese poet, Adonis (Ali Ahmad Said Esber); a reference work on Arabic literary culture from the 6th-10th centuries AD, co-edited with Michael Cooperson; an edited collection of essays on the islands and islanders of the western Indian Ocean; an edited anthology of poetry about New York City; and a critical edition and collaborative translation with the editors of the Library of Arabic Literature of a 12th century work by the historian Ibn al-Sa’i, Consorts of the Caliphs: Women and the court of Baghdad. His current projects include a book of translations of selected surahs and passages from the Qur’an and an edited collection on the literary dimensions of the Qur’an.
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[@PiratesRock]

Surah Inshirah (Consolation)/ (Solace): “In the name of God ever compassionate and full of compassion: didn’t I soothe your heart when you were down? Remove the burden that weighed you down? Lightened the load that kept you down? Raise you up? And bring you renown? This shall pass. This, too shall pass. When your work is done, attend, and turn to your Lord.” This is some great translation work in English! Will definitely be looking out to buy “The Devotional Quran” by Prof. Toorawa when it comes out for sale.

[@darmokandjalad7786]

Your channel has inspired me to take some more Islam-focused courses in my History major - thank you Gabriel!

[@awadawad5536]

My favorite episode thus far! Hats off!

[@jass5g]

Glad I discovered this channel!

[@TheCinamanic]

Great. Best thing on YT. ❤️❤️❤️ Would love to read that book. The Zalzala surah translation was so nice. And that Sharh surah 2nd translation is v comforting too.

[@babulsarwar3714]

Very edifying.

[@saeed319]

Loving the channel. Love the critical approach to the subject matters. Please keep them coming, and if possible further explore early historical influences on islam, its rituals, and the quran.

[@gr4707]

Beautiful

[@NejiBHTahar]

Beautiful translation. Great discussion..

[@celestialknight2339]

Hi Dr. Reynolds, thank you for the upload! I would love to see you invite Dr. Shoaib Malik onto your channel to talk about the Qur’an and its view on Biological Evolution; he wrote an incredible book about it called _”Islam and Evolution: Al-Ghazālī and the Modern Evolutionary Paradigm”_ which is free & open access by the way. Perhaps you can also invite him to talk more broadly about the relationship between Islam and the philosophy of science, which the aforementioned topic also indirectly relates to. I think the both of you would have a fantastic and riveting discussion, not only with your combined knowledge, but also due to your shared professionalism and open-minded attitudes.

[@reginaldodonoghue9253]

Consider getting Anna Bonta Moreland on the show to discuss Christian views of prophecy, and how Muhammad may fit under them.

[@muslimskeptics1097]

Please invite Stephen Shoemaker. His new book, Creating the Quran is so illuminating. I am surprised that he has not been on this channel given the substantial amount of work that is so relevant.

[@A.--.]

How does Khalidi translate Alaqa?

[@reginaldodonoghue9253]

Will you ever get Khalil Andani on the show?

[@necspenecmetu3]

Why? He's a not a good scholar, just an apologist for the Aga Khan cult.

[@A.--.]

How fo you translate the word Alaqa?

[@BenM61]

Please come back. I like the way you approach the Quran translation. When I read most of translations they feel like transliterations not conveying the meaning and intent of the text of the Quran. When I read a verse from the Quran and it sounds beautiful then I read the translation and sounds so dry and stiff. The beauty of the text is somehow lost in translation.

[@islamcritic4996]

You need to be a believer to translate Quran? Did I hear it right?

[@chrisazure1624]

Yes, otherwise you might let the truth out.

[@snf321gotti6]

@@chrisazure1624 what a moronic comment . If the words are understood by a translator who can read both languages what is there to hide as the original Arabic is fixed . What could a believer do to change the text that could not be caught out by another non beliver translator .

[@chrisazure1624]

@@snf321gotti6 Who does allah pray to when he and his angels pray for muhammad?

[@snf321gotti6]

@@chrisazure1624 another silly remark as you now have to move onto other idiotic desperate attempts to attack Islam. The translation of this is from Arabic and is actually meaning praise without going into detail as your not here to be genuine but to mock . So let's ask you If Jeses was God . Why did he not know the hour .?

[@chrisazure1624]

@@snf321gotti6 No. It is understood as pray in all cases except when it is tied to Allah and then it is translated Praise in order to avoid the obvious problem. Because the incarnated Christ put aside certain powers while he existed in his earthly form. It is all clear in the Bible if you study it.

[@A.--.]

Is Shawqat Ahmadi?

[@A.--.]

Arberry translates "Alaq" as "blood clot" too. This is WRONG. "2 created Man of a blood-clot." This is how i know the translation is weak.

[@A.--.]

Whats the purpose of translation when the afterlife is doomed if not diying as a muslim? Become muslim (even if secretly) and continue the study. OR, highlite the issues you have why you disbelieve in it!