Professor Carl W. Ernst on How to Read the Qur'an | Khanversations about the Qur'an Ramadan 2021

[@MalahatQureshi]

excellent discussion Masha'Allah!

[@jelumbard]

First and foremost, Carl Ernst is a gentleman and a scholar. I have learned much from him. Nonetheless, I agree very much with Travis Zadeh's review of the book. Moreso in the book than in this conversation, one comes away with the impression that the most important work, if not the only important work, being done on the Quran is to be found in the Euro-American academy. While trying to "open" the Quran to non-Muslim audience, Ernst presents it in a way that privileges modes of analysis provided by non-Muslims. On the one hand, this can be useful for people approaching the Quran from outside. On the other hand, it puts them in a position where they may have little understanding of how Muslims understand the text. They thus end up with a Euro-American academic reading of the Quran that provides them little ability to dialogue with Muslims and little understanding of the entire tradition that has preserved the Quran for our reading today and makes it relevant to us today. A much better approach for non-Muslims wishing to understand the Quran is Gary Wells, "What the Quran Meant and why It Matters." Wells takes Muslims as interlocutors and centers Muslim scholarship on the Quran. As a result, a non-Muslim can come away with an understanding of the Quran that does not require any type of faith commitment and allows them to understand the depth and beauty Muslims find in the text.

[@ProfMuqtedarKhan]

Thanks for an interesting comment Joseph. So next season I invite Gary Wills for a Khanversation on the Quran. You point to a disconnect between the academy and the seminary/believer's approach this is a consequence of the secularization of the University. Prof. Ernst's response to my first question about why he treats the Quran as a literary work sort of explains why the believers take on it is less valued.

[@jelumbard]

@@ProfMuqtedarKhan My point is that it creates a discussion which a priori leaves out the believer, so it's not a discussion that leads to an understanding of why we are studying the text in the first place. The privileging of Euro-American scholarship is also very problematic when there is exponentially more work being done on the Quran outside of the Euro-American academy.

[@ProfMuqtedarKhan]

@@jelumbard I don't think it leaves out the believer. For example in my Khanversation with Dr. Ernst it was clear that he put my beliefs aside and I showed no curiosity in his beliefs. It is not clear to me if he is a person of faith or not and if of faith which faith. I agree that a lot of interesting work is being done outside the Euro-American academy. Three out four Khanversations this season were with believing Muslims outside the academy. So far 7/8 in the two seasons have been with believers. But then people would say that, that is my bias.

[@mehnazafridi35]

Very important conversation! Thank you.

[@ProfMuqtedarKhan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@islamicawareness9768]

Nice

[@sabahelias3827]

professor brizendine's class anyone lol?

[@islamicawareness9768]

He should have become muslim . Allah guides whom he wills . I respect his freedom .

[@vasanac7214]

Innovative ?

[@z969307]

Pretty sad we resort to a non-Muslim to learn our deen. No thank you, don’t need someone who is devoid of hidaya to tell us Muslims on how to read the Quran or to follow our Nabi. Let him reflect on the 3rd ayah of surah Baqarah. I am sure he is a great academic and superb human being but when it comes deen let’s keep to the Ulama within. Br MK very apt and profound question you asked him at the beginning of the session, didn’t really find his answer satisfactory.

[@mehnazafridi35]

Some times, non-Muslims can see things that we as Muslims cannot. I think it is a blessing that non-Muslims are reading the Qur'an. Mashallah. We must open up to all humanity as our Qur'an teaches us!

[@z969307]

@@mehnazafridi35 ??? Seriously? A non Muslim who has NO NOOR OF IMAN can see something we are unable to, you have no idea what you are talking about. if they are reading, it is for their own good.

[@ProfMuqtedarKhan]

I think his discussion of Satanic verses was interesting. Our Prophet pbuh told us to go to even China to gain knowledge, he did not say, but wait till China embraces Islam. We should gain knowledge wherever we find it. Khadija rah went to her Christian cousin Waraqa bin nawfal to understand what was happening to her husband (when he first received revelations).

[@ProfMuqtedarKhan]

@IbrahimIbnYusuf you are right. There are some Hadith literature that undermines the Quran.

[@ProfMuqtedarKhan]

@IbrahimIbnYusuf If all these sahih ahadith are sahih then it means that we have atleast left one ayah out of the Quran that was revealed! Other abrogated verses are still in the Quran. who decided to leave it out. www.abuaminaelias.com/was-the-stoning-verse-abrogated/