The Syro-Aramaic Reading of the Koran: A Contribution to the Decoding of the Language of the KoranVerlag Hans Schiler, 2007 - 349 Seiten Throughout its history the Koran has presented problems of interpretation. Some scholars estimate that at least a quarter of the text is obscure in meaning, not only for Western translators but even native Arabic speakers, who struggle with the archaic vocabulary that is no longer used in modern Arabic. In this in-depth study of the language of the Koran, scholar Christoph Luxenberg dispels much of the mystery surrounding numerous hitherto unclear passages. The key, as Luxenberg shows exhaustively, is to understand that Aramaic--the language of most Middle Eastern Jews and Christians of the pre-Islamic era--had a pervasive influence on the development of the Arabic text of the Koran. For a thousand years preceding the advent of Islam, Aramaic (or Syriac as it was sometimes called) was the lingua franca of many parts of the Near East. It was the native language of the first Christian evangelists and the main liturgical language of the early Christian churches from Syria to Iran. Based on this historical context and a profound knowledge of Semitic languages, Luxenberg clarifies many thorny textual puzzles. Perhaps his most interesting argument is that the passage often translated as referring to the "virgins" that are believed to greet the departed faithful in paradise was long ago misunderstood. In fact, knowledge of ancient Christian hymns in Aramaic suggests that the word in question refers to "grapes" that the departed will enjoy in a paradisiacal garden. Luxenberg discusses many other similar fascinating instances where Aramaic vocabulary and concepts influenced the text of the Koran This highly erudite work makes a significant contribution to the study of the Koran and the history of Islamic origins. |
Inhalt
CONTENTS | 9 |
Reference Works | 20 |
The Arabic Script | 30 |
The Seven Readings | 37 |
100 | 44 |
196 | 52 |
Western Koranic Studies | 66 |
of qÚryän to qurcän | 72 |
On Many a SyroAramaic Basic Structure | 214 |
Misread Arabic Expressions | 242 |
157 | 257 |
The Significance of Ephraem the Syrian | 258 |
Additional Relevant Passages | 265 |
33 | 281 |
The Boys of Paradise | 284 |
44 | 289 |
5 | 88 |
The Historical Error | 109 |
Analysis of Individual Sura Verses | 127 |
249 | 139 |
250 | 143 |
15 | 150 |
The Analysis of Individual Suras | 292 |
Résumé | 326 |
335 | |
341 | |
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Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
abarö according accordingly actually adjective already appears Arabic Arabic poetry Aramaic assumed basis become Bell Blachère borrowed Brockelmann called cause Christian cited classical clause clear commentators common confirmed connection considered context correctly corresponding derived dialects Eastern ending equivalent etymology example explained expression extent fact falsely feminine final foreign fruits further given gives Grammar Grammatik grapes hand Hebrew interpretation Islam Koran Koran translators language later letters Lexicon Lisän Mannä masculine meaning meant misread Nöldeke noun occurs original original meaning Paradise Paret participle particle passages plural present probably pronunciation Prophet question reading reason reference regard renders result rule Scripture secondary sense sentence spelling stands stem suggests Sura synonym Syriac Syro Syro-Aramaic taken term tion tradition translators turn understanding understood usage variant verb verbal root verse written