German Scholar: Qur’an traditions are found in European culture

First making her reputation with her work, the “Studies on the Composition of the Meccan Suras”, Angelika Neuwirth’s work has become among the most important in Europe about Islam. In an interview with German magazine Qantara, Professor Neuwirth said the traditions conveyed in the Qur’an are the same as those found in European culture. She […]

First making her reputation with her work, the “Studies on the Composition of the Meccan Suras”, Angelika Neuwirth’s work has become among the most important in Europe about Islam.
In an interview with German magazine Qantara, Professor Neuwirth said the traditions conveyed in the Qur’an are the same as those found in European culture.
She spoke about Islamic revelation and how it is embedded in late antique (i.e the same period and cultural realm in which Christian and Jewish theology developed). She said because of this we all come from a common origin, but this knowledge has been clouded by historical advancements.
In her first piece, she focuses on the linguistic and oral character of the Quran, suggesting that it is not just an information medium, but imparts a multitude of messages on a semantic level. Its uniqueness comes from its multiple layers, rhythmic nature, rhetorical devices and its power of conviction. It is “enchantment through language.”
The acclaimed professor goes onto to talk about the spirit of learning in the Quran. “Language is praised” she says, “Naturally this is related to knowledge. Language is the medium of knowledge.” It is for this reason; there is such an emphasis within the Islamic tradition on the acquisition of knowledge. This focus on knowledge was something that was absent from the Torah and Bible, she added.
On women, Neuwirth argues that the Quran took a revolutionary step forward by equating men and women in terms of their spiritual status before God. This was truly exclusive for this time, when in the age of Ignorance gender equality was unthinkable. – By Hinna Sheikh