Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TIQ (Textual Integrity of the Qur’an: Sunni and Shi'i Historical Narrations on the Falsification)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-06-01 bis 2023-03-31
SK's first objective in the “Textual Integrity of the Qur’an” (TIQ) is to be trained in the Sunni sources and approaches to quranic studies at the University of Toronto (UoT), 22 months under the supervision of Prof Walid Saleh (WS), and to advance his knowledge of the study of early Muslim historical and legal data (ḥadīth studies) at the University of Goettingen (UGOE), the University of Goettingen (UGOE), 2 months (initial Secondment at the beneficiary at the beginning of the outgoing phase) under the supervision of Prof Jens Scheiner (JS) and 12 Months at Lund University (LU), under the supervision of Oliver Scharbrodt (OS) . The second objective is to enable SK to test the boundaries of the isnād-cum-matn method through analysing the earliest written Sunni and Shiʿi sources and traditions (ḥadīth), in order to determine the exact timeframe wherein the notion of falsification of the Qur’an conceivably came into existence, and to define the further transmission of these traditions that reveal interaction between the Sunni and Shiʿi traditionalists. The third objective is to empower SK with the necessary knowledge to tackle the existing tension between Shiʿis and Sunnis at the European and global level. The idea of falsification has been a contributing factor to these tensions around the world and in Europe, particularly Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, France, UK and Germany. 1 The overall structure of the study will be built upon the hypothesis that the notion of falsification emerged as a result of the influence of Sunni traditionalists on Shiʿi traditionalists and not, as is the current view, that Shiʿis manipulated the quranic text. Communication of the scientific historical information resulting from this research, to counter preconceived ideas and beliefs, would be an important step towards alleviating sectarian tensions and addressing the priority of security and peace building by strengthening community cohesion in Europe.
I have submitted one journal article and three book chapters as a part of this project. I have completed the monograph and submitted it to the editor at the EUP. I have teamed up with three faculties from the U of T to organise a 3-days international conference at U of T in April 2023. I have completed a German language level one course. I taught 4 courses at the U of T. I have been invited to give talks about TIQ. Local Muslim communities have invited me to talk in their religious centres about TIQ. See the Tech report for more detail.
TIQ has debunked myths about the textual history of the Quran and its integrity and contributed to community cohesion in Europe and beyond.