The Qurʾanic Word Rūḥ and Its Restricted Interpretations: An Analysis of Classical Tafsīr Tradition

IF 0.4 2区 哲学 0 RELIGION
Peter Laffoon
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to uncover a fuller meaning of the qur’anic word rūḥ through a critical analysis of the classical tafsīr tradition, challenging the prevailing scholarly opinion that rūḥ must be interpreted through the lens of that tradition. I demonstrate that classical Muslim exegetes restricted their interpretations of the word, saying that the rūḥ is either Gabriel, a super angel/metaphysical creature, a created soul or an inspiration from God, or else remaining silent and not offering any interpretation. They gave these interpretations even in cases where they were contradictory or implausible because other interpretations might have raised theological concerns rooted in the fear of conflating the rūḥ or Jesus with God. The rūḥ had to be interpreted as muḥdath (created) not qadīm (eternally existing), lest any implied anthropomorphic overtones might impinge upon God’s transcendence, and to avoid the theological implications of Jesus being rūḥ Allāh. This restriction on interpretation has substantially impacted later exegetes, philologists and Islamic scholars, obscuring the meaning of the qur’anic rūḥ. This article recommends a more critical reading of tafsīr in order uncover a fuller meaning of the qur’anic rūḥ.
古兰经词Rūḥ及其有限的解释:古典塔夫斯基传统分析
本文的目的是通过对古兰经经典文本的批判性分析,揭示古兰经rūḥ一词更全面的含义,挑战流行的学术观点,即rūḥ必须通过该传统的透镜来解释。我证明了经典的穆斯林注释者限制了他们对这个词的解释,说rūḥ要么是加布里埃尔,一个超级天使/形而上学的生物,一个被创造的灵魂或来自上帝的灵感,要么保持沉默,不提供任何解释。他们给出了这些解释,即使这些解释是矛盾的或不可信的,因为其他解释可能会引起神学上的担忧,根植于害怕将rūḥ或耶稣与上帝混为一谈。rūḥ必须被解释为muḥdath(创造)而不是qad m(永远存在),以免任何隐含的拟人化的暗示可能会影响上帝的超然性,并避免耶稣是rūḥ Allāh的神学含义。这种对解释的限制极大地影响了后来的注释家、语言学家和伊斯兰学者,模糊了古兰经rūḥ的含义。本文建议对tafs . r进行更批判性的阅读,以揭示古兰经rūḥ更全面的含义。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
1.90
自引率
0.00%
发文量
41
期刊介绍: Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations (ICMR) provides a forum for the academic exploration and discussion of the religious tradition of Islam, and of relations between Islam and other religions. It is edited by members of the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. The editors welcome articles on all aspects of Islam, and particularly on: •the religion and culture of Islam, historical and contemporary •Islam and its relations with other faiths and ideologies •Christian-Muslim relations. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations is a refereed, academic journal. It publishes articles, documentation and reviews.
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