Please join us today at Islamic Studies workshop for a presentation and discussion with our Zahra Moeini Meybodi on her paper entitled:

“The Qur’an is as the Qur’an Says: The Shī’ī Imams on the Nature of the Qur’an.”

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We will meet from 12:30-1:30pm in Swift 201 – do note this meeting is pushed up a week because of the Thanksgiving break.

Abstract:
The nature of the Qur’an as God’s verbatim revelation has served as a site of long-standing debate in Islamic theology. Broadly speaking, the positions established in early Sunni theology are represented by the Muʿtazilī belief in the createdness of the Qur’an versus the ʾAshʿarī view of its (co-)eternality. This paper in specific investigates a much less noted position – that of several of the Imams in the Twelver Shīʿī tradition who represent some of the earliest as well as systematic views on the matter. The Shīʿī Imams’ methodology in characterizing the Qur’an is the main subject of analysis. One sees a persistent disengagement and even resistance to the discourses of ‘eternality’ or ‘createdness’. It is argued that a theology of the Qur’an must necessarily employ the conceptual paradigms and vocabulary provided by the Qur’an itself. Possible grounds for the Imams’ disengagement is also explored, in turn touching on issue of the debate’s origin. Far from being objectified by reason alone, Revelation itself acts as a determining agent in the reasoning process.

Note: this paper will be provided upon individual request to the coordinators
(akanner@uchicago.edu, zahramoeini@uchicago.edu). Light refreshments will be
served- hope to see you there!