Page 359 - History of The Quranic Text | Kalamullah.Com

ORIENTALIST MOTIVATIONS: A STUDY OF SUBJECTIVITY 339

5. Conclusion

Most Muslim countries surrounding Israel have been made to understand
the urgency of changing their school curriculum, to eliminate any point
which arouses passions that are distasteful to Jews. 63 But the Qur'an re-
mains an obstacle: a Book that frequently cites Jewish intransigence and
disobedience, and whose verses wet the lips of schoolchildren, of con-
gregations in mosques, of the penitent Muslim at night with his Mushaf,
and in almost every aspect of life. Understanding the motives that drive
the present research on the Qur'an is a must, that the products of such
research may not catch the reader unawares.
Strugnell and Delitzsch's research onJewish themes is now considered
void because of allegations of anti-Semitism. The Israel Antiquities Depart-
mentjudges qualifications based on its vision of ideological compatibility.
Yet every Christian, Jew and atheist who engages in wilful lies to under-
mine the precepts, elegance, history, and future prospects of Islam is
allowed to consider himself a sheikh, to believe that Muslims are beholden
to his objectivity and obliged to accept his findings. This is indefensible.
Why are the academic dismissals they unleash against anti-Semites." not
applicable to those who distort Islam for ulterior gains? Why should non-
Muslims be deemed authorities to the exclusion of practising Muslims?
Why should men of the Church - Mingana, Guillaume, Watt, Anderson,
Lammanse, and a horde of others who wish nothing more heartily than to
see their religion eclipse Islam- be regarded as the standard in 'unbiased'
Islamic research? Why should Muir be considered an authority on the
Prophet's life, when he writes that the Qur'an is among "the most stubborn
enemies of Civilisation, Liberty, and the Truth which the World has yet
known'Y'"

63 As a case in point - based on my information from Jordan - Israel recently asked
some of its neighbouring Arab countries (as part of the peace process package) to
eliminate all curriculum references to the Crusades, Salahuddm al-Ayyul»(Saladdin),
and his re-conquering of al-Quds Gerusalem).
64 The term 'anti-Semite' itself isa conscious misrepresentation for anti:Judaic, since
the overwhelming majority of Semites for the past fourteen centuries have been Muslims!
65 As quoted in M. Broomhall, Islam in China, New Impression, London, 1987, p. 2.