mCritical assessment of Denise A. Spelberg s View of Ifk verses ( Quran, Nur/ 11-20), the article of “Aisha” in EQ

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Associate professor of Theology and Islamic studies

Abstract

Denise Spellberg’s article on  “A'isha” in the  Encyclopedia of Quran pays much concern to the story of Ifk (falsehood) in the verses 11-20 of Sura al-Nur. In her narration of the story, the writer has confined herself to the traditions on the causes of revelation rather than the verses proper. She proclaims these verses as the most explicit ones about Aisha; whereas the forth verse of Sura al- Tahrim is more explicit .Although she considers these verses as the clear manifestation of Muslim sectarian disagreement, but the Shia and Sunni have  no serious disagreement on these verses. She claims that the Shia accuse Aisha of adultery; however according to them, not only Aisha but also all the wives of all the prophets are innocent of any such act. Spellberg considers interpretation of the Qur'an subject to the exegetes’ appeals and biases, whereas Muslim scholars' requirements and  qualifications for any interpretation goes beyond all these personal preferences . Dedicating great value to the impact of presuppositions and appeals has root in philosophical hermeneutics that suffers from many flaws. She also asserts the impact of gender on the Qur'an’s interpretation, neglecting the fact that the diversity of interpretations on verses concerning women has root in the epistemological principles of the exegete and the cultural-social conditions of his/her era, rather than his/her gender.
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References

 Gadamer, Hans- Georg, (1975), Truth and Method, Ed. By Garrett Barden and John Cumming.
M.M. Bar- Asher, (1999),Scripture and exegesis in early Imami Shiism, Leiden
Ruth Roded, (2006),Women and the Quran, in Encyclopedia of Quran, Jane Dammen McAuliffe, General Editor , Brill, Leiden – Boston.
Spellberg,Denise A, (2001), “Aisha bint Abi Bakr” in The Encyclopedia of Quran, Jane Dammen McAuliffe, General Editor, Brill, Leiden–Boston–Koln.
Spellberg,Denise A ,( 1994),Politics, Gender, and the Islamic Past: The Legacy of 'A'isha Bint Abi Bakr. New York: Columbia,University Press
 

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 April 2016
  • Revise Date: 22 January 2017
  • Accept Date: 16 July 2016

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