Category Archives: Scholars

Northrop Frye and the Qur’an

Conferences and Talks, Qur'an, Scholars


Northrop Frye

by Todd Lawson, University of Toronto, Dept. of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations

In the course of my ongoing research project, studying the Qur’an as a special instance of apocalyptic discourse, I have found that the writings of Northrop Frye hold important clues and suggestions for both the apocalyptic élan of the Qur’an and the related problem of the Qur’an’s status as a specific form of epic. The two seem to go together and I am exploring these cross-pollinating and mutually energizing literary dynamics in the book that will result. In the meantime, I have found that Frye deserves to be mined more deeply for what is obviously his irresistible interest in the Qur’an.

Over the last two years, I have conducted a grad seminar at the University of Toronto entitled “The Quran and the Apocalyptic Imagination.” A large part of the discussion in this course has focussed on Frye and what he might have to say about the Quran. I have also conducted an undergraduate seminar “How Does the Qur’an Mean” in which two texts have been assigned: the Qur’an and Frye’s Double Vision. It has been a revelation. In part, this has been an attempt to have a conversation that I never had the nerve to initiate while the great man was alive and working away happily, virtually across the street. In any case, the results have been extremely encouraging. I am now delving deep into the Frye archive and studying his marginalia and other related documents.

Frye’s explicit references to Islam and the Qur’an, though few, have long been in print. I am calling for a workshop to see if we can manage a coherent discussion around this general theme. Continue reading Northrop Frye and the Qur’an →

One for the record books

Islam: Introduction, Islamic Sciences, Islamic Texts, Orientalism, Scholars


I recently received an interesting email, not the usual spam from the widow of the last military dictator of Nigeria seeking a bank account to deposit here husband’s stolen millions, nor an enlargement claim for a part of my anatomy. No, this was a special announcement from Gerlach Books in Berlin. As you read the announcement, you can imagine my surprise to be on this list with a mere professor’s salary.

Today we would like to draw your attention to the largest scholarly library we have offered as an entity ever.

*** Hans Daiber’s Scholarly Library on Islamic Thought & Philosophy – 12,500 items ***

Each item in this library is listed in the three volume Bibliography of Islamic Philosophy edited by Hans Daiber and published by Brill as part of HdO – Handbuch der Orientalistik.

Hans Daiber’s library includes all known publications in western and non-western languages from the 15th century to the present. The total number of items is approximately 12,500 primary and secondary sources.

Today the library itself is put up for sale.
The total price of the library is 775,000.00 EUR (seven hundred and seventy five thousand Euros) plus shipping.

Apart from the hubris (“all known publications… from the 15th century to the present”), I can only imagine the size in shittim wood cubits of this Noachian bibliographic ark. Continue reading One for the record books →

When a Baghdadi taught the Spanish

Books You Should Read, Food and Drink, Islamic History, Scholars


For both a delightful read and a handy recipe book I suggest Ziryab: Authentic Arab Cuisine by Farouk Mardam-Bey and illustrations by Odile Alliet. This was published in 2002 by Ici La Press.

Here is a selection from the foreword:

Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Nafi’ was born in Iraq in 789 C.C. His family, however most likely originated in Persia. With a melodious voice, dark skin, and gentle manners, he was nicknamed Ziryab, the name of the harmoniously mellow black bird. He received a solid education in the humanities and sciences, especially in geography and astronomy, and eventually became the favorite disciple of Ishaq al-Mawsili, the Abbasid court’s most famous musician and singer. Nevertheless, resentment replaced the preferential treatment he received by his master Ishaq al Mawsili who became envious of Ziryab’s immense success with the great caliph Harun al Rashid to whom he had introduced his protègè. As a result, Ziryab had to leave his country when he was just thirty years old. Continue reading When a Baghdadi taught the Spanish →

Rumi over Khamenei

Iran, Poetry, Scholars, Sufism

Iran’s spiritual leader isn’t a hardline Islamist, but a mystic poet

By Melody Moezzi, Christian Science Monitor, May 11, 2011

Iran’s officially recognized “spiritual leader” today may be Ayatollah Khamenei, but for hundreds of years before the current establishment of mullahs and ayatollahs, Iranians of all creeds have looked to another spiritual leader: Jalal ad-Din Rumi. While this 13th century Persian Sufi poet is known in much of the West as “Rumi,” he is referred to more affectionately in Iran as “Mowlaana,” or the master.

Among Iranians, he is a spiritual guide and guru whose words hold unmatched moral authority. Over 700 years after his death, it is nearly impossible to spend a day walking around any Iranian city, suburb, or village and not hear his echo. His words live on in everyday parlance: No matter one’s station, religion, or occupation, everyone in Iran knows at least a handful of Rumi’s poems by heart. They are taught in classrooms as an essential part of the basic curriculum, but more than that, they are learned in homes, cafes, bazaars, parks, and houses of worship. No place is beyond this poet’s influence. Continue reading Rumi over Khamenei →

Geographers and Osama

Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Scholars

UCLA Geographers Weren’t Far Off the Mark in Predicting Bin Laden’s Location

By Ben Wieder, Wired Campus, The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 3, 2011

Osama bin Laden’s hiding place in Abbottabad, Pakistan, came as a surprise to many when U.S. forces located and killed the former Al Qaeda leader early Monday. It was less of a surprise to two geographers at the University of California at Los Angeles.

According to ScienceInsider, a geography class taught by Thomas W. Gillespie, an associate professor, and John A. Agnew, a professor, predicted in 2009 that there was an 88.9 percent chance Mr. bin Laden was hiding in a city less than 300 kilometers from Tora Bora, his last known location. That swath of Pakistan would include Abbottabad, Mr. bin Laden’s actual hiding place. Continue reading Geographers and Osama →

Viewing the Shanamah in Manhattan

Calligraphy, Conferences and Talks, Iran, Languages, Literature, Miniatures, Poetry, Qur'an, Scholars, Sufism


Portrait of the infant Rustam shown to Sam (folio 30b)

On Thursday night I had the privilege of attending a reading of portions of the Shanamah by Iraj Anvar.
The reading was held as part of the superb series called “Illuminated Verses: Poetries of the Islamic World,” which is a series of readings and events that began in March with a lecture by Bruce Lawrence on the Quran and continues through May 7. This is an extraordinary opportunity to hear and learn more about the variety of poetic production in Islamic cultures worldwide.

While the reading of the Shanamah is over, you can still see the exhibit of the mid 15th century Muhammad Juki’s manuscript of the Shanamah at the Asia Society through May 1.

The Legacy of Donny George Youkhanna

Archaeology and Antiquities, Conferences and Talks, Iraq, Scholars


A memorial conference entitled “Cultural Heritage Now – The Legacy of Donny George Youkhanna” will be held Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 4:30 – 6:30 at the Rutgers Student Center in New Brunswick , New Jersey. Details below.

Cultural Heritage Now:

Iraq and Beyond
The Legacy of Donny George Youkhanna

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
4:30-6:30

Rutgers Student Center
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
126 College Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

The event is open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Those wishing to contribute remarks must indicate this at the time of registration.

Presentations by:

John Russell
“Preserving Iraq’s Past”
John Malcolm Russell teaches the art and archaeology of the ancient Middle East and Egypt at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the author of numerous articles and four books on ancient Assyria, one of which, The Final Sack of Nineveh (Yale), investigates the destruction of Sennacherib’s palace in Iraq by looters in the 1990’ s. Professor Russell has conducted archaeological excavations at Nineveh, Iraq, and Tell Ahmar, Syria. In 2003-2004 he served with the Coalition Provisional Authority as an advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture in Baghdad, Iraq, where he focused on renovating the Iraq Museum and protecting archaeological sites. Continue reading The Legacy of Donny George Youkhanna →

Charles J. Adams (April 24, 1924 – March 23, 2011)

Islam in America, Islam: Introduction, Pakistan, Scholars


Islamic Studies building, McGill University, Montreal

[I post here a letter from Richard Martin on the passing of Charles Adams.]

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that I learned yesterday that Charles J. Adams died in Mesa, Arizona on March 23 of this year. During his final years he lived in retirement in Arizona, suffering from the steady deteriorating effects of Parkinson’s Disease, which affected his body but not his clear, sharp mind. I had the good fortune to be able to visit Charles three weeks before his demise in his retirement village in Mesa, Arizona, where he lived with a friend and companion who looked after him in recent years. We had lunch together and got out books and reminisced about the evolution of the field of Islamic Studies during our lifetime, over which he had exerted such great influence through his many student and writings. He nonetheless felt sad and helpless that in his declining state of health he was powerless to any longer be a voice in the academic study of religion in the current climate of suspicion, fear and hate about Islam in the public sphere. Continue reading Charles J. Adams (April 24, 1924 – March 23, 2011) →