Sömürge Dönemi Hint Alt Kıtası’ndaki Hıristiyan Misyonerlik Stratejilerinde Kur’an-ı Kerim

Abstract

Bu makale, sömürge altındaki Güney Asya’da Hıristiyan misyonerlerinin Kur’an’la ilişkisini ve Kur’an’ı amaçlarına uygun şekilde nasıl kullandıklarını incelemektedir. Bölgede 16. yüzyılda başlayan Hıristiyan misyonerlik faaliyetleri, 18. yüzyıl sonlarında Batılı güçlerin bölgedeki etkisiyle yoğunlaşmıştır. Misyonerler, İslam’ın teolojik temellerini sorgulayıp Hıristiyanlığı üstün kılmayı hedeflemiş ve Kur’an’ı ya İslam’a karşı kullanmış ya da Hıristiyan inançlarını desteklemek için ondan alıntı yapmak için kullanmıştır. Özellikle, sömürgenin zirve dönemi sayılan 1857 sonrası dönemlerde, misyonerlerin çalışmalarına artan bir sistematiklik kazandırılmış ve yeni yorumlama yöntemleri geliştirilmiştir. Çalışmada örnek olarak ele aldığımız John Murdoch’un Selections From the Koran eseri, İslam’ı eleştirirken misyonerlere Kur’an’ı nasıl kullanacaklarına dair rehberlik etmiştir. Ele aldığımız diğer misyoner William Goldsack ise Bengalce’ye yaptığı Kur’an tercümesiyle Müslümanları Hıristiyanlığa yönlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Goldsack’ın yaklaşımı, Kur’an’ın içeriğini çarpıtarak ve zaman zaman yanlış bilgilendirmelerle Hıristiyanlık lehine sunmasıyla dikkat çekmektedir. Çalışmada kullanılan yöntemler, içerik analizi ve söylem analizi gibi niteliksel araştırma teknikleridir. Bu çalışma, Hıristiyan misyonerliğinin, sömürge dönemi Hint Alt Kıtası’ndaki dini ve entelektüel tartışmalar üzerindeki etkilerini daha iyi anlamamıza yardımcı olmaktadır.

Keywords

• Tefsir
• Kur’an
• Misyonerlik
• Sömürgecilik
• John Murdoch
• William Goldsack
• Hint Alt Kıtası

The Holy Quran ın Christian Missionary Strategies During Colonial South Asia

Abstract

This article explores how Christian missionaries in colonial India used the Qur’an to further their objectives. Christian missionary activities in the region, beginning in the 16th century, intensified significantly in the late 18th century under expanding Western colonial influence. The primary aim was to challenge Islam's theological foundations and assert Christianity's superiority. Missionaries approached the Qur’an in two ways: either to refute Islamic teachings or to support Christian beliefs. Under British colonial rule, missionary work became more organized, leading to the development of new interpretative strategies. This article analyses the works of key missionaries, including John Murdoch and William Goldsack. Murdoch’s Selections from the Koran critiques Islam while guiding missionaries in using the Qur’an for their mission, while Goldsack’s Bengali translation aimed to convert Muslims, often distorting the Qur’an to favor Christianity. The study employs qualitative research methods, including content and discourse analysis, offering a more in-depth examination than the existing literature. It provides significant insights into the impact of Christian missionaries on religious and intellectual debates in colonial India.

Keywords

• Qur’anic Commentary
• Missionary
• Colonialism
• John Murdoch
• William Goldsack
• Indian Subcontinent

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