(الدراسات القرآنية التي أُجريت في الولايات المتحدة خلال نصف القرن الماضي (نموذج من الاستشراق

Öz

تتناول هذه الدراسة الأعمال التي قدّمها المستشرقون الأميركيون في مجال دراسات القرآن الكريم خلال النصف القرن الماضي. ورغم أنّ مصطلح “الاستشراق” اكتسب دلالات سلبية بعد إدوارد سعيد، إلا أنّه يُستعمل هنا للإشارة إلى الباحثين الغربيين الذين يدرسون الشرق. ولأنّ هذه الدراسة لا تركز على أعمال الباحثين المسلمين، فقد تمّ اعتماد مناهج متعددة مثل تحليل المصادر وجمع البيانات والتحليل النصّي والتاريخي والمقارن، بهدف تحليل البحوث القرآنية التي أجراها المستشرقون الأميركيون خلال الخمسين سنة الأخيرة والكشف عن النماذج المعرفية والباحثين البارزين الذين أسهموا في تشكيل دراسات القرآن في الولايات المتحدة. وبعد الحرب العالمية الثانية برزت الولايات المتحدة كقوة عالمية، غير أنّ الأبحاث المتعلقة بالإسلام في تلك المرحلة كانت في الغالب محدودة بالأعمال الميدانية، وظلّت الدراسات الأكاديمية المتخصّصة بالقرآن قليلة نسبياً، ثم أصبحت الدراسات الحديثة التي انطلقت بعيداً عن المناهج الاستشراقية المبكرة من الموضوعات الأساسية في أقسام دراسات الشرق الأوسط بالجامعات الأميركية، وتحول الاستشراق تدريجياً إلى مجال ذي طابع اجتماعي–علمي أسهم في تقويض الاعتقاد بأنّ المستشرق لا بدّ أن يكون متمكّناً من لغات الشرق، فصار الباحثون يمارسون أعمالهم لا بوصفهم فقهاء لغة، بل باعتبارهم علماء اجتماع وإنسانيات. إلا أنّ هجمات الحادي عشر من سبتمبر شكّلت نقطة تحوّل مهمّة في مجال دراسات القرآن في الولايات المتحدة، إذ استقطبت العديد من الجامعات الأميركية بعد الهجوم على برجي التجارة العالمي باحثين متخصّصين في الإسلام، مما أدّى إلى زيادة ملحوظة في الدراسات القرآنية، ومع ذلك فإنّ الأعمال التي أُنجزت في هذه الفترة لا تعكس منهجاً واحداً موحداً، بل تُظهر تنوّعاً واضحاً في التوجّهات المنهجية

Anahtar Kelimeler

• التفسير
• القرآن
• الاستشراق
• الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية
• أواخر العصور القديمة

Qur’anic Studies Conducted in the United States over the Past Half Century (An Example of Ori-entalism)

Abstract

In this study, the works produced by American Orientalists in the field of Qur’anic studies over the past half century are examined. The term “Orientalist,” which has acquired negative connotations in the aftermath of Edward Said, is used here to refer to Western scholars who study the East. This research does not focus on studies conducted by Muslim scholars; instead, it employs methods such as source analysis, data collection, textual analysis, historical analysis, and comparative analysis. By analyzing the research carried out by American Orientalists on the Qur’an over the last fifty years, this study aims to identify the dominant paradigms and leading scholars in Qur’anic studies in the United States. Following World War II, the United States emerged as a superpower, and in the early years, research was largely limited to field studies. During this period, academic work on the Qur’an remained relatively limited in scope. Over time, however, these studies—distinguishing themselves from earlier Orientalist approaches—became one of the central subjects within Middle Eastern studies departments at universities. In this process, Orientalism evolved into a specialization within the social sciences. This transformation diminished the earlier expectation that an Orientalist must be proficient in the languages of the East, and researchers increasingly began to conduct their work as social scientists rather than as philologists. However, the September 11 attacks marked a significant turning point for Qur’anic studies. In the aftermath of the attacks on the Twin Towers, many American universities recruited scholars specializing in Islam, leading to a noticeable increase in Qur’anic research. Following this rise, it has been observed that the studies conducted do not adhere to a single uniform approach but instead reflect a diversity of methodological orientations.

Keywords

• Tafsir
• Qur’an
• Orientalism
• United States of America
• Late Antiquity

Son Yarım Asırda Birleşik Devletler’de Yapılan Kur’an Araştırmaları (Oryantalizm Örneği)

Öz

Bu çalışmada, Amerikalı oryantalistlerin son yarım yüzyılda Kur’an araştırmaları alanında ortaya koydukları çalışmalar incelenmiştir. Edward Said sonrası olumsuz çağrışımlar kazanmış olan “oryantalist” terimi, bu çalışmada Doğu’yu inceleyen Batılı araştırmacılar anlamında kullanılmaktadır. Müslüman araştırmacıların yürüttüğü çalışmalara odaklanmayan bu araştırmada, kaynak incelemesi, veri toplama, metin analizi, tarihsel analiz ve karşılaştırmalı analiz yöntemleri uygulanmıştır. Bu çalışma, son yarım yüzyılda Amerikalı oryantalistlerin Kur’an üzerine yaptığı araştırmaları analiz ederek, ABD’de Kur’an araştırmalarında öne çıkan paradigma ve araştırmacıları ortaya koymayı hedeflemektedir. İkinci Dünya Savaşı’nın ardından süper güç olarak ortaya çıkan ABD’de, ilk yıllarda yapılan araştırmalar çoğunlukla alan çalışmalarıyla sınırlı kalmıştır. Bu dönemde Kur’an üzerine yürütülen akademik çalışmalar nispeten sınırlı bir nitelik taşımaktadır. Erken dönem oryantalist yaklaşımlardan ayrışan bu çalışmalar, zamanla üniversitelerin Ortadoğu araştırmaları bölümlerinin temel inceleme konularından biri hâline gelmiştir. Oryantalizm bu süreçte sosyal bilim mütehassıslığı haline gelmiştir. Bu dönüşüm bir oryantalistin Şark’ın dillerine hâkim olması gerektiği gibi bir inancı ortadan kaldırmıştır. Araştırmacılar filolog olarak değil bir sosyal bilimci olarak çalışmalarını yürütmeye başlamıştır. Ancak 11 Eylül saldırıları, Kur’an araştırmaları açısından önemli bir dönüm noktası olmuştur. İkiz Kuleler’e yönelik saldırıların ardından birçok Amerikan üniversitesi, İslam üzerine uzmanlaşacak akademisyenleri kadrolarına katmış; bu süreç Kur’an araştırmalarında belirgin bir artışa yol açmıştır. Bu artışın ardından gerçekleştirilen çalışmaların, tek tip bir yaklaşım sergilemediği ve farklı metodolojik yönelimler içerdiği gözlemlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tefsir
• Kur’an
• Oryantalizm
• Amerika Birleşik Devletleri
• Geç Antik Çağ

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