A Dialogue with Prof. Elias Qwesim about Modern Readings of the Qur’anic text

Abstract

This dialogue was conducted by Prof. Youssef Akrash with Prof. Elias Qweism about the modern readings of the Qur’anic text in order to shed light on this issue, which has become important at the level of general and specific research. The dialogue focused on several issues, including the concept of modern readings with highlighting its elements, the history of its emergence, and its status in the map of western and eastern scholarly work. The discussion also covered the current status of those readings, at the theoretical and applied level, the most prominent roots and starting points underpinning them, and the purposes of readings’ owners. Reference was also made to some of the claims of the owners of those readings, focusing on Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid as a contemporary model of these trends, and how far these readings intersect and are inspired by Western approaches to reading. Prof. Elias Qweism concluded the dialogue with some advice on methodological issues related to the topic under discussion.