Translating the Qur'an in an Age of Nationalism
Print Culture and Modern Islam in Turkey
M. Brett Wilson
352 pages | ~10 hrs
Translating the Qur'an in an Age of Nationalism
Print Culture and Modern Islam in Turkey
By M. Brett Wilson
This scholarly exploration reveals a profound transformation in how one of the world's most sacred texts has evolved in the modern era. Wilson examines the remarkable journey of the Qur'an from handwritten manuscript to widely accessible printed book, available in countless languages across the globe.
The study traces a fascinating paradox: while many Muslims at the beginning of the twentieth century viewed translations of the Qur'an as forbidden and impossible, these same translated and printed versions have now become central to how millions understand and engage with their sacred text. This shift represents nothing less than a revolution in Islamic religious practice and spiritual accessibility.
Drawing on extensive research across the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Russia, Egypt, Indonesia, and India, Wilson illuminates the complex intellectual debates and practical challenges that accompanied this transformation. The book explores how religious communities navigated questions of authenticity, authority, and accessibility as they embraced new technologies of printing and translation.
For readers interested in understanding how spiritual traditions adapt to changing times, this work offers valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between sacred texts and modern society. Wilson demonstrates how religious communities can maintain reverence for their foundational texts while making them more accessible to contemporary believers.
The study provides a compelling case study of how spiritual traditions evolve, showing how innovation and tradition can coexist in meaningful ways that serve both scholarly understanding and personal faith.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Koran
- ✓ Explore Qurʼan
- ✓ Explore Islam and state
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Translating
- ✓ Explore Islam, history
- ✓ Explore Nationalism
- ✓ Explore Versions
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2014
- Publisher
- OUP in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies
- ISBN-13
- 9780198719434
- ISBN-10
- 0198719434
- Pages
- 352
- Language
- EN
