This lecture by American Muslim Scholar Joseph E. B. Lumbard examines the manner in which the legacy of colonialism continues to influence the analysis of the Quran in the Euro-American academy. Epistemic colonialism continues to prevail in the privileging of Eurocentric systems of knowledge production to the detriment and even exclusion of modes of analysis that developed in the Islamic world for over a thousand years. This form of intellectual hegemony results in multifaceted epistemological reductionism that denies efficacy to the analytical tools developed by the classical Islamic tradition.

The presumed intellectual superiority of Euro-American analytical modes has become a constitutive and persistent feature of Quranic Studies, influencing all aspects of the field. Its persistence prevents some scholars from encountering, let alone employing, the analytical tools of the classical Islamic tradition and presents obstacles to a broader discourse in the international community of Quranic Studies scholars.

Acknowledging the obstacles to which the coloniality of knowledge has given rise in Quranic Studies can help us to develop more inclusive approaches in which multiple modes of analysis are incorporated and scholars from variegated intellectual backgrounds can engage in more effective dialogue.

Summary of the Talk

Context of the Presentation:

• Lombard, a member of the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies, addresses the audience on the subject of "Decolonizing Quranic Studies."
• The presentation takes place within a department that includes an Islamic studies component, and Lombard expresses satisfaction with the interest shown, particularly when Islamic subjects are discussed.

Project Overview:

• Lombard outlines his project, which involves a two-fold analysis. First, he aims to scrutinize the process of epistemic colonization in Quranic studies.
• The second part of the project explores strategies for decolonizing Quranic studies, envisioning what these studies could look like when freed from colonial influences.

Critique of Western Scholarship:

• The speaker echoes sentiments expressed by scholars like Pervez Mansour, who characterized Orientalist Quranic studies as a project fueled by spite, frustration, and vengeance.
• Lombard criticizes Western approaches for frequently disregarding developments in the Islamic world, leading to the exclusion of significant historical and factual contributions from the Quranic sciences.

Disregard for Native Epistemologies:

• Euro-American approaches to the Quran are accused of neglecting the commentary tradition, Quranic sciences, and hadith literature. This neglect is framed as a methodological flaw.
• Lombard argues that certain scholars demand the exclusion and reconfiguration of large amounts of historical data to fit preconceived narratives.

Eurocentric Cartography of Knowledge:

• The speaker delves into the Eurocentric cartography of knowledge, highlighting an invisible line that separates accepted epistemologies, placing hard science at the top and relegating theological inquiry to a lower status.
• This approach renders theological positions as non-cognitive and dismisses evidence supporting them as fabrications, reinforcing a perceived intellectual hierarchy.

Call for Diverse Theoretical Perspectives:

• Lombard advocates for a more open approach in contemporary Quranic studies, urging scholars to consider diverse theoretical perspectives.
• He suggests engaging with scholars from the Arab world and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the possibilities of various legitimate theoretical loci of enunciation.

Challenges and Questions:

• The speaker raises questions about the goals of scholars in the Euro-American Academy working on Quranic studies. He challenges them to broaden their engagement with developments in various parts of the Muslim world.

Conclusion:

• Lombard concludes by emphasizing the need to examine and question the cultural, epistemological, and ontological presuppositions in the criteria used in Euro-American Academy Quranic studies. He highlights the importance of being open to diverse perspectives and engaging with scholars from different backgrounds.

Related Study

Paper on Decolonizing Qur'anic Studies by Joseph Lumbard

Towards a Decolonial Approach to the Qur’an by Asad Dandia

Reversing the Gaze? Or Decolonizing the Study of the Qurʾan by Sajjad Rizvi