The Wall Street Journal-20080124-Who May Interpret the Very Memorable Quran-
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Who May Interpret the Very Memorable Quran?
Despite general Muslim sensitivities to outsiders venturing into Islam studies ("The Lost Archive," page one, Jan. 12), I don't believe that there should be any taboos concerning who and what is allowed as a subject of study. One can only look forward to a day when Islamic texts and history are studied with the same scholarship and rigor that Christian texts and history have been.
From ancient times, the Quran has been memorized by many individuals, illustrating that it is the same as it has always been. I cannot think of any other book that is completely memorized around the globe by individuals, called Hafiz, many of whom don't even understand or speak the language. Visit any Muslim group prayer and you will see what I mean. It never fails that when I am engaged in communal prayer more than one of the congregants will correct the Imam if the leader of the prayer makes a mistake while reading verses from the Quran. These Hafiz of the Quran have kept it the same.
Ihsan Alkhatib, Esq.
Dearborn, Mich.
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I say to the Western scholars: Do not interpret the Quran for Muslims. We Muslims are capable of interpreting the Quran for ourselves. No other people have shown the level of hostility to another faith as Westerners have shown to Muhammad, the Quran and Islam. It continues to this day. Islam doesn't need reformation; the Western mind needs reformation about Muhammad, the Quran and Islam.
It will be better for both of us.
Tahir A. Qureshi
Silver Spring, Md.
