Izutsu's Study of the Qur'an from an Arab Perspective

Abstract

This essay examines the Arab view of the approach taken by the Japanese researcher Toshihiko Izutsu in his application of semantic theory to the Qur'an, focusing on three of his works: God and Man in the Koran, Ethico-religious Concepts in the Qurʾān and The Concept of Belief in Islamic Theology: A Semantic Analysis of Īmān and Islām (all of which have recently been translated into Arabic by Eisa Al-Akoub and published by Al-Multaqā Publishing House in Aleppo). From the responses of a number of Arab researchers of the Qur'an to these translations over the last three years, it has become apparent that Izutsu's studies are viewed as being of great importance because, through their theoretical and applied principles, they form the basis of a new approach to studying the Qur'an. This essay will discuss the general response to Izutsu's work, and also focus on a number of individual responses to Izutsu's work from a number of Syrian and Lebanese academics who have a specific interest in modern methodologies in the study of the Qur'an. As will be seen, some Arab writers show genuine attitudes of admiration and appreciation towards Izutsu's work, while others are more conservative and cautious in their assessment of Izutsu's contribution.