Critical Analysis of James Bellamy's Reformist View on the Words “Abba”, “Lamma” and “Jibti”

Document Type : Original Article

Author

PhD Graduate in Quran and Orientalism, Imam Khomeini Educational Complex, Al-Mustafa International University, Afghanistan.

10.22034/jqopv.2025.10355

Abstract

James Bellamy, one of the prominent contemporary Orientalists, adopts an emendatory approach in his analysis of Qur’anic vocabulary, claiming that certain words in this sacred text have been distorted or corrupted and thus require reinterpretation and correction. In his research—particularly in articles published in journals of Semitic linguistics—he has revisited some Qur’anic terms and proposed alternative meanings for them. Among these are the words “Abban,” “Lamma,” and “Jibt.” Drawing on comparative linguistics and historical analysis, Bellamy argues that these terms possess meanings different from those traditionally presented in Islamic exegesis. This study, employing an analytical-critical method, examines Bellamy’s arguments from three fundamental perspectives: first, the extent to which his proposals align with the principles of historical linguistics and textual evidence; second, the evaluation of internal textual indicators and the contextual flow of Qur’anic verses; and third, a comparison of his views with classical exegetical and lexical sources. The findings reveal that although Bellamy’s approach demonstrates noteworthy innovations in certain respects, his analyses suffer from serious shortcomings due to factors such as neglecting the broader framework of the Arabic language, overlooking the semantic evolution of words throughout history, and lacking coherence with other internal Qur’anic evidence. Furthermore, some of his hypotheses rest on linguistic conjectures that are unsupported by adequate textual or historical documentation. This research underscores the importance of precision in linguistic analyses of sacred texts and demonstrates that interpreting Qur’anic vocabulary cannot rely solely on emendatory hypotheses without considering the comprehensive structure of the Arabic language and the contextual coherence of the verses. Hence, critically evaluating emendatory views in Qur’anic linguistics necessitates a simultaneous attention to linguistic, exegetical, and historical methodologies to prevent misinterpretations and the imposition of unfounded meanings onto the Qur’anic text. 

Keywords

References

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The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View
Volume 20, Issue 38
March 2025
Pages 161-192

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  • Receive Date: 08 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 04 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 26 April 2025

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