A Critical Review of the Approaches of Five New Encyclopedias by Orientalists

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Corresponding Author, Student of Advanced Studies at the Institute for Islamic Studies in English, Qom, Iran.

2 2. Department of Quran and Orientalism, Associate Professor and Faculty Member at Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran.

10.22034/jqopv.2025.18506.1375

Abstract

Orientalist studies on the Qur’an and Islam began in the 7th century CE and continue to this day. One of the most significant areas of contemporary Orientalist activity is the compilation of encyclopedias. In recent years, this field has garnered increasing attention, leading to the production of numerous new and diverse encyclopedias. Some of these works remain largely unknown and overlooked even among scholars of Orientalism, and are, for the first time, translated and critically examined in this article. Critically analyzing these encyclopedias is essential for understanding the works and thought of Orientalists and for laying the groundwork for more detailed critiques in the future. Accordingly, this study introduces, critiques, and evaluates five new encyclopedias authored by Orientalists: three specialized encyclopedias — Jihad and Conquest in the Islamic World, The Prophet of God: Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture, and World Religions — as well as two general encyclopedias, Encyclopædia Americana and Encyclopædia Britannica. This article employs a descriptive-analytical method and is based on library research. The findings are as follows: (1) Addressing new topics, using simple language, concise articles, and briefly discussing Shi‘ism are among the positive aspects of some of these encyclopedias; (2) However, being influenced by political and imperialist ideologies and promoting them, along with presenting incorrect views and claims regarding Qur’anic and prophetic subjects — such as the Prophet’s wives, Khadija, the Prophet’s illiteracy, and the notion of Qur’anic borrowing — are among their major shortcomings; (3) The excessive reliance on and trust in Sunni sources for understanding the Qur’an and the Prophet’s biography, coupled with neglect of Shi‘a sources, constitute the primary origin of these shortcomings. 

Keywords

References

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The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View
Volume 20, Issue 38
March 2025
Pages 9-48

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 11 April 2024
  • Accept Date: 05 May 2025

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