A Critical Analysis of the Structure and Content of the Entry “Raj’a” in the Encyclopaedia of Islam

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

2 PhD Student of Quranic Sciences, University of Mazandaran

10.22034/jqopv.2024.9435

Abstract

Raj’a, referring to the resurrection of certain deceased individuals during the arrival of Imam Mahdi (a.s.), constitutes a core belief within Shi’a Islam. Despite the attention given to various Shi’a doctrines by Orientalists, scholarly research on the concept of Raj’a remains limited. Etan Kohlberg’s article “Radja” in the Encyclopaedia of Islam published by Leiden represents one of the few independent works by Orientalists addressing this topic. This descriptive-analytical study offers a critique of the aforementioned entry. The findings from this research reveal multiple deficiencies in the article, including: the absence of definitions for both the literal and terminological meanings of Raj’a, the conflation of the terms “Rafidi” and “Shi’a,” an insufficient exploration of Quranic verses pertaining to Raj’a, incomplete in-text citations, inadequacies in conveying the prevalent understanding of Raj’a within Shi’a thought, and a lack of engagement with both theological and primary Shi’a sources concerning Raj’a. The results of this study are applicable in contemporary Orientalism studies as well as in Quranic and Shi’a theological studies.

Keywords

References

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The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View
Volume 19, Issue 36 - Serial Number 36
September 2024
Pages 169-192

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 September 2023
  • Revise Date: 15 January 2024
  • Accept Date: 09 May 2024

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