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Al-Ahram Weekly 1 - 7 June 2000 Issue No. 484 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 1 - 7 June 2000 Issue No. 484
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Features Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Plain Talk
By Mursi Saad El-Din
At the height of the controversy surrounding the publication of Haydar Haydar's A Banquet for Seaweed, I was given an Arabic book with an intriguing title that translates roughly as "Hieroglyphics in the Interpretation of the Holy Qur'an." Written by Saad Abdel-Muttilib, a man who describes himself simply as "an Islamic scholar," the book is a liberal-minded thesis that probes a number of Qur'anic texts starting with ambiguous letters. 12 such letters, according to the writer, are used in a total of 29 Suras.
Perhaps a little surprisingly, the book has been fully sanctioned by the head of Al-Azhar, who sent the author a letter congratulating him on his accomplishment. The introduction, too, is written by a member of the Centre for Islamic Research, Mohamed Ragab El-Fayyoumi. "This valuable book reflects the great and commendable efforts of the author, and his deep knowledge of the Qur'an and ancient Egyptian texts," he writes. "He must have read a great number of books on the interpretation of the Qur'an, as well as ancient Egyptian history. An arduous effort."
El-Fayyoumi goes on to praise the author's devotion to his studies and his determination to prove his point. It is his astounding understanding of ancient Egyptian language and history that enables him to put forward a theory that is in harmony with canonical interpretations, but involves hieroglyphics as well.
The closing statement is perhaps the most striking: "I call upon the reader to have an open mind towards what he might not accept or agree with, since scientific initiative, always acceptable in principle, must be encouraged. And behind the present author there is also a critic who is sincere enough to establish the right balance," a balance that the author has impressively struck.
I must admit that I was surprised, indeed shocked at such open-mindedness and enlightenment, which run counter to many recent statements by Islamic leaders. The unexpected responses of the sheikh of Al-Azhar and Dr Fayyoumi refresh one's memories of the time of enlightenment and the progressive attitude of such Muslim thinkers as Gamaleddin El-Afghani and Mohamed Abdu.
Since reading the book, I've met the author. I was particularly impressed with his conviction of the truth of the new theory he expounds. Abdel-Muttilib, it turns out, is fluent in German -- the result of 12 years spent studying hieroglyphics and Pharaonic history. He is not only capable of deciphering ancient Egyptian texts, but a man with a clear-cut vision. Abdel-Mottalib is not some kind of charlatan seeking sensation and scandal. He is, by contrast, a committed scholar, and one who pursued a definite line of thought until he was able to prove his theory.
It would be impossible to do justice to the content of the book, so well researched and presented. But one can cite at least some of Abdel-Mottalib's revolutionary conclusions, the most striking of which being that all the prophets of the Old Testament -- Joseph, Moses, etc. -- must have received the holy revelation not in Hebrew but in Ancient Egyptian. The Psalms, for example, were undoubtedly influenced by Akhenaton's prayer poems to the Sun God. Ancient Egyptian, Abdel-Mottalib concludes, cannot simply have been a local language at that time, but an international tongue. Even Jesus must have known hieroglyphics, since he lived in Egypt for some time. Though the message Jesus delivered in Palestine was in Aramaic, it was Coptic, the language into which Ancient Egyptian evolved, that St Mark used to spread the faith in Egypt.
The crux of the author's theory relates to the 12 letters that occur at the beginning of 29 Suras. Seeking the letters' hieroglyphic denotations, the author interprets the Suras in the light of those meanings, giving concrete examples throughout.
This is certainly an event in the history of Qur'anic interpretation, all the more pleasing for being approved by the establishment.
