© E. Rezvan, 2011

And when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this land secure,DQG�WXUQ�PH�DQG�P\�VRQV�DZD\�IURP�VHUYLQJ�LGROV�my Lord, they have led astray many men.7KHQ�ZKRVR�IROORZV�PH�EHORQJV�WR�PH�and whoso rebels against me, surely Thou art All-forgiving,

All-compassionate.Our Lord, I have made some of my seed to dwell in a valleyZKHUH�LV�QR�VRZQ�ODQG�E\�7K\�+RO\�+RXVH�Our Lord, let them perform the prayer,and make hearts of men yearn towards them,DQG�SURYLGH�WKHP�ZLWK�IUXLWV��KDSO\�WKH\�ZLOO�EH�WKDQNIXO�Our Lord, Thou knowest what we keep secret and what we pub-

OLVK�from God nothing whatever is hidden in earth and heaven.Praise be to God, who has given me, though I am old, Ishmael

DQG�,VDDF�surely my Lord hears the petition.My Lord, make me a performer of the prayer, and of my seed.Our Lord, and receive my petition.Our Lord, forgive Thou me and my parents, and the believers,upon the day when the reckoning shall come to pass.

4XU¶ƗQ�������²��1

Keith E. Small. 7H[WXDO�&ULWLFLVP�DQG�4XU¶ƗQ�0DQX-scripts. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2011. 209 pp.

It is well known that the Biblical criticism, which has accumulated the achievements of semitology, clas-VLFDO� SKLORORJ\�� DQG� PDQ\� RWKHU� ¿HOGV� RI� KXPDQLWLHV��LQÀXHQFHG�JUHDWO\� WKH�GHYHORSPHQW�RI�4XU¶ƗQLF� VWXGLHV��It was the success of German Biblical studies that led to the pre-eminence of German scholars in the study of WKH�4XU¶ƗQ��*��)O�JHO��7��1|OGHNH��)��6FKZDOO\��*��%HUJ-stresser, O. Pretzl and many others), a trend established in the nineteenth century. Forces and resources that Bibli-cal Studies have historically accumulated and continue to DFFXPXODWH�DUH�LQFRPSDUDEOH�WR�WKDW�RI�4XU¶ƗQLF�VWXGLHV��For many decades the latter has been able to use meth-odological approaches and achievements from Biblical

6WXGLHV�WR�DGGUHVV�LWV�RZQ�FULWLFDO�SUREOHPV��$Q�H[FHOOHQW�FRQ¿UPDWLRQ�RI� WKLV� LV� D�FDSLWDO�ZRUN�RI�5HY��'U��.HLWK�E. Small, Visiting Lecturer and Associate Research Fel-low at London School of Theology2, dedicated to the OHDVW�VWXGLHG�SHULRG�LQ�WKH�KLVWRU\�RI�WKH�4XU¶ƗQ�

8QWLO� QRZ� WKH�KLVWRU\�RI� WKH�4XU¶ƗQV� WH[WXDO� HVWDE-lishment has not been studied and described properly. 7KH� UHVHDUFK� DQG� ¿QGLQJV� RI� UHFHQW� \HDUV� FRQYLQFLQJO\�demonstrate that the works of medieval Muslim authori-ties as well as works based on them by European scholars UHYHDO�RQO\�D�SDUW�RI�D�VLJQL¿FDQWO\�PRUH�GLYHUVH�DQG�FRQ-WUDGLFWRU\�KLVWRU\�RI�WKH�6DFUHG�WH[WV�¿[DWLRQ��$�GLVFXV-VLRQ�RI�-��:DQVEURXJKV�³4XU¶ƗQLF�6WXGLHV��6RXUFHV�DQG�Methods of Scriptural Interpretation” by such specialists as A. Rippin, J. van Ess, E. Ullendorf, R. Paret, L. Nemoy, W. A. Graham, R. Serjeant, G. H. A. Juynboll, I. J. Bou-latta, E. Wagner, K. Rudolph, and others3 have shown

123

1 Translation by A. J. Arberry.2 Dr. Small has taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Britain and internationally. In addition to his academic credentials KH�KDV�QHDUO\�WZHQW\�\HDUV�RI�PLQLVWU\�H[SHULHQFH�WR�0XVOLPV�LQ�WKH�8.�3 $��5LSSLQ��³/LWHUDU\�$QDO\VLV�RI�4XU¶ƗQ��7DIVƯU��DQG�6ƯUD��WKH�0HWKRGRORJLHV�RI�-RKQ�:DQVEURXJK´��$SSURDFKHV�WR�,VODP�LQ�5HOL-JLRXV�6WXGLHV��HG��E\�5��0DUWLQ��3KRHQL[���������S�������Q����

BOOK REVIEWS� ��

that research based on the Muslim tradition is no longer capable at present of providing unambiguous answers to TXHVWLRQV�FRQQHFWHG�ZLWK�WKH�HDUO\�KLVWRU\�RI�WKH�4XU¶ƗQLF�WH[W�.

We have pointed out several times that the main prob-lem, in this connection, is related to

the fact that the study of the Muslim tradition took place in LVRODWLRQ�IURP�WKH�GHVFULSWLRQ�DQG�VWXG\�RI�DFWXDO�4XU¶ƗQLF�manuscripts. This gap led, in large part, to the methodo-ORJLFDO� FULVLV� ZKLFK� 4XU¶ƗQLF� VWXGLHV� H[SHULHQFHG� LQ� WKH�ODWH�����V� DQG� HDUO\�����V��0RUHRYHU�� D� VXEVWDQWLDO� QXP-EHU�RI�WKH�4XU¶ƗQLF�IUDJPHQWV�ZKLFK�KDYH�UHDFKHG�XV�FRQ-tain unique information on the initial period of the Sacred WH[WV�H[LVWHQFH��,W�LV�DOUHDG\�FOHDU�WRGD\�WKDW�WKLV�WUXH�KLVWRU\�SUHVHUYHG�E\�HDUO\�FRSLHV�ZLOO�GLIIHU�VLJQL¿FDQWO\�IURP�WKH�history which rests on the Muslim tradition and which was summarized above�.

7KH�ERRN��ZKLFK�GUDZV�IURP�WKH�DXWKRUV������GRF-WRUDO�GLVVHUWDWLRQ��LV�GHYRWHG�WR�WKH�WKRURXJK�WH[WXDO�DQDO\-VLV�RI�WKH�IDPRXV�,EUƗKƯP���$EUDKDP�SUD\HU�������²����as preserved in twenty-two manuscripts, nineteen of ZKLFK�ZHUH�FRSLHG�GXULQJ�WKH�¿UVW�IRXU�,VODPLF�FHQWXULHV��Dr. Small managed to situate the manuscript evidence alongside the information provided by Islamic tradition, DQG�DWWHPSWHG�WR�UHFRYHU�WKH�HDUOLHVW�IRUP�RI�WH[W�DQG�WUDFH�WKH�GHYHORSPHQW�RI� WKH� WH[W� IURP� WKH� ULVH�RI� ,VODP�XQWLO�the 10th century AD. This was evidently the important period when older copies that contained a by then unac-ceptable number of variant readings were being actively removed from circulation. In most cases, they made their way to special repositories in large mosques where they slowly decayed. They could also be “buried” with a spe-cial ritual6. In our view, the widespread disappearance of early copies took place not under the caliph ‘UthPƗQ��DW�WKDW�WLPH�WKHUH�ZHUH�RQO\�D�IHZ�IXOO�FRSLHV�RI�WKH�4XU¶ƗQ���but at the turn of the eighth — ninth centuries. Addition-ally, copies created at that time with a minimal number of variant readings were preserved by the community for PDQ\�FHQWXULHV��6XFK�ZDV�WKH�IDWH��IRU�H[DPSOH��RI�WKH�WZR�“‘UthPƗQLF� 4XU¶ƗQV´� �IURP� .DWWD�/DQJDU� �� 6W�� 3HWHUV-EXUJ�DQG�7Ɨshkent).For the goals of his study Dr. Small applies a methodology widely used in New Testament

criticism. He dates the manuscripts and gives descriptions of each, paying special attention to:

RUWKRJUDSKLF�YDULDQWV�LQYROYLQJ�ORQJ�YRZHOV�FRS\LVW� PLVWDNHV�GLDFULWLFDO� PDUN� YDULDQWV� DQG� YDUL-

DQWV�DIIHFWLQJ�JUDPPDU�UDVP�YDULDQWV�YDULDQW�YHUVH�GLYLVLRQV�SK\VLFDO�FRUUHF-

WLRQV�WR�PDQXVFULSWV�discerning intentionality / non-intentionality in vari-

DQWV�effects of orality upon written transmission.Greyscale images of the folios under discussion give

a reader the possibility to compare the results of the au-thor's analysis to that of his own. The author traces a sig-QL¿FDQW�DPRXQW�RI�DO�TLUD¶ƗW and in many places indicates WKHLU� RULJLQ�� 7H[WV� DQG� PDQXVFULSWV� FRPSDULVRQ� SURYHV�once more that until the end of the seventh century when WKH�4XU¶ƗQ�H[LVWHG�LQ�ERWK�ZULWWHQ�DQG�RUDO�IRUP�WKH�WH[W�UHPDLQHG�ÀXLG.

In general Dr. Small brings new insights to the history RI�WKH�GHYHORSPHQW�RI�D�VWDQGDUGL]HG�WH[W�RI�WKH�4XU¶ƗQ��7R�his point of view the early edited form of the consonantal WH[W�ZKLFK�ZH�KDYH�GRHV�QRW�SURYLGH�WKH�SRVVLELOLW\�RI�UH-covering “the original form”. Dr. Small stressed once that

WKH�SULPDU\�WDVN�LQ�1HZ�7HVWDPHQW�WH[WXDO�FULWLFLVP�KDV�EHHQ�WR�UHFRYHU�RQH�WH[W�IURP�DPRQJ�PDQ\�²�WR�UHFRYHU�WKH�¿UVW�SXEOLVKHG� WH[W� RI� HDFK� 1HZ� 7HVWDPHQW� ERRN� IURP� DPRQJ�WKH� WH[WXDO� YDULDQWV� DQG� WH[W�W\SHV� WKDW� KDYH� DFFXPXODWHG�WKURXJKRXW� WKH� KLVWRU\� RI� WKH� WUDQVPLVVLRQ� RI� WKH� WH[W��7KH�SULPDU\� WDVN� LQ�4XU¶ƗQLF� WH[WXDO�FULWLFLVP��DV�SUDFWLFHG�KLV-torically in Islam has been instead to justify one form of the WH[W�DJDLQVW�PDQ\�RWKHUV��7KHVH�HIIRUWV�WR�HVWDEOLVK�DQG�MXVWLI\�RQH�WH[W�IURP�DPRQJ�D�JURXS�RI�FROOHFWLRQV�RI�PDWHULDO��ERWK�oral and written, has resulted in irreparable loss of the earliest DXWKRULWDWLYH�IRUPV�RI�WKH�WH[W��7KH�HQWLUH�VKDSH�RI�WKH�WH[W�RI�WKH�4XU¶ƗQ�VKRZV�LW�WR�EH�DQ�LQWHQWLRQDOO\�GHYHORSHG�WH[W�.

His book shows once more that only the joint efforts of palaeographers, linguists and historians, the careful de-VFULSWLRQ�DQG�VWXG\�RI�H[WDQW�PDQXVFULSWV��LQ�WKH�¿UVW�SODFH�WKH�4XU¶ƗQV�IURPڦ�DQµƗ¶��2U�������IURP�WKH�%ULWLVK�/LEUDU\��the Istanbul and Cairo collections, also from the St. Peters-burg collections), the completion of the fantastic Sergio Noja project� and the creation of a data-base of early copies9

1234567

��+��0RW]NL�DQDO\]LQJ�0XVOLP�WUDGLWLRQ�RQ�4XU¶ƗQLF�WH[W�¿[DWLRQ�ZLWK�WKH�KHOS�RI�LVQDG�FXP�PDWQ approach was able to bring out clearly groundlessness of main Western methods of criticizing basic elements of Islamic tradition devoted to the history of Sacred WH[W� ¿[DWLRQ� �VHH��+��0RW]NL�� ³7KH�&ROOHFWLRQ� RI� WKH�4XU¶ƗQ��$�5HFRQVLGHUDWLRQ� RI�:HVWHUQ�9LHZV� LQ�/LJKW� RI�5HFHQW�0HWKRG-ological Developments”, 4XU¶ƗQLF�6WXGLHV�RQ�WKH�(YH�RI�WKH���VW�&HQWXU\ (Indonesian-Netherlands Cooperation in Islamic Studies, ��²���-XQH��������/HLGHQ���SS���²�����7KLUW\�²�¿IW\�\HDUV��WKH�WLPH�SDVVHG�VLQFH�WKH�HYHQWV�KDG�WDNHQ�SODFH��FRQVWLWXWH�QHFHVVDU\�but enough period to transfer actual knowledge into historical one.��6HH�IRU�H[DPSOH��(��$��5H]YDQ��7KH�4XU¶ƗQ�RI�µ8thPƗQ��6W��3HWHUVEXUJ��.DWWD�/DQJDU��%XNKDUD��7DVKNHQW���6W��3HWHUVEXUJ���������S������6 J. Sadan, “Genizah and Genizah-Like Practices in Islamic and Jewish Traditions”, Bibliotheca Orientalis� ;/,,,��²�� ��������SS����²��� K. Small, +RO\�%RRNV�+DYH�D�+LVWRU\��7H[WXDO�+LVWRULHV�RI�WKH�1HZ�7HVWDPHQW��WKH�4XU¶DQ��86$���������S����� (DUO\�4XU¶ƗQV��7KH�(UD�RI�WKH�3URSKHW��WKH�5LJKW�*XLGHG�&DOLSKV�DQG�WKH�8PD\\DGHV (Noseda Foundation, Italy).9�6HH��(��$��5H]YDQ��³7KH�4XU¶ƗQ��%HWZHHQ�µ7H[WXV�5HFHSWXV¶�DQG�µ&ULWLFDO�(GLWLRQ¶´��/HV�SUREOqPHV�SRVH�SDU� OHGLWLRQ�critique GHV�WH[WHV�DQFLHQV�HW�Pedievaux, ed. by J. Hamesse (Louvain-la-Neuve, 1992), pp. 291—310. A similar database (Sfar-data) of dat-A similar database (Sfar-data) of dat-ed Jewish manuscripts, emerging within the framework of the Jewish Palaeographic Project under the direction of Prof. Malachi Beyt-Arie,has convincingly demonstrated that this is not merely an ordinary computer catalogue, but a powerful tool for research.

�� Manuscripta Orientalia. 92/�����12����'(&(0%(5�����

can provide us with objective material for reconstructing WKH�HDUO\�KLVWRU\�RI�WKH�4XU¶ƗQ�

,Q�WKH�¿QDO�DQDO\VLV��LW� LV�RQO\�ZLWK�VXFK�HIIRUWV�WKDW�we will succeed in drawing closer to reconstructing the UHDO�KLVWRU\�RI�WKH�6DFUHG�WH[W��D�KLVWRU\�ZKLFK�PDQLIHVWHG�itself in the struggle and collision of various opinions and ZKLFK�HQGHG�ZLWK� WKH�DI¿UPDWLRQ�RI� WKH�0XVOLP�FDQRQ��The work of Keith Small seems to be an important step to the goal.

This September I took a copy of the book, kindly sent WR�PH�E\�WKH�DXWKRU��LQ�DQ�H[SHGLWLRQDU\�WULS�WR�.D]DNK-VWDQ�WR�WKH�DUHD�RI�WKH�H[�6RYLHW�QXFOHDU�WHVW�VLWH��+HUH�LQ�

WKH�IRUPHU�H[FOXVLRQ�]RQH�RQH�FDQ�¿QG�D�FDYH��ZKLFK�IRU�FHQWXULHV�ZDV�UHYHUHG�DV�VDFUHG�DW�¿UVW�E\�ORFDO�%XGGKLVWV�and then the Muslims. At the airport, in the hotel, on a halt in the desert I was preparing notes for a review, which was about to be published in the latest issue of our journal for the year. Unfortunately, the book copy as well as my notes GLVDSSHDUHG�ZKLOH�UHWXUQLQJ�DORQJ�ZLWK�SDUW�RI�WKH�H[SHGL-WLRQ�OXJJDJH��,�RUGHUHG�D�QHZ�FRS\�RI�WKH�ERRN�DQG�QH[W�year will supplement this brief review with new observa-tions and suggestions.

E. Rezvan