The National Translation Center in Egypt, led by Dr. Muhammad Nasr Eddin Al-Gibali, has recently published a book titled "شرح التوراة" (Explanation of the Torah). Written by Rabbi Samuel ben Hufni Gaon, also known as Samuel ben Hufni the Priest, and translated by Said Attia Ali Matawe and Suhair Sayed Ahmed Dowini, this book is a significant addition to Arabic literature. It provides readers and researchers with a major source of Torah interpretation from the Middle Ages.
The release of "شرح التوراة" aligns with the National Translation Center's mission to make intellectual and heritage works available to the Arabic-speaking audience. By translating this text, the center aims to facilitate dialogue between different cultures and civilizations. This book is considered one of the most important interpretive sources for the Torah in the Middle Ages, building on the rational approach of Rabbi Saadia Al-Fayumi.
The book employs a systematic approach based on linguistic and semantic analysis, using laws and principles of grammar and rhetoric derived from Islamic sciences and interpretations. The author engages in detailed explanations and discussions, comparing the Old Testament with the Talmud and exploring jurisprudential issues influenced by Islamic judicial literature. This text highlights the intellectual interactions between different cultural and religious environments during that era.
A key aspect of "شرح التوراة" is its emphasis on rational interpretation, rejecting supernatural beliefs such as magic, astrology, and divination. The text attributes miracles to prophets, demonstrating a clear presence of rational methodology in reading and interpreting scriptures. This approach underscores the significance of reason and intellect in understanding religious texts.
The scientific value of "شرح التوراة" lies in its contributions to various fields, including Old Testament studies, interfaith dialogue, and the history of linguistic levels of Arabic in the medieval period. The book reveals a deep interaction between Jewish and Islamic intellectual traditions, particularly in the areas of interpretation, language, rhetoric, and jurisprudence.
The translation of "شرح التوراة" serves as a bridge between different cultural and linguistic communities, facilitating the transmission of heritage from one era to another. As a work of translation, it connects the past with the present, allowing readers to engage with historical texts in a contemporary context.
The publication of "شرح التوراة" is a testament to the National Translation Center's commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding and enriching Arabic literature with diverse intellectual and heritage works. This book is an essential resource for researchers and scholars interested in exploring Jewish-Arab cultural exchange and the history of ideas.
Key points
- The National Translation Center's release of "شرح التوراة" promotes interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange by making a significant medieval Jewish text available in Arabic.
