Special Topic Lecture Series
🌐 Virtual, in English
Title: "Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia"
Speaker: Farhad Ghoddoussi (Bio)
Time: Sundays, 7:30-9:15 pm ET, Starting May 11
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
Meeting ID: 923 7746 6698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
🌐 Virtual, in English
Title: "Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia"
Speaker: Farhad Ghoddoussi (Bio)
Time: Sundays, 7:30-9:15 pm ET, Starting May 11
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
Meeting ID: 923 7746 6698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
ZEKR, MIT Shia Muslim Association
Special Topic Lecture Series 🌐 Virtual, in English Title: "Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia" Speaker: Farhad Ghoddoussi (Bio) Time: Sundays, 7:30-9:15 pm ET, Starting May 11 Zoom Participation (virtual):…
Abstract:
In this lecture series, we will explore chapters and verses of the Qur'an that are, in various ways, connected to Southern Arabia. Broadly defined, this region includes present-day Yemen and Oman—specifically the ancient kingdoms of Himyar, Saba', and Hadhramaut—as well as Ethiopia (historically known as Habashah).
This exploration will cover Surahs such as:
Al-Buruj (The Constellations, Q85)
Al-Fil (The Elephant, Q105)
Quraysh (Q106)
And verses from:
Saba’ (Q34:15–19)
An-Naml (The Ant, Q27:20–44)
Ad-Dukhan (Smoke, Q44:37)
Qaf (Q50:14)
Al Imran (The Family of Imran, Q3:61)
Al-Isra (The Night Journey, Q17:110)
Our aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning and significance of these surahs and verses by examining the religious, political, social, and cultural contexts—as well as the historical events—of pre-Islamic Southern Arabia.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
In this lecture series, we will explore chapters and verses of the Qur'an that are, in various ways, connected to Southern Arabia. Broadly defined, this region includes present-day Yemen and Oman—specifically the ancient kingdoms of Himyar, Saba', and Hadhramaut—as well as Ethiopia (historically known as Habashah).
This exploration will cover Surahs such as:
Al-Buruj (The Constellations, Q85)
Al-Fil (The Elephant, Q105)
Quraysh (Q106)
And verses from:
Saba’ (Q34:15–19)
An-Naml (The Ant, Q27:20–44)
Ad-Dukhan (Smoke, Q44:37)
Qaf (Q50:14)
Al Imran (The Family of Imran, Q3:61)
Al-Isra (The Night Journey, Q17:110)
Our aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning and significance of these surahs and verses by examining the religious, political, social, and cultural contexts—as well as the historical events—of pre-Islamic Southern Arabia.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
Special Topic Lecture Series, Qur’an and Yemen
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Sunday May 11th, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 1
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Sunday May 11th, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 1
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
Special Topic Lecture Series, Qur’an and Yemen
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Sunday May 18th, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 2
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Sunday May 18th, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 2
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1CFqPwFOKQ&list=PLRagz8v-1fF7_AqcNeT2M9iFTWu86TL0m&t=1s
"Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia", Lecture 1
speaker: Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
May 11, 2025
Session 1:
In this first lecture, we looked to the traditional commentary of the surah 85 of Qur'an surah al-Buruj. This surah is an early Meccan surah. According to Nokdeke, it is the 22nd surah, which was revealed to prophet Muhammad(ص) and according to both 1924 Egyptian Qur'an printing (Sunni) and Ayat. Marefat (Shi'i) the 27th.
This surah, like a few of the other early Meccan surahs of Quran start with 4 oaths in its three first verses which is evident by the letter "و" which is among the oath particles (instruments, ادوات قَسَم). These oaths determine the structure of the surah. The 4 oaths in the first 3 verses themselves constitute what is called the objects of oath (مُقسَمُ به ) and then the 7 verses 10 to 16 in the two clusters of 10 and 11 and 12 to 16 constitute the subject of oath ( response to the oath, جواب القسم) which is evident from the particle of emphasize (حرف تاکید) اِن (inna) in the beginning of these verses although in the verses 14 to16 it is understood but elided.
The verses 10 and 11 consist of the core message of the surah, and its primary target is the polytheist of Mecca and the believers who were persecuted by these polytheists and unbelievers. Verses 12 to 16 emphasizing on the omnipotence and omniscience of God as a guarantor of the promises of verses 10 and 11. Verses 4-9, which have come between the objects and subjects of oath, consist of a short story of the believers who were persecuted by the companion of the ditch.
This interludes story acts as an instance or context for better appreciation of the general principles, which is emphasized and highlighted by the oath structure of the surah.
The 4 verses 17-20 make another short section, referring to 2 other groups of oppressors and transgressors besides people of Ditch that are hosts of Pharoah and Thamud, which could not escape the justice and punishment of God and their fate is another instance of the fulfillment of the promise stated in verse 10 of this surah regarding persecutors of the believers. The last two verses are about the loftiness of the Qur'an and its preservation.
Therefore the structure of the surah 85 al-Buruj is as the following 3 +6+ 7(2+5)+4+2=22 and its main theme is a stern warning (v10) to the unbelievers and a bisharah (good news, v11) to the believers. Our main interest and focus is on the story of the People of the Ditch, that is, verses 4 to 9. These verses pertain to a particular historical incident. Our goal is to examine and clarify its details and context. This clarification gives a deeper and better understanding of this surah.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
"Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia", Lecture 1
speaker: Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
May 11, 2025
Session 1:
In this first lecture, we looked to the traditional commentary of the surah 85 of Qur'an surah al-Buruj. This surah is an early Meccan surah. According to Nokdeke, it is the 22nd surah, which was revealed to prophet Muhammad(ص) and according to both 1924 Egyptian Qur'an printing (Sunni) and Ayat. Marefat (Shi'i) the 27th.
This surah, like a few of the other early Meccan surahs of Quran start with 4 oaths in its three first verses which is evident by the letter "و" which is among the oath particles (instruments, ادوات قَسَم). These oaths determine the structure of the surah. The 4 oaths in the first 3 verses themselves constitute what is called the objects of oath (مُقسَمُ به ) and then the 7 verses 10 to 16 in the two clusters of 10 and 11 and 12 to 16 constitute the subject of oath ( response to the oath, جواب القسم) which is evident from the particle of emphasize (حرف تاکید) اِن (inna) in the beginning of these verses although in the verses 14 to16 it is understood but elided.
The verses 10 and 11 consist of the core message of the surah, and its primary target is the polytheist of Mecca and the believers who were persecuted by these polytheists and unbelievers. Verses 12 to 16 emphasizing on the omnipotence and omniscience of God as a guarantor of the promises of verses 10 and 11. Verses 4-9, which have come between the objects and subjects of oath, consist of a short story of the believers who were persecuted by the companion of the ditch.
This interludes story acts as an instance or context for better appreciation of the general principles, which is emphasized and highlighted by the oath structure of the surah.
The 4 verses 17-20 make another short section, referring to 2 other groups of oppressors and transgressors besides people of Ditch that are hosts of Pharoah and Thamud, which could not escape the justice and punishment of God and their fate is another instance of the fulfillment of the promise stated in verse 10 of this surah regarding persecutors of the believers. The last two verses are about the loftiness of the Qur'an and its preservation.
Therefore the structure of the surah 85 al-Buruj is as the following 3 +6+ 7(2+5)+4+2=22 and its main theme is a stern warning (v10) to the unbelievers and a bisharah (good news, v11) to the believers. Our main interest and focus is on the story of the People of the Ditch, that is, verses 4 to 9. These verses pertain to a particular historical incident. Our goal is to examine and clarify its details and context. This clarification gives a deeper and better understanding of this surah.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
YouTube
[1] Qur'an and Yemen, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
"Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia"
Session 1:
In this first lecture, we looked to the traditional commentary of the surah 85 of Qur'an surah al-Buruj. This surah is an early Meccan surah. According to Nokdeke…
Session 1:
In this first lecture, we looked to the traditional commentary of the surah 85 of Qur'an surah al-Buruj. This surah is an early Meccan surah. According to Nokdeke…
Special Topic Lecture Series, Qur’an and Yemen
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Monday May 26th, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 3
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
🔹This week’s lecture will exceptionally be held on Monday.
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Monday May 26th, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 3
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
🔹This week’s lecture will exceptionally be held on Monday.
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDmLDDs_Ikc&list=PLRagz8v-1fF7_AqcNeT2M9iFTWu86TL0m&t=1s
"Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia", Lecture 2
speaker: Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
May 18, 2025
Session 2:
In this second lecture of the Qur'an and Yemen lecture series, we mainly focused on the western academic discussions on the surah 85 of Qur'an sura al-Buruj.
In the beginning we looked to the meaning of the words بُروج (Constellations and Towers) and الاخدود (ditch, trench, and groove). We then read related Hadiths.
Our discussion of the western academic views regarding the sura al- Butuj and specially the "People of Ditch" was based on the article, "The Qur’an and Communal Memory: Q. 85 and the Martyrs of Najrān", by Walid Saleh. His abstract to this article summarizes the situation very well:
Sūrat al-Burūj, one of the early, short Meccan revelations, has attracted sustained interest from scholars working within the Euro-American sphere since the nineteenth century due to its association with a major event that took place in the Middle East in 523 CE: the massacre of a group of Christians carried out by the Jewish ruler of Yemen in the Christian town of Najrān in northern Yemen. As a result of the massacre, a major war broke out in the region that resulted in Ethiopia invading Yemen and imposing a new Christian regime.
The event reverberated throughout the Christian Middle East, and the invasion of Yemen was seen as just retribution.
The massacre was commemorated in Syriac Christian hagiography, and the victims came to be known as the Martyrs of Najrān. Although there is no explicit reference to the massacre in Q.85, the Islamic tradition (in the Qur’an commentary literature) tied this sura to the Najrān massacre, and early Muslims viewed Sūrat al-Burūj as a commemoration of this event. However, no non-Islamic sources on this massacre were available until some previously unknown Syriac writings that purported to be eyewitness reports of the massacre were unearthed in the late nineteenth century. Since it was the Islamic tradition that linked Q. 85 to the massacre, a debate ensued among modern scholars as to the veracity and historicity of this connection.
In terms of perspectives, European scholars can be broadly divided into two main camps when it comes to their views on the interpretation of this sura. One group of scholars – the majority – agreed with the Islamic tradition, that the sura indeed referred to the massacre.
The second group – a tiny minority – saw Q. 85 as a reference to the story of Daniel and the three youths in the ‘fiery furnace’ told in the Biblical Book of Daniel, chapter 3.
Soon, however, a third group of scholars emerged, who discounted any such historical connections and claimed that the sura referred to an apocalyptic scene of the torments of Hell rather than any historical event. This eschatological interpretation became the standard and dominant opinion in the European literature about this sura."
Different views were explored and discussed in this lecture.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
"Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia", Lecture 2
speaker: Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
May 18, 2025
Session 2:
In this second lecture of the Qur'an and Yemen lecture series, we mainly focused on the western academic discussions on the surah 85 of Qur'an sura al-Buruj.
In the beginning we looked to the meaning of the words بُروج (Constellations and Towers) and الاخدود (ditch, trench, and groove). We then read related Hadiths.
Our discussion of the western academic views regarding the sura al- Butuj and specially the "People of Ditch" was based on the article, "The Qur’an and Communal Memory: Q. 85 and the Martyrs of Najrān", by Walid Saleh. His abstract to this article summarizes the situation very well:
Sūrat al-Burūj, one of the early, short Meccan revelations, has attracted sustained interest from scholars working within the Euro-American sphere since the nineteenth century due to its association with a major event that took place in the Middle East in 523 CE: the massacre of a group of Christians carried out by the Jewish ruler of Yemen in the Christian town of Najrān in northern Yemen. As a result of the massacre, a major war broke out in the region that resulted in Ethiopia invading Yemen and imposing a new Christian regime.
The event reverberated throughout the Christian Middle East, and the invasion of Yemen was seen as just retribution.
The massacre was commemorated in Syriac Christian hagiography, and the victims came to be known as the Martyrs of Najrān. Although there is no explicit reference to the massacre in Q.85, the Islamic tradition (in the Qur’an commentary literature) tied this sura to the Najrān massacre, and early Muslims viewed Sūrat al-Burūj as a commemoration of this event. However, no non-Islamic sources on this massacre were available until some previously unknown Syriac writings that purported to be eyewitness reports of the massacre were unearthed in the late nineteenth century. Since it was the Islamic tradition that linked Q. 85 to the massacre, a debate ensued among modern scholars as to the veracity and historicity of this connection.
In terms of perspectives, European scholars can be broadly divided into two main camps when it comes to their views on the interpretation of this sura. One group of scholars – the majority – agreed with the Islamic tradition, that the sura indeed referred to the massacre.
The second group – a tiny minority – saw Q. 85 as a reference to the story of Daniel and the three youths in the ‘fiery furnace’ told in the Biblical Book of Daniel, chapter 3.
Soon, however, a third group of scholars emerged, who discounted any such historical connections and claimed that the sura referred to an apocalyptic scene of the torments of Hell rather than any historical event. This eschatological interpretation became the standard and dominant opinion in the European literature about this sura."
Different views were explored and discussed in this lecture.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
YouTube
[2] Qur'an and Yemen, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
"Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia"
Session 2:
In this second lecture of the Qur'an and Yemen lecture series, we mainly focused on the western academic discussions on the surah 85 of Qur'an surah al-Buruj.…
Session 2:
In this second lecture of the Qur'an and Yemen lecture series, we mainly focused on the western academic discussions on the surah 85 of Qur'an surah al-Buruj.…
Special Topic Lecture Series, Qur’an and Yemen
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Sunday June 1st, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 4
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT
🌐 Virtual, in English
Date
Sunday June 1st, 2025
7:30 pm to 9:15 pm (Eastern Time)
Location
Online, Detail Below
Schedule
7:30-7:35 Login to zoom
7:35-9:00 Lecture, in English, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
Title: “Qur’an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia”, Session 4
9:00-9:15 Q&A
- About Speaker (Bio)
Zoom Participation (virtual):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/92377466698
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT