Jaque Risler

He is a contemporary French writer and researcher and a professor at the Islamic Institute in Paris. He won the prize of the French Academy in appreciation for his book La Civilization Arabe (The culture of Arabs) as a key study to know Islam.

From La Civilization Arabe (The culture of Arabs):

Those are the signs of Allâh

“Since the wonder of the Qur’an lies in its style, it was revealed to be recited aloud and, since no translation whatsoever could ever represent its verbal nuances which are satiated with an eastern background, you should read it in its original language in which it was revealed in order to taste its sweet sentences and strong and elaborate syntax. Its rhymed musical prose creates an influential charm in the soul where the ideas are imbued with strength and the images with brightness. None could ever refute the fact that its magical authority and spiritual loftiness help to give us a good impression that Muhammad was inspired by God’s majesty and greatness.”[1]

In an evident Arabic tongue

“Besides its being a religious book, the Qur’an has the quintessence of all fields of knowledge and, till today, it is the main textbook upon which the foundations of teaching in all Islamic universities are based. The translations could not convey its vocabulary because the beauty of a language withers in translations as if it were a flower plucked from its roots. This is why the Qur’an should be recited in its original text.”[2]

We have not neglected in the register a thing

“The Qur’an has solutions for all cases and links religious law with moral law. It seeks to create a system and social unity, alleviate misery, harshness and fables, help the oppressed, enjoin righteousness and command mercy. In legislation, it sets rules to deal with the details of everyday cooperation and organize contracts and shares of inheritance. Concerning the family, it determines the conduct of each member in dealing with children, slaves, animals, health, clothes, etc.”[3]

A well-established law

“Indeed, the law of the Qur’an has remained the fundamental principle of Muslim life and no change has ever been made in all that is brought in the Qur’an with regard to consideration, manners and system.”[4]

Compulsory mercy

“At first, almsgiving was an optional cooperative and administrative deed seen as a great virtue. In organization of the community of Madînah, the Prophet validated this charitable deed as a compulsory legal tax in favor of the poor and indigent.

Later, this system would turn to produce a staff and treasury. But even if the state made this as a resource of its income, almsgiving remained, by virtue of the Qur’an, a virtue spontaneously practiced by Muslims as a religious duty, Thanks to Muhammad, being the first to ordain a tax to be taken from the rich and given to the poor. In this way, the Qur’an created a compulsory mercy.”[5]

And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them

“The woman has been placed on equal footing with the man in all issues relating to public interests. She now has the right to be an heir, have her property inherited and work in any legal job.”[6]

Polygamy makes the family cohesive

“In reality, polygamy, by restricting giving in to unruly sexual desires and, by virtue of Islamic legislation, helps to make the family cohesive and justifies the punishment of an adulterous husband.”[7]

[1] Jaque Risler, La Civilization Arabe, (the Arabic translation), 30-31.

[2] Ibid. 45.

[3] Ibid. 51.

[4] Ibid. 75.

[5] Ibid. 43.

[6] Ibid. 52.

[7] Ibid. 52.

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