NEAL ROBINSON’S CRITICISM OF NÖLDEKE’S THEORY OF THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE QUR’AN

Abstract

this paper discusses about Robinson’s criticism and examination on Nöldeke’s theory of chronology of the Qur’an. There are two primary questions that will be answered here, first, how does Robinson criticize Nöldeke’s theory of the chronology of the Qur’an? Second, which method is used by him to do the criticism? Third, what theory does he offer after his criticism? This research can be included into a qualitative research that bases itself on textual data. Here, I use two approaches, first of all, socio-history approach which concentrates in analyzing their biographies. Lastly, phenomenology approach, that is used to explain Robinson’s criticism on Nöldeke’s theory of the chronology of the Qur’an. The prime data in this research are derived from Nöldeke’s, Geschichte des Qorans or Tarikh al-Qur’an, a translation by Farid Yarisy Syafali and Neal Robinson’s, Discovering the Quran: A Contemporary Approach To a Veiled Text. In the analysis of data, I use the criticism theory as theoretical framework in this research, which consist of internal and external criticism. The results of this thesis are as follows: first, there is an agreement and disagreement
of Robinson on Nöldeke’s theory; second, using the similar methods with Nöldeke, Robinson criticizes his theory, structure and content analysis; third, Robinson also uses some ideas other scholars wo over criticized Nöldeke’s theory, such as Bell, Neuwirth, and Islahi.