“Famous Strangers” is the title of a series that showcases the functions and life of foreign writers and researchers interested in Iranian culture and literature.
The first issue of this series is dedicated to icodor Nawalk, which was born on March 2, 1836, in a small town near Hamburg, Germany. He began his education under the supervision of his father, in which he learned the classic Greek and Latin literature. Later, he studied under Heinrich Iowal, an old friend of his father, who was an orientalist and expert in Semitic languages. During this period, Nöldeke developed an interest in oriental studies and continued his education in theology, philosophy and sublime languages to the doctorate level. At the age of twenty, he obtained the first doctorate with a thesis on the history of the Qur’an.
In his thesis, entitled History of the Qur’an, he divided his research into two parts: the literary history of the Qur’an, using Islamic sources and studies of European orientalists. This topic has been the most important axis of his research throughout his life.
Study the Qur’an as a historical text
In 1858, Theodore Noelk won the Paris Academy Award – a prize for writing an article on the Qur’an. Two years later, he published a German translation of his doctoral thesis under the title of the history of the Qur’an. This book was later republished with modifications and cooperation with his student.
After doctoral research, Nledik first traveled to Vienna, the capital of Austria, then to Liden in the Netherlands, where he spent about a month examining Arabic manuscripts. In April 1858, he moved to Berlin, where he also studied Arabic and Turkish manuscripts and even collecting a catalog of Turkish manuscripts in the library there.
In 1861, at the age of 25, Noeldic was appointed Professor of Semitic Languages and Islamic History at the University of Gottingin. Eleven years later, he joined the University of Strasbourg. His primary focus was on the history of Islamic civilization and Semitic languages, but he had wide knowledge and mastery of various fields related to oriental studies. His experience in the Semitic languages - Aaribi, family, Hebrew, and Aramaic – to some extent with Persian knowledge, made his works very important and widely famous.
Nöldeke’s the history of the charan is his most prominent work. This book is the first complete translation of the Holy Quran. Although it was published more than a century ago, Western researchers still refer to it.
Nöldeke classified Surat Al -Qurania into two main groups: McKan and Midinan. He also divided them into smaller sections, ultimately organized them in three periods of Mackan and one city period. He studied his approach to the temporal arrangement of the surah and their linguistic patterns, and the analysis of revelation the Qur’an with regard to historical events and temporal frameworks.
In this way, the surah was arranged according to the arrangement of revelation instead of its traditional arrangement. For example, Surat Al -Anbiya, the twenty -first chapter of the Qur’an, was placed as a copy of Surah 65 in the classification of Noldk. This structure has been considered a comprehensive and systematic way to study the sacred text, which allows the aological, literary and historical analysis.
There is another important work written by Nöldeke, which is his relatively broken autobiography for Muhammad, where he presents a brief novel for the life and era of the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), based on historical novels. However, both of these two books were subjected to criticism.
In addition to his Quranic studies, Nöldeke has authored works in linguistics, especially in studying ancient rules, including Aramaic, secret, and classic Arabic.
The beginning of Erlet, Noldk, his works
Newedik’s research on Arab and Islamic studies ultimately led to Iranian studies. By examining the Persian sources and the Sassanid accounts in Tariq Al -Tabari, he began studying the texts of Shahnami and Lahalafi such as kârNâmag î Ardashîr î Babagân (the book of the verbs of Ardashir, Ibn Babak). During this time, he also learned the Central Persian, after previously gained efficiency in modern Persian.
His research in Iranian studies was widely, as it covers not only historical subjects, but also linguistic characteristics, morphology, geography, legends, epic novels, and even character characteristics. The result of these investigations led to two main works: the history of the Persians and the Arabs in the time of the Sassanids and the national epic of Iran. The first was translated into Persian by Abbas Zarib Khoy, while the latter was translated by Bozurg Alfi.
The history of the Persians and Arabs in the time of the Sassanids is studying the Sasanid time (the Sasanids and its relations with the Arabs. It was one of the main sources of studying the history of Sassanid. There is another remarkable work, Kitāb Al -ṭabarī (translated and analyzed the Iranian divisions in Tariq Al-Tabri), focusing on the parts of the history of Al-Tabari dealing with Iran, providing decisive visions in the era of Sassanid and the transfer of power to Muslims.
In his book “The National Epic of Iran (Das, Iranian Nshiunsipus), which was published in 1920, Noldk Shahnimi analyzed the name of Iran’s national epic. Examining its structure, content and historical and cultural importance, with the aim of establishing its place in international literature. With the ancient Iranian and Arabic texts, their historical accuracy is evaluated.
Nöldeke views on shahnameh
Nöldeke analyzed Shahnameh from both historical and legendary perspectives. I thought this epic was a mixture of real history, myths and oral accounts from ancient Iran. He referred to the influence of the Sassanid sources, especially Khuwai Namaj (Book of Kings), on the Shenami Temple.
While admired the epic and literary value of his seams, he also criticized some accounts of historical inaccuracy. His research had a great impact on Iranian studies in the West, and many scientists later adopted his methods and results in their studies of Iran’s history and literature. Nöldeke followed a critical approach to analyzing linguistics, elegance and historical sources of its trucks. It was among the first scholars to look at Shahnami, not just an epic poem, but as a historical source to understand the past of Iran.
The importance of the work of Nolidk
In his studies on Shahnimi, Noldk sought a deeper understanding of the historical, mythical and literary aspects. Shahnameh considered not only a literary masterpiece but also as a key source for understanding ancient Iranian history and culture, as well as the Islamic period. He also discovered the mutual influences of Iranian and Islamic cultures within the Shahnimi, while highlighting how ancient Iranian myths and history preserved in the form of permanent literary work.
Nöldeke’s research on Shahanami was part of his broader efforts to study and understand Iranian and Islamic history and culture. His studies greatly contributed to the understanding of Western scientists of Persian literature and the global importance of its trucks. Through his careful and scientific analysis, he lit many aspects of this great epic and helped increase its appreciation in the West.
Nodok’s legacy, recent years
Nöldeke occupies a distinguished place among orientalists and remembers it with great respect. It is considered one of the most influential scientists in this field, as it affected his contemporaries and subsequent researchers. His exceptional remembrance, profound knowledge of Greek literature, and mastery of three sublime languages - the Iribi, charitable, and Hebrews – with his long life, enabled him to achieve a prominent position not only among German orientalists but also among scientists around the world.
Theodore Nwalek spent his last years with his son in Karlsruoh, where he died on December 29, 1930, at the age of 94, after the age allocated for research and scholarships.
MNA/6368503
