Shawkat M. Toorawa
Brand Blanshard Professor of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations and Professor of Comparative Literature at Yale University; scholar and translator of Arabic literature and the Qur'an, author of The Devotional Qur'an: Beloved Surahs and Verses (Yale UP, 2025).
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Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 1min
Shawkat M. Toorawa, "The Devotional Qur'an: Beloved Surahs and Verses" (Yale UP, 2025)
Shawkat M. Toorawa, Brand Blanshard Professor of Near Eastern Languages at Yale and author of The Devotional Qur'an, discusses his multilingual roots and how they shaped his literary journey. He shares insights on translating key surahs, focusing on musicality and emotional resonance. Toorawa explains the curated selection of verses based on devotional use and the book's intended audiences, including Anglophone Muslims. He also reflects on the contemporary relevance of the Qur'an's apocalyptic themes and its moral teachings.
Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 1min
Shawkat M. Toorawa, "The Devotional Qur'an: Beloved Surahs and Verses" (Yale UP, 2025)
Shawkat M. Toorawa, a Yale professor and expert in Arabic literature, discusses his new work, a heartfelt selection of cherished Qur'anic verses. He shares insights about his multilingual upbringing and the inspirations behind choosing Arabic. Toorawa elaborates on the artistic choices in his translations, emphasizing poetry's influence. He curates surahs by their devotional significance and reflects on the impact of apocalyptic themes in the Qur'an. Listeners will appreciate his intention to create an accessible yet profound literary experience for diverse audiences.
