Daniel Brubaker answers Yasir Qadhi

In this video, Dr. Brubaker answers in more detail the criticisms leveled against him and his academic work by Yasir Qadhi on November 25, 2020. He begins by pointing out that some of the criticisms are recycled, having been developed by apologists and polemicists over the past year. Qadhi himself, in his critique, referenced a parody Twitter account displaying cherry-picked photographs of mistakes in Brubaker's 2014 doctoral dissertation.

With grace, Dr. Brubaker answers the general concerns and points out that the heavy spotlight on occasional mistakes in the form of a wrongly-parsed Arabic verb, or a suboptimal translation choice (all the sort of things that will exist in any doctoral dissertation - - and indeed even occasionally in published books that are otherwise excellent), while not unimportant, are largely irrelevant to the bigger picture.

Brubaker notes that he is unaware of anyone who has found fault with him for misidentifying a chapter and verse of a correction or a variant, misidentifying the portion of skeletal text (Arabic: "rasm"), and so forth. Indeed, the only thing that comes close is one of the items that Yasir Qadhi mentions: the mistaking of a red Arabic "lam-he" in his dissertation for the word "lahu," when it actually was a number according to the Arabic "abjad" numbering system. But this is old news, and Brubaker was aware of that for years.

Among the thousands of actual corrections he has documented are some that are the result of mere scribal error, others the result of developing orthography, and others (Brubaker believes) that are the result of true textual variations that were later drawn toward conformity with each other via physical correction.

Brubaker makes the suggestion that criticisms of important but non-central details (such as word choice in translation, occasional incorrect verb parsing, or pronunciation), in the way often expressed by Qadhi and others, are not only a diversion, but also a form of ad hominem attack, presented as an plea for hearers to discredit Brubaker as an authority in his area of research.

In the latter part of this video, Brubaker shows and talks through Yasir Qadhi's response to the email Brubaker sent him on November 26. Key topics include:

"islamophobia" and "islamophobe" as terms of rhetoric and (indeed) of cowardice

Whether discussion or consideration of ultimate concerns (i.e. theology and other matters that are beyond the reach of science) have a place in the academy (Brubaker suggests that the pursuit of truth via science and reason may legitimately include consideration of such things)

Who has biases? Everyone. In good academic work, it is important to recognize and account for biases.

Left largely unaddressed in this video are the matters of the legitimacy and worthiness of a PhD from Rice University in this area. It was inadvertently omitted during recording, is mentioned in text on-screen at the appropriate point, but will be discussed in a little more detail (plus some other addenda) in a short follow-up video in the next few days.

[IslamCritiqued]

Dan, a very kind response to an individual who has become increasingly dishonest and even threatening. You’re a patient person. It’s interesting that Qadhi claims to be generally likable, while also false-flagging channels and publicly threatening an owner of another channel. That makes his comment about not wanting to be two-faced, two-faced.

[lking]

So its okay for Yasir Qadhi to associate with Mo Hijab, but Dan Brubaker can't associate with David Wood?? More hypocrisy from the Sheikh!!!

Dr. Daniel, your response itself shows the high calibre of character you have and the respect you give to other people, just continue what you do... We love you and your work Sir...

[phillipoleary]

Thank you for stating facts and not getting personal. Thanks too for letting us know your findings, very interesting and thought provoking.

[Scalpaxos]

Regarding Arabic, the work you're doing with such ancient Arabic texts is quite impressive, those manuscripts are almost impossible to read for a native speaker and I am one, it's not about Arabic, it's more about expertise in deciphering archaic Arabic rasms, beside that I never noticed any mistakes in your Arabic even in your pronunciation.

[reji]

The sharp contrast with which Daniel Brubaker a Christian and Yasir Qadhi a Muslim responds to criticism is striking
Daniel Brubaker is confident in his work and has substantive reflections while Yasir Qadhi resorts to personal insults.

[Rvillaluz]

Dr. Brubaker, my thanks for your effort and contribution to this topic. Your response has brought focus on how a classy, scholarly and systematic a position is communicated. You've gained a subscriber as a result of watching this video. Dr. Brubaker, you've put the spotlight on what excellence looks like.
Dr. Brubaker, when you said, "truth is what is", it was as if I was tapped on my shoulder and told to pay close attention! Wow, awesome!

[berthashannon]

I am a jew born in Israel..I speak hebrew arabic aramaic english french..what you say is true..and they know it..

[davidtong]

A phobia is an irrational fear, to fear Islam, for it's Doctrines, history, or current actions carried out in its name, or by its adherents, is not irrational. Fearing Islam and Islamist is a very rational emotion given the fact that so much of the

[speakbigtruth]

Daniel please do not allow them to know your address.

[jeanwanchen]

Thank you for this video! Thank you for the amazing content you continue to make! The world needs this information!

[dylanarslanian]

The shrill passive aggression in that email belies a real crisis of faith. And it just makes the calm, balanced and charitable response given in this video even more compelling.

[cramerlong]

After watching Dr Brubaker's comments a second time . WOW what a testimony for how a Christians response should be . *It's easy to hate the enemy Qadhi* But he needs our love . He's not the enemy . He's on his way to hitting the bottom . Many of us know what that's like . I know I do We need to Pray for Qadhi.

[truthcrusader]

You are revealing truth which means you hit a nerve. Don't let Yasir Qadhi try to take you on a deep dive. Then again, the last time Qadhi took a deep dive pushed on by Mini Hijab it was quite revealing.

[JoshThom]

Dan, continue to do the work we need to get to the truth. Your clarity, transparency and respect to your opposition is an admirable display of Christ's call for our lives. You're setting an unbelievably powerful example of how we can courteously approach our Muslim brothers and sisters.

[Chandransingham]

Very well explained to clear misunderstandings. Thank you, Sir.

[Brett.Crealy-khsk]

It is clear from watching Yasir Qadhi's video responses to folks like yourself, & seeing your reply to him, that your conduct is exemplary on 'every' level!

[gissie]

To me sciencetific measurements was always about precision and accuracy which fits in with proverbs 20:10.

[ngatatan]

The interesting thing about faith is that the faith realm must exist between the matters that can proven or reading true and matters that can be conclusively proven or reasoned false... And as you stated per scientific methods, there are matters that simply can't be conclusively proven or trained to be either true or false. That's where the faith zone reside.

[steviedfromtheflyovercount]

Dr. Dan, you have accidentally stepped up the part of the world which is in verbal conflict over religious ideologies....it was not your intention....but, now you are a player in this game. So, I don't know whether to congratulate you or offer you my condolences.