How Jefferson Read The Qur'an - Political Forum

CHUQ · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-2007, 06:48 AM

Just thought some might find this intersting

Located on the north side of the Duke of Gloucester Street, the printing office of the Virginia Gazette had lured Thomas Jefferson within its doors countless times since he first came to Williamsburg to study at the College of William and Mary. Back in Williamsburg for the fall session of the General Court in 1765, Jefferson was busy reading law and helping George Wythe prepare cases for trial. His own formal legal training was coming to a close. The surviving Virginia Gazette daybooks hint that he was studying for his bar examination in early autumn, when he purchased a copy of Grounds and Rudiments of Law and Equity, a general survey that would have made an ideal study guide (Dewey 119). On another visit to the Gazette office this autumn, Jefferson purchased a copy of the Qur'an, specifically, George Sale's English translation, The Koran, Commonly Called the Alcoran of Mohammed, recently republished in a handy two-volume edition (Virginia, fol. 202).

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Sherri · #2 (**permalink**) 01-27-2007, 07:40 AM

I am lucky enough to live in an area that is surrounded by history. The main street that runs thru my hamlet is the route that John Wilkes Booth took to the Dr. Samuel Mudd Home (two miles from my home), and the Surratt House (where Mary Surratt was hung as a co-conspirator of the assassination of Lincoln.

Now, I also live 2 hrs. from Charlottesville, Va. and the home of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello. I've been in Thomas Jefferson's home and he has a wide array of reading choices in his library, from the Q'uran to Marcus Aurellius Antonius. Alot of people think that the Gounding Fathers were Christians, but they were Deists. They attended churches, but did not partake in the sacraments. They all believed in exploring all faiths.
The same in true with James Madison's home, Montpelier; and George Washington's home, Mount Vernon.

I wish all Americans had access to all of the historical homes of the founding fathers, and could walk thru their homes to see the libraries of the presidents.

Please pardon me if I have taken this thread on a tangent.

CHUQ · #3 (**permalink**) 01-27-2007, 07:43 AM

It is not a bg deal, at least you read them and at times our middle anme is tangent. LOL.

Troianii · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 11:42 PM

It's interesting, but not really a surprise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

I am lucky enough to live in an area that is surrounded by history. The main street that runs thru my hamlet is the route that John Wilkes Booth took to the Dr. Samuel Mudd Home (two miles from my home), and the Surratt House (where Mary Surratt was hung as a co-conspirator of the assassination of Lincoln.

Now, I also live 2 hrs. from Charlottesville, Va. and the home of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello. I've been in Thomas Jefferson's home and he has a wide array of reading choices in his library, from the Q'uran to Marcus Aurellius Antonius. Alot of people think that the Gounding Fathers were Christians, but they were Deists. They attended churches, but did not partake in the sacraments. They all believed in exploring all faiths.
The same in true with James Madison's home, Montpelier; and George Washington's home, Mount Vernon.

I wish all Americans had access to all of the historical homes of the founding fathers, and could walk thru their homes to see the libraries of the presidents.

Please pardon me if I have taken this thread on a tangent.

I'd like to discuss this with you on another thread, because I'm very interested on your sources.