Communiqué I: PROPOSAL

Blog Communiqué: Rabi'al-Awwal 1424 (February, 2013):

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahimi wa sallahu 'ala Sidina Muhammadin al-Karim wa 'ala alihi

Proyecto Breviario Sunni is a proposed non-commercial research and translation project (with a penchant for a bit of amateur travelogue photography) established in Rabi'al-Awwal 1424 (February 2013), in the spirit of Creative Commons principles, with the intent of promoting broader understanding and appreciation of the unique contribution of European Muslim authors to the greater heritage of mainstream, traditionalist Islam, or Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, and indeed to the cultural heritage of Europe itself.  Our proposed debut project therefore, is the long-overdue first complete English translation (from Aljamiado/Castellano) of the Breviario Sunni (Sunni Breviary) of Shaykh 'Isa of Segovia, the 15th-Century Imam and alfaqui of the Moorish Quarter of Segovia, as the rightful heritage of the Islamic world.

One of the principle aims of the Proyecto is the promotion of extraordinary research materials on the subject of European Islamic literature, to mention a few within the field of Iberian Islamic studies: the invaluable research contributions of G. A. Wiegers in his work entitled, Islamic Literature in Spanish and Aljamiado: Yca of Segovia (fl. 1450), His Antecedents and Sucessors, the veritable treasure trove of Iberian Islamic manuscripts as preserved in the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and the Biblioteca Almonacid collection, and many other collections that abound worldwide.

The broadest possible aim of the Proyecto is the promotion of understanding of mainstream, traditionalist Islam (Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah), in contrast and opposition to all forms of religious extremism and modernist/reformist Islamic movements which in reality have extraordinarily small numbers of adherents worldwide (including the Salafi/Wahhabi ideology and the great harm that it has done to the reputation of Islam and the violence that many of its adherents have inflicted upon the world), which are opposed to mainstream, traditionalist Islamic scholarship and indeed opposed to the very cultural heritage and values of the Islamic world itself.  It is the belief of the contributing members of the Proyecto that through the enabling of access to traditional Islamic works of historical interest in English translation the values of mainstream, traditionalist Islam (Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah) can be illustrated in a informative and meaningful manner, perhaps even preparing readers for further research and study in the field, and to go even further in the building of bridges of understanding between all faith traditions and reviving the spirit of the convivencia within and amongst ourselves.

Moreover, it is hoped that interested readers will appreciate the very unique historical contexts and literary contributions of European Muslim writers to the voluminous corpus of Islamic literature, and their unique contribution to the cultural heritage of Europe as well.  Unfortunately, up to the present day, the attention of the general public has largely overlooked the unique character of the European contribution to cultural and religious heritage of the Muslim world, and the subject has remained the domain of academic specialists almost exclusively.  It is sincerely hoped that the readers of the work presented herein by the members of the Proyecto will be helpful and of service in this regard.

The current Blogbashi of the Proyecto is Abdessamad Bey.  Interested individuals who wish to contribute in some manner through research and/or translation or other means of support may contact  the current Blogbashi at: abdessamadbey@gmail.com.  Prospective contributors must be willing to sign and abide according to the principles outlined within the Proyecto Breviario Sunni Charter (furnished upon request), demonstrating commitment to the non-profit, non-commercial aims and principles of the Proyecto.