Personal Reflection on an Unconventional Academic Topic: Insights Gleaned from My Own Journey
In the heart of academic research, there are topics that remain relatively unexplored, hidden gems waiting to be uncovered. Such was the case for a Princeton student, who embarked on a fascinating journey into the depths of a niche subject: the Mukhtaṣar al-Sharīʿa of ʿAbdallāh Qarāʿalī, an 18th-century Arabic Christian legal text from Lebanon.
Navigating the Niche
To tackle such a niche topic, the student had to be strategic. They started by delving into the existing scholarship about Qarāʿalī and his text, identifying gaps, and defining clear boundaries for their research. Recognising the text's obscurity, they carefully framed their contribution within the broader field of Islamic law and Maliki jurisprudence.
Bridging the Gap
One of the key challenges was finding an adviser for such an under-the-radar topic. With expertise spanning various fields, it was essential to connect the dots and find an adviser who could guide the student through this unique journey.
Resourceful Research
With limited resources available, the student had to be resourceful. They utilised AI-based translation software to get a rough translation of the French and German works, and delved into scholarly writing not written in English, including sources in German, French, and Arabic.
The Rewards of the Journey
Despite the challenges, the student found the process of researching and writing the senior thesis to be a rewarding experience. They realised that if they didn't understand something about the text, there was nothing to consult for a simple explanation. This necessitated a deep understanding of the text and its context, a reward in itself.
The Significance of the Findings
The student's research revealed a lack of English-language academic work on the Mukhtaṣar, with the entire body of such work totaling a mere two pages. This underscored the academic contribution of their study, placing it in relation to broader legal history and manuscript traditions.
A Call for Further Research
The student's thesis serves as a stepping stone for future researchers, opening up a new avenue of exploration in the field of Islamic law. With more scholars taking an interest in the Mukhtaṣar al-Sharīʿa of ʿAbdallāh Qarāʿalī, we may soon uncover more secrets hidden within this 18th-century legal text.
Princeton University offers a wealth of resources to support seniors writing their theses. With the right approach, determination, and support, even the most under-researched topics can yield fascinating findings.
In the process of writing their senior thesis, the Princeton student delved into the learning of the obscure 18th-century Arabic Christian legal text from Lebanon, the Mukhtaṣar al-Sharīʿa of ʿAbdallāh Qarāʿalī, thereby fostering significant personal-growth and contributing to education-and-self-development. Despite the challenges in finding an adviser and the limited resources, the student's journey dominated by independent learning served as a personal-growth catalyst, highlighting the importance of their junior paper in filling scholarly gaps within Islamic law.
