Text Editing

This training course was run in Cairo, Egypt, in collaboration with Dar al-Uloom faculty at the University of Cairo in March and April 2009. It was the second  such training course organised  by al-Furqan Foundation. Sixty-one participants completed the second course. Most of these were students of higher education, while some already held MSc and PhD degrees in various specialisations.

Although the training course was organised nationally, eleven participants came from other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Pakistan and Syria.

Among the participants of the second course was Dr Girgis Bushra Ghali, a scholar in Greek and Latin Arts. This was the first time a non-Muslim participated in any such course or programme of study offered by the  Dar al-Uloom faculty which is traditionally associated with Arabic and Islamic studies. Dr Girgis came to the course in order to be able to edit and study old gospel and sacred Christian ancient books and manuscripts.

The training course was the second of its kind to be organised by al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation in co-operation with Dar al-Uloom faculty of Cairo University. The first was in early 2008 when 37 participants completed a similar course. The participants of the course belonged to many Egyptian universities, as was the case with those Egyptian students in the second course.

The course is comprised of 100 hours of study, incudling a minimum of 30 hours of practical work. During these sessions the participant edits an assigned text from a specific manuscript. Certificates are awarded to those who attend a minimum of 94 hours and successfully complete the practical components of the course.

This course constitutes a breakthrough in this area, because masters of the discipline of editing manuscript texts have different methods and approaches, which are not easy to bring under one umbrella. However, by cooperation with the University of Cairo, the al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation managed to bring together a wealth of experience that ensured high success for the course.

The majority of the lectures given in the second course have been published in book form. The book is available from al-Furqan Foundation at Dar al-Uloom faculty in Cairo.