Reconstructing Orientalists' Expectations Horizon Based on Aesthetic Response to the Holy Quran

The literary dimension of the Holy Qur'an holds significant importance in Islamic civilization. It is still considered the best literary work among Arabic speakers. However, since the criteria for creating and evaluating the aesthetics of literary texts vary from society to society, and each society has its own unique way of perceiving beauty, we have addressed the aesthetic reception of the Qur'an's literary text in orientalist studies. By examining the reactions of orientalists, who have a different understanding of literature and beauty than Arabs, we aim to gain insight into the reception of the Qur'an in a context other than Arabic language and culture. This study focuses on two orientalists, Theodore Noldeke and Angelika Neuwirth, and strives to understand the scope of their reception and the prevalent standards during the historical moment of their reception of the Quran. It can be said that the aesthetic value of the Quran among Orientalists is influenced by the tasks they pursue in their Quranic studies. They are like researchers who read a poetry collection solely for extracting the customs of a period without paying attention to its aesthetic reasons and impact.