Religion 350-0: The Qur’an

Syllabus

CR = Course Reader
Cook = Michael Cook, The Koran. A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.
Sells = Michael Sells, Approaching the Qur’an: The Early Revelations. Ashland, OR: White Cloud
Press.

Week 1 (September 20-24)

Assignment for the week: Cook, 3-20

T Introduction

Th The Holy Book of Islam – Conflicting Views

Lester, What is the Koran? (plus responses; Blackboard); Esack, Qur’an, 1-11 (CR # 1)

Week 2 (September 27-October 1)

Assignment for the week: Denny, Introduction, 47-71 (CR # 2)

T The Holy Book of Islam – A Muslim Approach

Maududi, Study of the Qur’an (Blackboard)
Th Background: Muhammad and the Early History of Islam
Robinson, Discovering the Qur’an, 27-59 (CR # 3); Lings, Muhammad, 43-45 (CR # 4)

Week 3 (October 4-8)

Assignments for the week: Cook, 127-142

T The Structure of the Qur’an and the Chronology of the Revelations

Von Denffer, ‘Ulûm al-Qur’ân, 67-89 (CR # 5); Robinson, Discovering the Qur’an, 77-96
(CR # 6)
Th Islamic Beliefs about the Qur’an
Cook, 109-115; Nadvi, Studying the Glorious Qur’ân, 1-28 (CR # 7)
Reading Response Due

Week 4 (October 11-15)

Assignments for the week: Cook, 127-142

T The Early Revelations: Themes and Language

Sells, 1-31

Th Eschatology, Good and Evil in the Meccan Suras

Rahman, Major Themes, 106-131 (CR # 9)
Reading Response Due

Week 5 (October 18-22)

Assignment for the week: Rahman, Major Themes, 80-105 (CR # 8)

T Prophets in the Qur’an I: Punishment Stories

Welch, Formulaic Features (CR # 10)
Th Prophets in the Qur’an II: The Story of Joseph
Mir, Irony in the Qur’ân (CR # 11)

Reflection Paper Due on October 22 (email submission)

Week 6 (October 25-29)

Assignment for the week: Cook, 51-76 and 119-126

T Medinan Revelations
Robinson, Discovering the Qur’an, 196-223 (CR # 12)

Th Text History I: The Muslim View of the Collection of the Qur’an

Von Denffer, ‘Ulûm al-Qur’ân, 31-65 (CR # 13); Esack, 78-99 (CR # 14)
Reading Response Due

Week 7 (November 1-5)

Assignment for the week: Cook, 77-94

T Text History II: Recent Western Scholarship

Motzki, Alternative Accounts (CR # 15)
Th The Qur’an in Practice I: Prayer, Recitation, Calligraphy
Von Denffer, ‘Ulûm al-Qur’ân, 163-180 (CR # 16); Nadvi, Studying the Glorious Qur’ân,
92-100 (CR # 17)
Proposal for Final Paper Due in Class

Week 8 (November 8-12)

Assignment for the week: Cook, 23-48 and 95-108

T The Qur’an in Practice II: Education, Memorization, “Magical” Practices

Boyle, Quranic Schools, 83-98 (CR # 18); El-Tom, Drinking the Koran (CR # 19)
Th Exegesis of the Qur’an
Von Denffer, ‘Ulûm al-Qur’ân, 121-145 (CR # 20); Gätje, Qur’ân and its Exegesis, 30-44
(CR # 21)
Reading Response Due

Week 9 (November 15-19)

Assignment for the week: Cook, 23-48 and 95-108

T Contentious Issues I: The “War Chapters”

(assignment to follow)
Th Contentious Issues II: Women
Wadud, Qur’an and Woman, 62-93 (CR # 22)

Week 10 (November 22-24)

T Recent Controversies: Salman Rushdie, Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, Terry Jones
(assignment to follow)

Final Paper Due on Monday, December 6