ARA 102 ARABIC FOR INTERMEDIATE LEARNERS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Knowledge of the Arabic language and its associated cultural practices, values, attitudes, and norms opens more doors to the Muslim world and Arabic-speaking communities than would otherwise be available. In this course, students participate in lectures and interactive learning activities, engaging in the study of more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary in connection with Muslim and Arab cultures, daily life, festivals, poetry, music, stories, issues of identity, ethics, spirituality, and other facets of their culture. They use the structures and vocabulary in listening, speaking, and writing activities. Students explore various styles of writing and genres of literature from different periods of Islamic history through authentic, primary texts. They engage in intensive reading of writings on several cultural topics, enabling them to critically approach and evaluate prose, fiction, and non-fiction through literary theories. Closely reading the sources and engaging in scenario-based discussions would allow students to expand their vocabulary and develop discourse analysis skills, as well as improve their critical thinking abilities. Through independent research, students further their inquiry into the relationship between language and culture and produce and support their own theses.
IJC 103 ANALYTICAL AND THEMATIC QUR’ANIC INTERPRETATIONS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, we will embark on a captivating journey into the heart of Islam through the study of the Qurʾan. This foundational text holds profound significance in all Muslim societies. We aim to delve into the principles, types, patterns, and tools of analytical and thematic interpretations of the Qurʾan, unravelling its wisdom and exploring its multifaceted nature. Students will explore the main features of the sacred text, delving into the disciplines that are intricately connected to its study. They will critically analyze and evaluate the various modes of interpreting the Qurʾan throughout history, from classical to pre-modern and modern periods. The course delves into diverse exegetical types, uncovering traditional and modern hermeneutical approaches that shed light on the Qurʾan’s profound meanings, form, structure, and coherence. Students learn about methods of analytical interpretation (tafsir tahlili) and explore the content of the Qurʾan from many different aspects based on Qurʾanic sequences of verses. They also learn about the captivating world of thematic interpretation (tafsir mawduʿi), explore the Qurʾan based on thought-provoking themes encompassing society, cosmos, and more, and uncover the profound insights and relevance it holds for our lives today. In the ever-changing landscape of the modern world, Muslim communities and societies face new challenges. The interpretation of the Qurʾan continually evolves to address these circumstances. Through the two modes of interpretation, students will embark on a question to explore Qurʾanic themes that resonate with our contemporary concerns, gaining valuable insights into the authority and applicability of the Qurʾan in the modern world.
IJC 102 INTRODUCTION TO THE SUNNAH
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces the Sunnah, encompassing the Prophet’s speeches, lifestyle, and practices, as well as Prophetic narratives and traditions. It places the Sunnah in its perspective as a source of legislation and jurisprudence, fiqh. Through lectures, direct instructions, student-centred learning activities, case studies, and scenario-based teaching and learning exercises, students explore questions and issues related to the meanings, authority, and importance of the Sunnah, the Prophet Muhammad’s roles, the divine preservation of the Sunnah, and a range of rulings concerning the Sunnah. Students delve into an analysis of various topics, including the status of the Sunnah in Islam, the Muslims’ duty to the Sunnah, the authenticity of the Sunnah (ath-thubut), the Sunnah as a source for jurisprudence and preaching (da’wah), weak hadiths (al-hadith ad-da’eef), the Sunnah’s role in legislative and non-legislative contexts, the relationship between the Qur’an and the Sunnah, opposing narrations (ikhtilaf al-hadith), abrogation (an-naskh), and contemporary misconceptions, etc.
IJC 105 ISLAM AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN CANADA
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The presence of Islam in Canada may seem a new phenomenon to some observers. However, the history of Islam and Muslims in Canada dates back to the mid-19th century. Today, Muslims constitute roughly 3.2% of the total Canadian population and are the second-largest religious group in the country after Christianity. Why does Islam matter in Canada? When and how did it arrive here? How can we study Muslim communities in Canada? What values, practices, traditions, and tensions exist within its histories and social dynamics? Through a series of lectures, interactive learning activities and fieldwork, students explore these and similar questions in this course. They examine how Muslim communities live and practice Islam in the Canadian context. Students learn about and discuss a range of topics, including the histories, beliefs and practices of diverse Canadian Muslim communities, their religious and cultural identities, questions of their communal organization, religious authority, gender dynamics, youth culture, political and civic engagement, media representation, discrimination, and contributions to Canadian society.
IEF 205 FIQH OF BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In the Fiqh of Business and Financial Transactions course, students delve into the fundamentals of Islamic Financial Law. This comprehensive course provides a deep understanding of the principles and perspectives of Shariʿah (Islamic law) in relation to crucial contemporary financial transactions. Throughout the course, students will explore and analyze various topics, including: Dealing with credit cards, cryptocurrency, stocks, and financial derivatives within the framework of Islamic Financial Law; Comprehensive examination of the concepts and rules of usury/interest (riba) and uncertainty/hazard (gharar), along with their applications in modern financial contexts; Understanding the implications of bank loans and gambling from an Islamic perspective, and In-depth exploration of primary Islamic banking products, their features, and their compliance with Shariʿah principles. The successful completion of this course will equip participants with essential Shariʿah knowledge necessary for Muslims who aspire to adhere to Shariʿah rules in their financial dealings and investments. Students will engage in interactive lectures, case studies, group discussions, and practical exercises to deepen their understanding of Islamic Financial Law. The course emphasizes critical thinking, analysis of contemporary financial practices, and the application of Shariʿah principles in real-world scenarios.
IAM 301 ACADEMIC WRITING
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Academic writing, a formal style used in universities and scholarly publications, is characterized by clarity, conciseness, focus, structure, and evidence-based support. Its purpose is to aid the reader’s understanding. While each subject discipline has its own writing conventions, vocabulary, and types of discourse, students in this course explore some general characteristics of academic writing that are relevant across all disciplines but are more specifically applicable to disciplines in Islamic studies. Through research, mapping ideas, planning, and writing essays, students acquire and reinforce their academic writing skills in terms of use of methods of research, note-taking, use of appropriate diction, building coherent structure, use of evidence, formulation of theses, referencing, use of citation, tone and style of writing, positioning and other macro- and micro-level academic writing skills. Students interested in pursuing academic research in the humanities, particularly Islamic studies, will benefit from this course.