ARA 302 Qurʾan and Exegeses
This immersive course offers students a deep and comprehensive exploration of the Qurʾan, the pivotal religious text in Islam, providing a nuanced understanding of its origins, the profound concept of divine revelation, and its intricate relationships with other sacred scriptures. As students navigate the course, they delve into the processes involved in recording the Qurʾan, gaining insight into the methodology of Qurʾanic exegesis. The significance of occasions of revelation (asbab an-nuzul), the intricate concept of abrogation, and the essential tools for robust textual analysis are scrutinized. The historical journey takes students through the development of Qurʾanic exegetical methods, offering a detailed examination of representative works from the extensive literature crafted by Muslim exegetes over centuries. Furthermore, the course explores modern exegetical issues, providing a critical evaluation of how the course of the modern history of the Muslim world has influenced contemporary interpretations of the Qurʾan, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the enduring relevance of this sacred text.
Learning Outcomes
Explain the origins and preservation of the Qurʾan, including revelation, recording, and transmission processes.
Apply exegetical tools and methods used in classical and modern Qurʾanic interpretation.
Analyze asbāb al-nuzūl, abrogation, and related interpretive principles within tafsīr literature.
Examine major exegetical works and identify characteristics of classical, medieval, and contemporary tafsīr.
Evaluate modern interpretations influenced by historical, political, and social developments in the Muslim world.
Conduct textual analysis of selected Qurʾanic passages using established scholarly methodologies.
Understand the Qurʾan’s relationship with other sacred scriptures in theological and exegetical contexts.