IJC 101 Introduction to Quran

COURSE DESCRIPTION

According to Islamic tradition, the Qurʾan is not simply an Inspired Scripture. It is a Divine Book that the Angel Gabriel brought down from heaven to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and its message is the key to paradise. As students progress through this course, they explore the Qurʾan, the Divine Word, to over one and a half billion people around the globe. Through lectures, interactive learning activities, research, and discussions, students explore various aspects of the sacred scripture, including its messages, the historical context in which it was revealed, and how Muslims have approached and interpreted it. Topics of learning and discussion include the translatability and untranslatability of the Qurʾan, the relationship between the Qurʾan and culture, and the links between the Scripture and the Prophetic Sunnah. Students will also learn about the stories and parables in the Qurʾan and their significance.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the overall structure and content, major themes, approaches to its interpretation and its functions in Muslim religious and socio-political life. 
2. demonstrate knowledge of religious heritage, and articulate clearly their own theological positions (as related to pastoral practices). 
3. interpret the Scripture using various methods, sources, and norms and interpret a select number of Qurʾanic verses in the context of occasions of revelation.
4. identify theological viewpoints and practices in relation to the Qurʾan. 
5. critically examine and analyze a range of Qurʾanic discourses, keeping in mind the diversity of voices within Muslim tradition, and communicate this clearly in oral and written forms to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
6. critically evaluate their own and other faith perspectives and practices of educational ministry. 
7. compare the Qurʾan to similar scriptural texts of different religions and engage with related Qurʾanic discourses from a comparative perspective. 
8. compare and contrast literary and allegorical interpretations of Qurʾanic verses to their historical contexts. 
9. formulate a cogent argument or construct a thesis regarding the verses of the Qurʾan that is supported with solid evidence. 
10. examine personal bias, knowledge, and positionality in explicating Qurʾanic meaning. 

PREREQUISTIES

None