Official Course Description:  MCCCD Approval: 6-23-09
REL215  2009 Fall – 2010 Spring	LEC  3.0 Credit(s)  3.0 Period(s)  3.0 Load  Acad
Introduction to the Qur’an
Historical context, development, canonization, historical transmission, translation and Interpretation of the Qur’an. Prerequisites: None.

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
REL215  2009 Fall – 2010 Spring	Introduction to the Qur’an

 

1.         Describe the historical context in which the Qur’an developed. (I, II)

2.         Trace and outline the development of the Qur’an as a written document. (IV, V)

3.         Identify and explain the literary genre of the Qur’an. (IV)

4.         Analyze the key factors in the transmission and canonization process of the Qur’an. (V)

5.         Explain the impact on the interpretation of the Qur’an of the development of the vocalized text. (III, IV, V)

6.         Differentiate representative modern insights into the Qur’an. (IX)

7.         Compare and contrast the various interpretive approaches to the Qur’an. (VI, VII, VIII)

8.         Summarize and critique the variety of attitudes among Muslims toward translation of the Qur’an, and key translations in history. (VIII)

 

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
REL215  2009 Fall – 2010 Spring	Introduction to the Qur’an

 

I.          Religious Traditions in Pre-Islamic Arabia

II.        The Beginnings and Establishment of the Islam (610-661 C.E.)

            A.        The Life of Muhammad

            B.        Mecca in Arabian culture

            C.        The Recitation Experiences

            D.        The impact of hijra

III.       The Development of the Arabic Language

            A.        Arabic and other Semitic languages

            B.        Early dialects

            C.        Literary Arabic and spoken Arabic

IV.       Style and Structure of the Qur’an

            A.        Divine discourse

            B.        Prophetic style

            C.        Suras and Ayat

            D.        Ordering

V.        The Canon of the Qur’an

            A.        The Role of Umar

            B.        The impact of redaction

            C.        The early editions

VI.       Interpretations of the Qur’an

            A.        The Relationship to the Hebrew Bible

            B.        The role of Hadith

            C.        Quranic Commentary

            D.        Non-Muslim approaches

VII.     Theologies of the Qur’an

            A.        Conflict between al-Ma’mun and al-Hanbali

            B.        Abd al-Wahhab and Islamic Fundamentalism

            C.        Sufi perspectives

VIII.    Translation of the Qur’an

            A.        Salman the Persian (7th century C.E.)

            B.        Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi (18th century C.E.)

            C.        English Translations by Non-Muslims

                        1.         George Sale (1734)

                        2.         John Rodwell (1861)

                        3.         E.H. Palmer (1880)

                        4.         Richard Bell (1937)

                        5.         Arthur John Arberry (1955)

                        6.         N. J. Dawood (1956)

            D.        English Translations by Muslims

                        1.         Maulana Muhammad Ali (1917)

                        2.         Marmaduke Pickthall (1930)

                        3.         Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1938)

                        4.         Muhammad Asad (1980)

                        5.         Muhammad Zafrulla Khan (1970)

                        6.         Mohammed Habib Shakir (1983)

                        7.         Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al Hilali (1985)

                        8.         Tarif Khalidi (2008)

IX.       The State of Contemporary Quranic Studies