| REL 364. Approaching the Qur'an This course introduces students to the most important scripture of the Islamic faith, the Qur'an. It presents the history of the Qur'anic revelation, the life and message of Prophet Muhammad, the language, structure and translations of the Qur'anic text and debates surrounding these issues. We will discuss the importance of the Qur'an for prayers, Islamic law and folk traditions and get an impression of the sound of the Qur'an in the daily lives of Muslims and the role the Qur'an plays in Islamic art and architecture. In the second part of the semester we will approach the interpretation of the Qur'an as one of the Islamic disciplines of knowledge and study the particular interpretations of Qur'anic verses on issues such as prophets, eschatology, jihad, women, Jews and Christians. At the end of this course students should be able to recognize the central role of the Qur'an as a text and source for Muslims and place the Qur'an in its religious, historical and social context; have become familiar with the structure, language and interpretation of the Qur'anic text; and approach literature on Islam and Muslims critically and recognize different theoretical approaches. Instructors: Pregill Credits: 4 semester hours |  |
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