Topics
in Islamic Religion: The Qur'an
Religious
Studies 545
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Course
Description
This
is a seminar on the Islamic scripture for readers of Arabic. We
will read selections from the Qur’an with the concise traditional
commentary of al-Jalalayn. We will begin by reading together the
Fatihah and one other short chapter (al-’Asr) of
the Qur’an. Each week thereafter, in the first part of the
course, is devoted to a theme or problem rising from separate Qur’anic
verses. The verses will be read along with samples of exegesis from
various approaches (historical, legal, grammatical, sectarian, mystical,
and modernist).
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Course
Requirements
- Preparation
of the texts (Jalalayn and tafsir) for each session.
- Seminar
paper and presentation in the second half of the semester.
Suggestions
for paper topics: Explore a particular Qur’anic theme through
a variety of commentaries; Discuss one methodological approach in
Qur’anic exegesis; Analyse a narrative on the basis of literary
style, comparative content, and how the narrative functions in Islamic
thought.
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Textbooks
Unless
otherwise stated, all textbooks are available at the Penn Book Center,
3726 Walnut Street 
Telephone 222-7600
- W.M.
Watt, Bell’s Introduction to the Qur’an (Columbia
University, 1970)
- Mahmoud
M. Ayoub The Qur’an and Its Interpreters, Vol. I and
II (SUNY, 1984)
- Yusuf
‘Ali, trans., The Holy Qur’an with Medinan Arabic
text and English commentary by ‘Ali and revised by Isma’il
al-Faruqi (Amana Publications, 1989).
- Th.
Cleary, The Essential Qu’ran (optional)
- Tafsir
al-Jalalayn will be provided in photocopy supplements. It
is written by the "Two Jalals:" Jalal al-Din al-Mahalli
(1389-1459) began the work and then Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (1445-1505)
completed it. On the latter see E.M. Sartain, Jalal al-Din
al-Suyuti, 2 vols. (Cambridge, 1975).
- Edward
Lane translated some of Jalalayn into English, entitled Selection
from the Kuran (1843), in Van Pelt Special Collections (Forrest
BP110.L3.1843) but it is cursory, at best.
The
assigned textbooks (Watt and Ayoub )are to be consulted throughout
the course.
Click
here for a listing of suggested readings
and resources
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Course
Outline
Week
I:
Introduction
and Syllabus Handout Fatihah and al-’Asr from
al-Jalalayn
- Selection
of thematic portions for class discussions
Week
II:
Lecture:
"A Consideration of Qur’anic Language: Al-’Arabiyah
and Diglossia"
Reading:
- W.M.
Watt, Bell’s Introduction to the Qur’an, pp.
57-86
- Surat
al-Fatihah (1)
- Surat
al-’Asr
Week
III:
Lecture:
"The History of the Collection of the Qur’an and Its Tartib.
Abrogation in the Qur’an (al-naskh wa al-mansukh)"
Reading:
- W.
M. Watt Bell’s Introduction to the Qur’an, pp.
86-107
- Surat
al-Hujirat 49:13 "We have created you male and female
and have made you nations and tribes..."
Week
IV:
Lecture:
"The Schools of Qur’anic Commentary. Sirah Elements
in the Qur’an"
Reading:
- W.
M. Watt, Bell’s Introduction to the Qur’an, pp.
167-172 and M. Ayoub, The Qur’an and Its Interpreters,
Vol. I, "Introduction."
- Surat
al-Nur, Ayat al-Nur 24:35 "God is the light of the heavens
and earth"
Week
V:
Lecture:
"The Recited Qur’an and Rules for Tajwid"
Reading:
- Selection
from K. Nelson, The Art of Reciting the Qur’an
- Charts
from tajwid manual
- Surat
al-Baqarah 2:275-281 "Those who devour usury will not
stand..."
Week
VI:
Lecture:
"The Shi’i Tradition and Imami Tafsir"
Reading:
- Begin
Surat al-Baqarah 2:217-242 "They ask you concerning
the sacred months...wine and gambling...menstruation" Legal
foundations, core marriage and family verses
Week
VII:
Reading:
- Surat
al-Naml 27:15-44 "We gave knowledge to David and Solomon...I
found there a woman ruling over them" The question of "Isra’iliyat,"
the Queen of Sheba, and the Yemen
To
the end of the term: Student presentations of seminar papers and
discussions
The
schedule of text reading is flexible and will depend on the length
of discussion. Remember that Qur’anic interpreters are prolific:
Sadr al-Din al-Qunawi’s (d. 1274) tafsir of the seven
verses of the Fatihah, entitled I’jaz al-bayan fi
ta’wil Umm al-Qur’an (Hyderabad, 1949), is 408 pages
in the printed edition.
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