The Qur’an: Language, History, and Religion

Catalog description

The course is designed for students of History, Arabic language, and Religious Studies and aims to take students on a learning journey into the Qur’an with regard to its form, content, and impact. The course, therefore, consists of three main components which are structured around the following three areas. First, examining the Qur’an as a historical text, this course traces the formative stages of Islamic history and its role in the making of Islamic historical identity. Second, since the Qur’an constitutes the foundation upon which Modern Standard Arabic is built, the course analyzes the linguistic structure and style of the Qur’an and its uses in modern writings. Finally, the religious aspect of this course is dedicated to the introduction of the Qur’an as the key text of the Islamic faith, practices, and civilization. The course uses the Qur’an to make an analytical comparison between Islam and other monotheistic religions. The course will be taught in English.