COMMENTARY ON SURAS 110-114, due Thursday 2/22/07

Write at least two paragraphs of commentary on the following five surahs from your T.B Irving’s The Quran: Noble Reading text. Provide a “unifying theme” for all the five surahs. Draw personal experience into the discussion, regardless of the religious/cultural background you will be coming from. How does each surah “speak” to you? In the theme you have chosen, is there a natural flow from the message of surah Al-Fatihah or The Opening? How do you relate the theme to what we have been discussing in class — self, society, spirituality, scriptures, and the signs and symbolism in Islam?

114 — Surah Al Nas/ “Mankind”

113 — Surah Al Falaq/ “Dawn”

112 — Surah Al Ikhlas/ “Sincerity”

111 — Surah Al Lahab/ “The Flame”

110 — Surah Al-Nasr/ “Divine Support”

 

Week 3 and 4: The Self in Islam (500 words) due 2/8/07 midnight

In 500 words, answer the following question:

What is the concept of the “self” in Islam. How does the self gets “transformed” based on the “message of Islam”? Provide examples from our lectures, the story of Cat Stevens, your personal experience, readings, etc. What role does the Koran play in transforming the self?

 

WEEK 2 and 3: Commentary on “Al Fatihah” , due Sunday midnight of 2/4/07

In what way is the Surah Al Fatihah meaningful to you? How meaningful would it be for “social reconstruction” and for the creation of a “just and ideal society”. Comment on each verse. Support your ideas with information from your reading, experience, and class discussions.

Your essay must be at least 500 words. Post your ideas.