YUSUF ISLAM — from Cat Stevens

Based on the documentary on the musician, comment on Cat Stevens’ experience.

 

MASJID REPORTS — drafts, 11/8/07

Post the draft copy of your masjid ethnographic report here.

 

COMMENTARY ON TEN SURAHS, due Sunday 11/11/07

Read the following short surahs. Find a common theme in them. It can be on the relationship between Humanity and Faith, Human Beings and the Creator, Divine Help, Guidance, Revelation, The Day of Judgement, Inner Peace, Chaos and Complexity, the nature of Good and Evil, Muhammad as messenger, etc. Write a 750-word essay (3 pages) on the theme of your choice. In your essay, include a discussions section that relate your personal experience as an “evolving spiritual being” to the theme of your choice. Cite verses from the surahs to support your essay:

1. AT-TIN (THE FIG, THE FIGTREE)
2. AL-ALAQ (THE CLOT, READ)
3. AL-QADR (POWER, FATE)
4. AL-BAYYINA (THE CLEAR PROOF, EVIDENCE)
5. AZ-ZALZALA (THE EARTHQUAKE)
6. AL-ADIYAT (THE COURSER, THE CHARGERS)
7. AL-QARIA (THE CALAMITY, THE STUNNING BLOW, THE DISASTER
8. AT-TAKATHUR (RIVALRY IN WORLD INCREASE, COMPETITION
9. AL-ASR (THE DECLINING DAY, EVENTIDE, THE EPOCH)
10. AL-HUMAZA (THE TRADUCER, THE GOSSIPMONGER)