Course Syllabus
PHR-126 The Islamic Scriptures
Semester and year: SPRING 2010
Instructor: Professor A. Rahman
Email Address: aar26@columbia.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:10 – 4:30 TECH-106
Course Description
The Islamic Scriptures is an introductory study of the origins, content, and meaning of the primary sacred text of Islam, the Koran (Qur’an). The relationship between the Koran and the Hadith (a record of the sayings and actions of Muhammad) will also be discussed. Discussions on the relationship between the scripture, the self, spirituality, and social relations of production will form the basis of this study. The approach to the reading of the Quran will be hermeneutic (in text and context) and phenomenological (process of revelation and the psycho-social relations.
3 lectures, 3 credits
General Education Course – Humanities Elective
Student Learning Objectives:
As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be able to
1. identify and discuss, both orally and in writing, the historical,
cultural, and religious background and development of Islam;
2. identify the major teachings and themes in the Koran and Hadith
and explain their historical and theological significance;
3. identify the various Islamic traditions and explain the
differences between them;
4. identify and explain the major differences between Islam and
other major religions;
5. identify and explain the ways in which Islam has shaped the
development of social, political, literary, and cultural institutions in the Islamic world; and
6. state and support their own views on issues in textual criticism and interpretation, both orally and in writing, and with logical and critical precision, clarity, and rigor.
In pursuit of the foregoing objectives, the course is based on the reading and discussion of both primary and secondary texts on Islam; the basic principles and methods of critical thinking are introduced; students are encouraged to participate actively in class discussions; and students are required to do substantial expository and critical writing in response to the material presented in the course.
Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials
Irving, T.B. The Qur’an: The Noble Reading.
An-Nawawi, Yahia bin Sharaful-Deen. Forty Hadith. (ONLINE)
Emerick, Yahiya. Understanding Islam
ONLINE RESOURCES:
Writing and Critical Thinking Requirement(s)
Because PHR-126 is a General Education course, it requires students to complete a variety of critical thinking and writing assignments. These assignments may include class and online discussions and debates requiring the application of critical thinking skills, short in-class essays, out-of-class writing projects (journals, research papers, argument-analysis papers, book reviews, etc.), tests and examinations containing essay components, and so forth.
Grading Policy
A student’s final grade for the course is based primarily on his or her performance on the required work for the course (writing assignments, examinations, class presentations, etc.) and on his or her overall mastery of the material covered in the course. A student’s class participation may also be evaluated, and the grade thereon may be used as a factor in determining the student’s final grade for the course; but a class participation grade will count for no more than twenty percent (20%) of the final grade.
Attendance Policy
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
COURSE OUTLINE AND CALENDAR
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change, depending upon the progress of the class.
Week /Date(s) /Topic/Activity/Assignments/Required Reading
WEEK #1
The Historical, Cultural, and Religious Background and Development of Islam
Emerick, Selections from the Koran
WEEK #2
The Life and Work of Muhammad
Emerick, Selections from the Koran
WEEK #3
The Formation of the Koran
Emerick, Selections from the Koran
WEEK #4
Major Themes and Teachings in the Koran
Emerick,Selections from the Koran
WEEK #5
ONLINE SESSION I
Major Themes and Teachings in the Koran, continued
Emerick, Selections from the Koran
WEEK #6
Major Themes and Teachings in the Koran, continued
Emerick, Selections from the Koran
WEEK #7
Major Themes and Teachings in the Koran, continued
Emerick, Selections from the Koran
WEEK #8
Emerick, Selections from the Koran
Mid-Term Examination
WEEK #9
ONLINE SESSION #2
The Formation of the Hadith and their Relationship to the Koran Emerick, Selections from the Hadith
WEEK 10
SPRING RECESS
Major Themes and Teachings in the Hadith. The Institutional and Legal Development of Islamic Society
Emerick, Selections from the Hadith
WEEK #11
Major Themes and Teachings in the Hadith. The Institutional and Legal Development of Islamic Society
Emerick, Selections from the Hadith
WEEK #12
Varieties of Islam: Sunnis, Shi’ites, Sufis, and others
Emerick, Selections from the Hadith
MASJID REPORT DUE
WEEK #13
The Development of Islamic Thought and Scholarship
Emerick, Selections from the Hadith
WEEK #14
WORK SESSION
Special Topics: The Scriptures in Contemporary America
Emerick, Selections from the Hadith
FINAL PAPER DUE
WEEK #15
Final Exam/
Final Paper Presentations
ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION
Exams …………………………….…………………30 %
Online Assignments ……………………………….20%
(participation in weekly Class Website assignments)
Chapter Presentations……………………………..10 %
(group PowerPoint presentation of assigned topics)
Final Paper ………………………………………….20 %
(individual paper on a selected topic)
Masjid Visit Report………………………………….20 %
(5-6 page group report on a visit to a masjid)
TOTAL………………………………………………100 %
I. FINAL PAPER: ISLAM IN AMERICA PROJECT
(7-8 pages, excluding bibliography page and appendix)
Below are suggested themes (focusing on Islam in America) that may be of help in writing your paper.
1. Islam in America; From Columbus to the Congress
2. Early Muslims in America
3. Thomas Jefferson’s Koran
4. Islam and the American democracy
5. After 9/11: Perceptions and Reconciliations
6. Islam and Inter-faith Marriage
7. Islam and Prison Education
8. Becoming a Muslim: Narratives
9. Islam and Middle-America
10. Feminism and Islam
11. Future of Islam in America
12. The “American” Muslim
13. Islamic Schools
14. Biographies of American Islamic converts
15. Masjids and Cultural/National Character
16. Jihad and its Dimensions
17. Nation of Islam: A Study
18. Islam and Urban Music
19. Islam in the American Public Schools
20. Islam and Public Image through Signs and Symbols
21. Islamic Enclaves in America
22. Islam and Contemporary Moral Issues
23. Islam and Modern Music
24. The Islamic School Curriculum
II. MASJID VISIT REPORT (10-15 pages), 3 per group
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: “From Scripture to Social Practice: The Masjid”
1. Choose a masjid in New York/New Jersey that has an ethnic character. (frequented by Indians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Turks, Albanian, Hispanic, Anglo-Saxon, African American, African, Chinese, etc.
2. Get in touch with the Imam. Arrange for a visit.
3. Prepare an interview protocol (guided questions) that meet the needs of the research project
4. Visit the masjid. Describe its appearance, location, visitors, inside and outside, and other physical features. Ask permission to take pictures.
5. Record the interview or take note of the main points of the interview.
6. Sit in a talk, khutbah, informal discussion, etc.
7. Meet with your group to analyze the data (interview, photos, descriptions, etc.)
8. Write the report. Use the MLA style for citation.
9. Edit your group report. Check the components
ISLAMIC SCRIPTURES: PROFESSOR A. RAHMAN 