SURAH ANALYSIS #2: due Thursday 10/7/10 midnight

Comment on the following surahs (chapters).  Your essay must be at least 500-words. Find a common theme in all the short surahs.

1. AN-NAS (MANKIND)

Total Verses: 6
Revealed At: MAKKA

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In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

114.001
YUSUFALI: Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind,
PICKTHAL: Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
SHAKIR: Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men,

114.002
YUSUFALI: The King (or Ruler) of Mankind,
PICKTHAL: The King of mankind,
SHAKIR: The King of men,

114.003
YUSUFALI: The god (or judge) of Mankind,-
PICKTHAL: The god of mankind,
SHAKIR: The god of men,

114.004
YUSUFALI: From the mischief of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper),-
PICKTHAL: From the evil of the sneaking whisperer,
SHAKIR: From the evil of the whisperings of the slinking (Shaitan),

114.005
YUSUFALI: (The same) who whispers into the hearts of Mankind,-
PICKTHAL: Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind,
SHAKIR: Who whispers into the hearts of men,

114.006
YUSUFALI: Among Jinns and among men.
PICKTHAL: Of the jinn and of mankind.
SHAKIR: From among the jinn and the men.

2. AL-FALAQ (THE DAYBREAK, DAWN)

Total Verses: 5
Revealed At: MAKKA

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In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

113.001
YUSUFALI: Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn
PICKTHAL: Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak
SHAKIR: Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn,

113.002
YUSUFALI: From the mischief of created things;
PICKTHAL: From the evil of that which He created;
SHAKIR: From the evil of what He has created,

113.003
YUSUFALI: From the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads;
PICKTHAL: From the evil of the darkness when it is intense,
SHAKIR: And from the evil of the utterly dark night when it comes,

113.004
YUSUFALI: From the mischief of those who practise secret arts;
PICKTHAL: And from the evil of malignant witchcraft,
SHAKIR: And from the evil of those who blow on knots,

113.005
YUSUFALI: And from the mischief of the envious one as he practises envy.
PICKTHAL: And from the evil of the envier when he envieth.
SHAKIR: And from the evil of the envious when he envies

3. AL-IKHLAS (SINCERITY)

Total Verses: 4
Revealed At: MAKKA

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In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

112.001
YUSUFALI: Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
PICKTHAL: Say: He is Allah, the One!
SHAKIR: Say: He, Allah, is One.

112.002
YUSUFALI: Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
PICKTHAL: Allah, the eternally Besought of all!
SHAKIR: Allah is He on Whom all depend.

112.003
YUSUFALI: He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
PICKTHAL: He begetteth not nor was begotten.
SHAKIR: He begets not, nor is He begotten.

112.004
YUSUFALI: And there is none like unto Him.
PICKTHAL: And there is none comparable unto Him.
SHAKIR: And none is like Him.

4. AL-MASADD (PALM FIBRE, THE FLAME)

Total Verses: 5
Revealed At: MAKKA

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In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

111.001
YUSUFALI: Perish the hands of the Father of Flame! Perish he!
PICKTHAL: The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish.
SHAKIR: Perdition overtake both hands of Abu Lahab, and he will perish.

111.002
YUSUFALI: No profit to him from all his wealth, and all his gains!
PICKTHAL: His wealth and gains will not exempt him.
SHAKIR: His wealth and what he earns will not avail him.

111.003
YUSUFALI: Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of Blazing Flame!
PICKTHAL: He will be plunged in flaming Fire,
SHAKIR: He shall soon burn in fire that flames,

111.004
YUSUFALI: His wife shall carry the (crackling) wood – As fuel!-
PICKTHAL: And his wife, the wood-carrier,
SHAKIR: And his wife, the bearer of fuel,

111.005
YUSUFALI: A twisted rope of palm-leaf fibre round her (own) neck!
PICKTHAL: Will have upon her neck a halter of palm-fibre.
SHAKIR: Upon her neck a halter of strongly twisted rope.

5. AN-NASR (SUCCOUR, DIVINE SUPPORT)

Total Verses: 3
Revealed At: MADINA

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In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

110.001
YUSUFALI: When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory,
PICKTHAL: When Allah’s succour and the triumph cometh
SHAKIR: When there comes the help of Allah and the victory,

110.002
YUSUFALI: And thou dost see the people enter Allah’s Religion in crowds,
PICKTHAL: And thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops,
SHAKIR: And you see men entering the religion of Allah in companies,

110.003
YUSUFALI: Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy).
PICKTHAL: Then hymn the praises of thy Lord, and seek forgiveness of Him. Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy.
SHAKIR: Then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness; surely He is oft-returning (to mercy).

 

SURAH ANALYSIS #1: Al Fatihah, due 10/3/10 Sunday midnight

Write a 500-word critical commentary of the first surah, Al-Fatihah (The Opening).

Below are translations of the Al Fatihah (The Opening).

Provide an integrative analysis.

Essentially provide a response based on your own unique here and now reader-response (hermeneutic) experience — as a Muslim, Christian, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, etc.

AL-FATIHA (THE OPENING)

Total Verses: 7
Revealed At: MAKKA
Maududi’s introduction

001.001
YUSUFALI: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
SHAKIR: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

001.002
YUSUFALI: Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
PICKTHAL: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
SHAKIR: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

001.003
YUSUFALI: Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
PICKTHAL: The Beneficent, the Merciful.
SHAKIR: The Beneficent, the Merciful.

001.004
YUSUFALI: Master of the Day of Judgment.
PICKTHAL: Master of the Day of Judgment,
SHAKIR: Master of the Day of Judgment.

001.005
YUSUFALI: Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
PICKTHAL: Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
SHAKIR: Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.

001.006
YUSUFALI: Show us the straight way,
PICKTHAL: Show us the straight path,
SHAKIR: Keep us on the right path.

001.007
YUSUFALI: The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
PICKTHAL: The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
SHAKIR: The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.

 

CLASS INTRODUCTIONS, due Sunday 10/3/10 midnight

Introduce yourself and write about your understanding of Islam and your expectations for this course.

 

ISLAMIC SCRIPTURES — FALL 2010

Course Syllabus

PHR-126 The Islamic Scriptures
Semester and year: Fall 2010
Instructor: Professor A. Rahman
Email Address: aar26@columbia.edu

Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:20 – 4:30            WEST-316

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