ISLAMIC SCRIPTURES

WEEK 11] EXTRA CREDIT ESSAY on the HADITH/SUNNAH of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), due 4/27/06 midnight.

2006-04-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

500 word extra credit essay.

1. How is the Hadith/Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) important in the life of a Muslim?
2. Give at least five examples from An Nawawi's work "40 Hadith" (trans. E. Ibrahim & D. Jonhnson-Davies) to support you answer.
3. For Muslim, the life of Prophet Muhammad is said to be a life of "perfection". Explain.

Your answer must be in the form of a proper essay. Provide at least 3 links to the study of the Hadith/Sunnah.

WEEK 10: Comment on the video "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet"

2006-04-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

Post your comments on Thursday's video (4/13/06).

WEEK 10: FINAL PAPER on LONGER SURAHS

2006-04-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

Your final paper is a commentary of a long surah. Please post your proposals here. Explain why you had chosen the surah and how might it relate to your personal experience.

VIDEO RESOURCES ON ISLAM

2006-03-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

The following videos (available online should help us understand the respective aspects of Islam)

1. Philosophy

i. Names of Allah
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4661532452071059525&q=Things+Fall+Apart&pr=goog-sl

2. History

3. The Quraan and Hadiths

4. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

5. Practice

6. Social Transformations

7. Personal Narratives

8. Islam in America

9. Politics

10. Global Issues

WEEK 8 3/8/06 Five Suras Commentary, due 3/15/06

2006-03-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

In at least 500 words, comment on the suras below:

1oo
99
98
97
96

Integrate the themes and discuss them within the context of your study of the masjid.

WEEK 7: Islam and Transcultural Philosophies, due 3/2/06

2006-03-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

SNOW DAY! Class is online.

Based on our understanding of Islam, the Quraan, and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) comment on the article below:

http://www.ibnarabisociety.org/TreasureofCompassion.html

WEEK 6: Draft Report on "The Masjid"

2006-03-02T06:31:00.000-08:00

Post your report here.

WEEK 5: Five Suras Commentary, due 2/ 23/06

2006-02-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

Write at least two paragraphs of commentary on the following five suras:

105
104
103
102
101

Integrate the theme and discuss within the context of "The Names of Allah" (from the video we watched in class, online)

WEEK 4: Islam in the United States, due 2/21/06

2006-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

Work in your "Masjid Research" group. Do an Internet search on the following topics:

1. The History of the masjid in the United States
2. Islamic population in the United States -- composition by ethnic group and by country of origin.

Use information from the Columbia University site "Resources on Islam" in the section on the right hand side of this page.

Each answer must be at least one paragraph. Include a 'webliography' of 2 links on each topic.

REMINDER: Next week will be 'field research week/ I will communicate with you via this weblog. There will be a Week 5 Assignment I will post shortly.

WEEK 4: Ethnographic Study of a Masjid, due 2/14/06

2006-02-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

Post your the following information for your study:

1. Site
2. Proposed questions

NOTE:
The final report should have the following components:

Title
Summary
Introduction
History of the Masjid
The Imam
The Message
The Quran and the Hadith
Islam in America
Contemporary Issues and Resolutions
Conclusion
Reflection - what each group member learned
References
Appendix

Each group member must contribute 5-6 page sof information for the report.

This should be an interesting project!

WEEK 3: The Prophet Muhammad's Message (Peace Be Upon Him), due 2/13/06

2006-02-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

Comment on the message of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) based on the documentary "Empire of Faith".

WEEK 3: FIVE SURAs, due 2/13/06

2006-02-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Write at least two paragraphs of commentary on the following five suras:

110: The Flame
109: (Divine) Support
108: Plenty
107: Almsgiving
106: Quraysh

As in the previous exercise, find a central theme in all of those suras.

WEEK 2B: Four Surahs Commentary, due 2/2/06 by 5:00 p.m.

2006-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Read the surahs assigned in class (114, 113, 112, 111) . Comment on them as a whole, in relation to Surah Alfatihah (The Opening). Your discussion must also relate to what you have learned so far, as well as -- most importantly -- your own cultural background. The suras are:

114: Mankind
113: Dawn
112: Sincerity
111: The Flame

WEEK 2B: Al Fatihah, or "The Opening", due 2/2/06

2006-01-26T12:51:00.000-08:00

Read the surah "Al Fatihah" or The Opening". How do you relate the meaning of the verses to your own life?

WEEK 2A: Muhammad and the History of Islam

2006-01-26T12:48:00.000-08:00

Comment on the history of Islam and of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) . prophet of Islam.

WEEK 1: Lecture 1

2006-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

What did you learn from our first two lectures? Post your thoughts here.

1. What is Islam?
2. What is its message?
3. Why is "Islamic Scriptures" offered as a course of study in your institution?
4. Would the study of Islam be approached differently in your country?

WEEK 1: Class Introductions

2006-01-26T12:37:00.000-08:00

Let us introduce yourself.

INTRODUCTION

2005-11-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

Course Description

PHR-126 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.

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 (e.g., Sunnism, Shiism, Sufism, and others) 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 biblical 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.
Emerick, Yahiya. Understanding Islam (currently The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam).