Understanding the Qur'an Final (Ross)
Jihad
to struggle (can be in war)
Tafsir
true meaning of the Qur'an
Hijab
veil, covering of head / face / body
What are the main sources of Islamic law? Identify three.
Sunna Qur'an Qiyas
Why is it helpful to know the historical context of a particular Qur'anic verse when interpreting it?
Tells you what an ambiguous verse might refer to. What abrogates what. Does the verse apply to us today?
How do the stories of prophets in the Qur'an differ from those in the Bible?
The Bible uses prophets to fill in gaps. Not usually used for inspiration and never used for law or theology. There are stories of prophets in which they are portrayed negatively and commit sin. The Qur'an uses prophets as examples and therefore they do not commit sin and there are no negative stories about them.
Give an example of a Quranic verse that has been interpreted both esoterically and exotically by Muslim scholars. Explain both interpretations.
"None shall touch the Qur'an unless purified" Esoteric: only those who are religiously purified Exoteric: must have clean hands
What are some of the challenges of translating the Qur'an into English? Identify at least five challenges.
1.) Every translation is an interpretation. 2.) Very hard to accurately translate rhyming text. 3.) Words in different language often do not have an exact equivalence. 4.) Wordplay is impossible to translate. 5.) Rhythm is very powerful in good language and cannot really be translated and reproduced.
Summarize Muhammad's overall impact on Arabian society. Identify at least three areas of change.
1.) Monotheism from polytheism 2.) System of law based on the Qur'an from no system of law 3.) United Muslim community from warring tribes
Give a detailed overview of the major events in Muhammad's life until his first revelation.
Born is 570 CE. Mother died in 576 Grandfather died in 580. Married Khadija in 595.
How do Muslims define the proper conduct of war based on the hadith tradition? List at least 5 prohibitions.
1.) Cannot kill the weak or old 2.) Cannot torture the dead 3.) Cannot mutilate animals 4.) No suicide 5.) Cannot rape women
Muslim Quranic interpreters divided the verses into different paired categories of verses. List and explain four paired categories.
1.) Clear and ambiguous -clear can be understood without additional interpretation or reflection -only have one meaning -ambiguous requires interpretation -have many possible meanings 2.) Literary and metaphorical -literary meaning is always clear -the rational approach takes into account linguistic meaning and whether or not a metaphorical meaning may be more appropriate 3.) General and specific -general texts use certain words to indicate that they apply to a large category of things like humans -specific applies to a particular person or group of people like Muhammad 4.) Immediate and secondary -immediate is understood without needing analysis or reference to other sources -secondary must be derived by deduction or induction through references to other sources
How did Muslim scholars attempt to reconstruct the life and teachings of Muhammad centuries after he lived? How did they decide if a hadith about him was historically reliable? List at least five criteria they utilized to identify reliable reports.
1.) Demand an isnad for a report about Muhammad. 2.) Evaluate the moral character of the transmitters. 3.) Seek corroboration for a particular report. 4.) Evaluate the overall reliability of each transmitter in a chain by comparing everything they ever narrated with how others narrated those same reports. 5.) Verify that transmitters actually met or could have met because they overlapped in time. 6.) Criticize hadith based on logically impossible contents.
Why do most modern historians think that the Muslim biography of Muhammad is still probable in its general narrative? What counter-arguments do they offer to the arguments of the revisionists?
1.) No viable alternative. 2.) Very basic, non-Muslim accounts seem to line up. 3.) Many people across a huge geographical space agree despite being opposed to each other.
What are the three main problems with the traditional Muslim biography of Muhammad for modern historians? List and explain three problems.
1.) Not compiled during his lifetime. Written 150 years or more after his death. Language and meaning changes in this time. 2.) By Muslims, for Muslims. Potential for distortion both intentionally and unintentionally. 3.) Only literary sources. Nothing to corroborate the text and independently establish a timeline.
For what purposes does the Qur'an authorise violent force? Identify at least three purposes given by the Qur'anic text.
1.) Self-Defence 2.) Eviction from homes 3.) Protect faith
In the Islamic tradition, what qualifications did a Muslim scholar need to have before they were able to interpret the Qur'an?
1.) The proper intention to please God and guide others. 2.) Fear of God and immediate repentance upon the performance of a sin. 3.) Knowledge and mastery of all the relevant sources of tafsir. 4.) Knowledge of the different recitations of the Qur'an. 5.) Knowledge of the methods of interpretation. 6.) Knowledge of which verses replaced others. 7.) A gifted intellect.
Give an example of a story about Abraham in the Qur'an that is also found in extra-Biblical material.
Abraham smashing the idols.
Naskh
Abrogation, used to resolve conflict in Quranic verses
Sunna
An Islamic model for living, based on the life and teachings of Muhammad
Qiyas
Analogical reasoning (used to decide the status of things)
List examples of one Arab prophet and the people he was sent to and three non-Arab prophets and the people they were sent to according to the Qur'an,
Arab: Shu'ayb: sent to Midian Non-Arab: Jesus: sent to Israelites Moses: sent to Israelites Jonah: sent to the people of Nineveh
Give a detailed overview of major events in Muhammad's life from his first revelation until his arrival in Medina.
Began preaching openly to the Meccans in 613. Sends some of his followers to Abyssinia to seek asylum under a just Christian king in 615 due to persecution. Quraysh boycotts them in 617. Muhammad's uncle dies in 619.
What guidelines does the Qur'an give regarding looking at the opposite gender? Discuss key terms and phrases in the Quranic text itself.
Both should "lower their gaze" when looking at someone of the opposite gender. Not responsible for the first glance, but are for the second.
What guidelines does the Qur'an give regarding dress for both sexes? Discuss key terms and phrases in the Qur'an itself.
Both should be modest and cover their arwa. Man's Arwa: navel to knees (minimum) Woman's Arwa: everything except her face, hand, and feet
Give an example of a story about Jesus in the Qur'an that is also found in extra-Biblical literature.
Breathing life into clay pigeons.
How did the Qur'an first come to America?
By slaves in the 1500s.
What range of interpretations did Muslim theologians offer regarding who will be saved in the next life? Explain three major schools of thought and their reasoning.
Exclusivism: only Muslims go to Heaven Inclusivism: other religions may go to Heaven under certain circumstances -If they have never heard of Islam (Ibntayniyya) -If they never received a compelling or accurate explanation (Ghazali) -If they never finished their search (Ghazali) Pluralism: multiple religions go to Heaven
How id the Quranic version of the story of Adam and Eve consistent with its understanding of God, prophets, and humanity?
God is forgiving. Adam did not sin as he just forgot and that is consistent with prophets not committing major sins. Humanity is forgetful. Adam and Eve's actions do not impact humanity.
Why did Thomas Jefferson purchase a copy of the Qur'an? What evidence do we have for his motivation?
He bought a George Sales copy of the Qur'an for law school when he was 22. He wanted to broaden his legal studies. The evidence is because he shelved it with his legal books and more specifically in the legal religion section as opposed to the history section.
Why is Abraham so important for Muslims? What role does he play in Islamic thought?
He is an ancestor to Muhammad. He built the Ka'ba. He was neither Jew nor Christian. He is an example of a respected monotheist. Prophet and messenger. God makes a covenant with Abraham. This continues to Ishmael and eventually Muhammad.
How is Muhammad similar and different from the other prophets sent by God according to the Qur'an?
He is the last prophet who is the bearer of the universal message applicable to all people at all times. His message will not be forgotten or corrupted. He still has the same core message.
Which of the three interpretations was historically the most popular?
Inclusivism
What is the difference between studying religion from an insider's and outsider's perspective? Identify the methodological difference and a pro and con of each approach.
Insider: Where: mosque/seminary/church Goals: moral formation, worldview, grow spiritually, polemics and apologetics Questions: Am I allowed to do X? What should I believe about Y? How do I do Z? Language: What does God say in chapter X? Assumptions: God exists, Muhammad is a prophet, Qur'an is a revelation, miracles happen Pro: insider knowledge, know scripture well Con: bias Outsider: Where: school Goals: learn about religion, history, scripture as literature Questions: Do Muslims allow X? What do Muslims believe about Y? How do they do Z? Language: What does the Qur'an say? Assumptions: nothing is assumed or denied Pro: more objective and less biased Con: less insider knowledge and familiarity with scripture
Shariah
Islamic law of the ideal
Fiqh
Islamic law understood by humans
How does the Qur'an engage with the Bible? In what ways does it cite it, and for what purposes?
It interweaves recollections of the stories of major patriarchs and prophets into its own distinct prophetology. Paraphrases certain aspects. Used for well-known accounts of certain people.
Iltifat
Linguistic alternations that may be hard to translate as they transcend the norms of human speech.
How do the Quranic verses revealed in Mecca before the Hijra differ fro those revealed in Medina after the Hijra in their subject matter? Discuss the prevalence of legal verses in each.
Meccan verse focus more on establishing the basics of faith. There are many short symbolic stories and moral lessons. Median verses focus more on laws for professional affairs, society and state. Mainly about changes in society.
According to the Qur'an, was Jesus crucified and killed on the cross? Explain at least two possible interpretations of Quranic verses on this question.
Most Muslims do not believe that Jesus is crucified and killed on the cross. 1.) Someone else was crucified and there was a mistaken identity by witnesses. 2.) Qur'an is rejecting that Jesus is killed by the Jews. The Romans killed him.
What is the theological significance of these differences? That is, what implications of the distinctive aspects of the Quranic version for how Muslims think about sin, human nature, women, and the natural world?
No original sin. Adam and Eve's actions do not impact humanity. Equality could be argued by Muslim feminists as there is no mention of how Eve is created. May justify monasticism because Adam does not have a wife for a while. Women are a derivative of men. Adam is a role model for those who make mistakes.
Maqasid al-Shariah
Objectives of the Law Religion Life Intellect Honor Property
Explain the five possible rulings that Muslim scholars gave to all human acts. What are they, and what type of scriptural evidence do they require?
Obligatory: -Muhammad always did -Strong evidence -Pray 5x a day Recommended: -Some evidence -Muhammad sometimes did -Might be ambiguous -Adopt an orphan Permissible: -No evidence either way Dislike: -Some evidence -Might be ambiguous -Muhammad usually did not fo it Prohibited: -Strong evidence -Muhammad never did -Murder
Discuss the place of esoteric/mystical exegesis in Islam. Is it permissible to look for deeper, hidden meanings? Why or why not?
Permissible as long as you do not deny the exoteric meaning. Only can be done by certain individuals.
How does the Qur'an talk about war? When does it say it is permitted and for what purposes?
Permission to engage in warfare: 1.) Self-defense 2.) Eviction from homes 3.) Preserve the worship of God by Christians, Jews, and Muslims
How did Muslim jurists seek to adapt the Qur'an's message, initially given to Muhammad's community in seventh-century Arabia, to new times and places?
Personal laws do not change. Human transaction and matters of public welfare stay consistent through time. Situation is subject to change. Reference goals of Sharia. Qiyas allows goals to adapt.
What does the Qur'an say about domestic violence? What do the Hadith say? what conclusions have Muslim scholars drawn from both?
Qur'an: love spouse, no harm, mutuality Hadith: Muhammad did not support, helped victims Very against domestic violence.
I'jaz
Refers to the fact that the Quran is inimitable and thus, in theory, cannot have been produced by human beings and is also untranslatable
What challenges do the Qur'an's guidelines on looking at the opposite gender present for modern Muslims today?
Requires women to dress modestly and wear a hijab however this may expose women to abuse in America so it is being argued that they should not wear them as the whole point is to help protect woken. Also, most mainstream websites, media, and TV ddonot accommodate them.
How might the translation of the Qur'an by George Sales that Jefferson owned have influenced him? What evidence do we have for this possible influence?
Sale had a 200-page introduction arguing that Islam was more tolerant than Christianity in practice. This resulted in Jefferson saying that there will not be religious tests in office and protecting religious freedom and practices.
Compare and contrast the story of Abraham in the Bible and Qur'an. Identify three significant similarities and three significant differences.
Similarities: 1.) Sacrificed a son. 2.) Had a son named Isaac. 3.) Married to Sarah. Differences: 1.) Abraham and Ishmael built the Ka'ba in Mecca in the Qur'an. 2.) Abraham breaks idols in Qur'an. 3.) An ancestor of Muhammad in Qur'an.
How is the Quranic story of Adam and Eve similar and different from the biblical story in Genesis chapters 2 through 4? Identify three similarities and differences in the stories.
Similarities: 1.) Satan deceives them into eating the fruit. 2.) Become aware of their nakedness. 3.) God created Adam. Differences: 1.) Eve ate the fruit first in the Bible and then convinces Adam to eat it whereas in the Qur'an it does not say. 2.) No curse for mankind in the Qur'an. 3.) Eve is made out of Adam's rib in the bible but is not mentioned where she comes from in the Qur'an.
Compare and contrast the story of Jesus in the Bible and in the Qur'an. Identify three significant similarities and three significant differences.
Similarities: 1.) son of Mary 2.) virgin birth 3.) healing the blind and lepers Differences: 1.) Not the son of God according to the Qur'an. 2.) Jesus is created in the Qur'an 3.) Was not crucified according to the Qur'an
How have Muslims and critical academics explained the similarities and differences between the Qur'an's stories of the prophets and those of the Bible?
Skeptical explanation: Muhammad hears some of these stories through circulation and puts them in the Qur'an. Muslim explanation: Qur'an matches the Bible when it really happened. Qur'an disagrees with the Bible when it has become corrupted. Qur'an agrees with extra-Biblical literature when it really happened.
Explain Muslim understandings of the previous scriptures. Which previous scriptures were mentioned specifically by the Qur'an? How do Muslims interact with them today and why?
The Qur'an mentions the Torah, Gospels, and Psalms. They believe they are partially preserved, forgotten, and corrupted. they are used to fill in gaps in prophetic stories, but never used for law or theology.
How did Muslims define a good interpretation of the Qur'an that uncovers the true meaning? That is, how did they think a sincere believer could be guided by the Qur'an rather than manipulating it?
The best interpretation of the Qur'an is the Qur'an as it is flawlessly reliable. One can better understand the Qur'an and can be guided by studying the words, understanding it linguistically, and considering the way different parts of the Qur'an relate to each other.
How have the Qur'an's guidelines on dress for men and women be interpreted by Muslim scholars? Discuss the range of interpretations given by scholars in both the pre-Modern Muslim world and in modern Western societies. List at least two arguments per interpretation.
To give and show respect. A manifestation of submission. Regulating sexuality and limits distractions. Improved marriages and focus on relationships and less likely to cheat. Teaches shame. Identity politics. Social pressure.
What is the Qur'an's prophetology? That is, what do prophets and messengers do according to the Qur'an, why are they sent, and what common teachings did they bring to humanity?
They are people that God sends with a message to the community. They do not commit major sins. They teach people to worship the one God as well as moral accountability. God sends messengers to deliver the message and then sends prophets to remind people and avoid corruption of the message.
Discuss how Muslim scholars sought to deal with the problem of multiple interpretations of the same Quranic verse.
They use abrogation and looked at what group the verse was targetted to. Legal interpretations by qualified scholar should be respected even if you do not agree. Only may be excommunicated by going against clear and unambiguous scripture.
How did the Quraysh respond to Muhammad's preaching? What parts of his preaching did they find problematic and why?
They used violence and persecuted Muslims. They taunted and mocked Muhammad. They were nervous about the end of idolatry due to its supernatural connection. Economy could suffer due to the Ka'ba. Potentially threatening new social unit and leader.
What are the challenges in reconstructing the historical context of a Qur'anic verse?
Timing of revelations is unknown. Surahs have verses from multiple revelations.
What is the nature of the human heart according to Prince Ghazi? How does the human heart become darkened? What can humans do to illuminate their hearts?
True nature of the heart is to "see". Becomes darkened by sin. Repenting and forgiveness can illuminate it.
Explain the significance of abrogation for interpreting the Qur'anic verses on violence and peace. What is the majority view?
Verses permissive of conflict "abrogate" or cancel the binding force of those verses that discourage or limit it. Most jurists accept that abrogation exists in the Qur'an, but there is a wide range of opinion as to its scope and application.
Haram
What is forbidden in Islamic law
Halal
What is permitted in Islamic law
Adam
Who: first human being / Muslim / prophet When: the beginning of time Why: Father of the human race and the first Muslim
Abraham
Who: prophet of Islam When: 1813 BCE Where: built the Ka'ba Why: the common father to all of the people of the book
Isa (Jesus)
Who: son of Mary Why: messenger and prophet sent to the Israelites
Prophet (Nabi)
an apostle who did not necessarily come with a new revelation or law
Sufism
belief and practice of interpretation emphasising the interior path of mystical love and knowledge of God (Islamic spirituality)
Khimar
cloth that covers head or neck (scarf or turban)
Extra-Biblical
found outside the bible
Exegesis
interpretation of a text
Esoteric
inward, hidden meaning (often only known by pious people)
Exoteric
outward, obvious meaning
Arwa
private area, part that should be covered in public
Messenger (Rasul)
prophet with revelation
Dhikr
regular repetition of short prayers
Occasions of Revelation
reports of revelation revealed to Muhammad in response to a specific incident
Canon
set of texts which the religious community regards as scripture
Soteriology
study of salvation
Fitrah
the natural instinct all humans have, from birth, to know and worship God
Hermeneutics
the science of interpretation
