Religion Final

Tafsir

true meaning of the Quran

Haram / al-Haram

what is forbidden

Halal

what is permissible or lawful in Islamic law

What are the main sources of Islamic law? Identify three (al-Tayyib)

Sunna Quran Qiyas

What guidelines does the Qur'an give regarding looking at the opposite gender? Discuss key terms and phrases in the Qur'anic text itself (See Qur'anic verses and their commentary in the Study Qur'an).

"lower the gaze" guard private parts

Discuss the place of esoteric/mystical exegesis in Islam. What is esoteric/mystical exegesis? Is it permissible to look for hidden, deeper meanings of Qur'anic verses? Why/Why not? (Mattson)

- Interpretation beyond plain sense of meaning - permissible so long as you don't deny the exoteric meaning

***According to the Qur'an, was Jesus crucified and killed on the cross? Explain at least two possible interpretations of Qur'anic verses on this question (Lumbard; Esack reading from last class).

- Jesus was not kill on cross, taken straight into heaven -Jesus was replaced on the cross

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? (Ghazi bin Muhammad)

- The nature of the heart is to "see" - The hear becomes darkened if a servant of God commits a sin - The heart becomes illuminated by repenting and asking for forgiveness

***Ahruf/Qira'at

-Multiple translations of something -The Q is revealed in 7 of these

Naskh

- abrogation (repeal) - used to resolve contradictions in Quranic verses

How did Muslim scholars define the proper conduct of war based on the hadith tradition? List at least five prohibitions (Dagli)

- cannot kill weak - or old people - no suicide - cannot rape - mutilate animals

***What is the theological significance of these differences? That is, what are the implications of the distinctive aspects of the Qur'anic version for how Muslims think about sin, human nature, women, and the natural world?

- people can view men as a higher power than women - if masochistic, can say women are at fault for downfall of mankind

* 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? (Mattson; al-Tayyib, "Flexibility of Texts," 1701-1703)

- personal laws do not change - human transactions and matters of public welfare are generally unaffected by the passage of time - situation is subject to change - qiyas - allows rules to adapt - reference goals of sharia

** For what purposes does the Qur'an authorize violent force? Identify at least three purposes given by the Qur'anic text. (Dagli; review Mattson 62-65)

- self-defense/ sometimes offensive war is needed in defense - when in defense of faith - you can't attack people to convert them

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 Muhammad is just a human Quran is not revelation Muslim: Quran matches Bible, therefore, stories are true If Quran contradicts Bible, Bible is corrupt/not true

**** Why is it helpful to know the historical context of a particular Qur'anic verse when interpreting it?

- tells you what an ambiguous reference might refer to - what abrogates what? - does a verse apply to us today?

In the Islamic tradition, what qualifications did a Muslim scholar need to have before they were "qualified" to interpret the Qur'an? (see handout)

- the proper intention to please God & guide others - fear of God and immediate repentance - a gifted intellect - orthodox theological views

What are the challenges in reconstructing the historical context of a Qur'anic verse? (Saeed 186189; review Mattson, pp. 27-33)

- timing of revelations is unknown - surahs have verses from multiple revelations

*** Describe the state of the preservation of the Qur'an at the time of Muhammad's death. How much had been written down? In what forms? (Mattson)

- was compiled during M's life and people wrote down bits and pieces on parchment and animal bones, and rocks - was not all in one location -these were later complied and compared with what people had memorized

Adam

-1st Human being -Father of human race -1st Muslim -Prophet

Fiqh

-Islamic law as understood by humans literal translation: "understanding"

What are some of the challenges of translating the Qur'an into English? Identify at least five challenges (Lumbard)

-Very hard to translate accurately and preserve rhyme or rhythm -Ambiguous pronouns (have to decide what the pronoun refers to)(have more than one meaning/interpretation) - word play - every translation is an interpretation - can be very hard to find exact equivalent of vocabulary words (sometimes English equivalent just doesn't exist)

Isa (Jesus)

-created by God -crucified -sent to Israelities

*** Why might two qualified sincere interpreters still disagree on the meaning of a verse?

1) disagree on wording - literal v. metaphorical 2) context (historical) 3) assessment of the situation (judgement of necessity) 4) different methodologies (ex: can we use weak hadith) 5) is the command a obligation or a recommendation?

*** When do many academic scholars think the Genesis story of Abraham in particular was written down?

6th century BC

Hawa

Eve -first woman of earth -Adam's wife

**** List examples of one Arab prophet and the people he was sent to (other than Muhammad) and three non-Arab prophets and the people they were sent to, according to the Qur'an. (Lumbard, Esack)

Arab Prophet - Hud/sent to people of 'Ad (Yemen) Non-Arab Prophet -Moses/sent to Israelite's -Jesus/sent to Israelite s -Adam

Give an example of a story about Jesus in the Qur'an that is also found in extra-Biblical material.

Breathing life into clay pigeons

Ijaza

Certificate or diploma issued by a scholar permitting a pupil to transmit a text on his authority

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? (Lumbard, Esack)

Doctrine of the Prophets: - One God - Worship God - Moral Accountability (proper conduct, morals exist) - Common Message - Every nation gets a prophet ....specific laws and rituals might change

** Assess the periodically made claim that "Islam calls upon Muslims to conquer the world." In assessing the claim, discuss the relevance of international relations in both the medieval and modern world. (Dagli; review Mattson 62-65)

Does not call for Muslims to realize dominance or even strive to spread Islam dismissed idea that Q intended for the world to be conquered by Islam

*** Explain the origin and nature of the Variant Readings of the Qur'an (qira'at): What types of variations exist in the transmitted ways of reciting the Qur'an? How significant are these differences for the meaning of the text? What is the range of opinions on the origin of these variant readings? Discuss both the standard Muslim explanation and skeptical revisionist interpretations (Mattson, von Denffe)

God gave multiple versions of the Q to accommodate dialects Why no dots? - because it is used as a memory aid - don't want anyone to read the Q skeptical - reason for different vowels is the inability of later Muslims to read ambiguous text

How is the Qur'an's version of the story of Adam and Eve consistent with its understanding of God, prophets, and humanity?

God is forgiving -God forgave Adam and Eve -Prophets make mistakes but don't make major sins -Adam ate b/c he forgot Humanity is forgetful

* Explain Muslim understandings of the previous scriptures. Which previous scriptures are specifically mentioned by the Qur'an? How do Muslims interact with them today and why?

Gospel Torah Psalms -Today's texts have been corrupted - Not used for law or theology - Not usually read - Fill in gaps of Quranic stories

Hijab (el-Fadl)

Head covering worn by some Muslim women

Al-Qaeda

Islamic Terrorist Group led by Bin Laden

Shariah

Islamic law in the ideal - what God really wants

Sufism (Renard; Ghazi bin Muhammad)

Islamic spirituality - worship God as if you saw him Sufis (is the constant remembrance of God)

Why did Thomas Jefferson purchase a copy of the Qur'an? What evidence do we have for his motivation?

Jefferson bought George Sales copy of the Quran when he was 22 years old in law school Also bought Arabic grammar book Filed with Law books Could've been bought b/c: - studying implications on law - maybe practicing his translation from Greek to Arabic?

*** How do the stories of the Prophets in the Qur'an differ from those of the Bible? (Esack)

Jesus: spoke as an infant, breathed life into clay Moses: Milk came out of his fingers

Why is Abraham so important for Muslims? What role does he play in Islamic thought?

M is a descendant of his -built the Kaba -he is neither a jew nor Christian example of a respected monotheist

Rasul

Messenger -sent to a nation to instruct them -bring a new law ex: Adam

*** Ibrahim (Abram/Abraham)

Who: Ancestor of Muhammad What: Built the Kabba When: 19th Century Where?

***Explain the five possible rulings that Muslims scholars gave to all human acts. What are they, and what type of scriptural evidence do they require? (Al-Tayyib)

Obligatory -Unambiguous -Muhammad always did it -Strong authenticity Recommended -Authenticity good be good not great -Language is ambiguous -Muhammad usually did it Permissible -No evidence Dislike -Authenticity good be good not great -Language is ambiguous -Muhammad usually did not do it Prohibited -Unambiguous -Muhammad always avoided it -Strong authenticity

Nabi

Prophet - people God talks to (but not sent) ex: Moses, Noah, Muhammad -protected from all major sins

Give an example of a Qur'anic verse that has been interpreted both exoterically as well as esoterically/mystically by Muslim scholars.

Quran 56: 75-76

How might the translation of the Qur'an by George Sale that Jefferson owned have influenced him? What evidence do we have of this possible influence?

Sale has a 200-page introduction arguing that Islam is more tolerant than Christianity in practice Jefferson approved, in theory, of a Muslim president and freedom of practice in autobiographical writings (and in influence with constitution)

*** Compare and contrast the story of Abraham in the Bible and in the Qur'an. Identify three significant similarities and three significant differences.

Similar: - married Sarah - son named Issac - ordered to sacrifice only son Different: - broke idols of his father - -Quran does not name the child whom Abraham was to sacrifice; Bible names Isaac - Abraham discusses sacrifice with son in Q

How is the Qur'anic story of Adam and Eve similar to and different from the biblical story in Genesis chapters 2 through 4? Identify three similarities and three differences in the stories.

Similarities -expelled from the garden -God created Adam with his hands -Adam is tempted by Satan, not Eve Different - Eve eats first in Bible, Quran doesn't say who eats first - No curse for mankind - Eve comes from rib of Adam in Bible, Quran does say

*** How is Muhammad similar to and different from the other prophets sent by God according to the Qur'an? (Esack)

Similarities: - protected from major sins Different: -final messenger -revealed 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. (Lumbard; Esack reading from last class).

Similarities: -heals blind -heals leper -born to a virgin Differences: -speaks as an infant -breaths life into clay - Jesus was not crucified by the Jews

When and how did the Qur'an first come to America?

Slaves in the 1500

Inimitability / I'jaz

The way in which its (Qur'an) is message is so well expressed in its linguistic medium

Hermeneutics

theories of the interpretation and understand of the Quran

Explain the statement, "Every translation is an interpretation." Give an example of a word or phrase from the Qur'anic text that can be translated in multiple ways.

This means that no translation can be exactly right because it is not the same language *** need example

*** Explain the difference between tradition-based and reason-based exegesis (Saeed, pp. 178-182)

Tradition: argues that the prophet explicitly prohibited anyone from engaging in exegesis that was not based on tradition Reason: considers views of later scholars, historical texts, and theological writings

Osama bin Laden

Who: Islamic Terrorist What: 9/11 attack, Al-Qaeda When: 1957-2011 Where: Saudi Arabia/Pakistan Majored in Business Did not study Islamic law

What guidelines does the Qur'an give regarding appropriate dress for both sexes? Discuss key terms and phrases in the Qur'anic text itself. (See Qur'anic verses and their commentary in the Study Qur'an).

Women - cover all but face and hands Men - cover navel to knees "Khimar" : veil?

Qiyas

analogical reasoning

How does the Qur'an describe treaties? (Dagli; review Mattson 62-65)

as an important dimension of Islamic law as they pertain to war and peace

*** What steps did Muslims take after Uthman to elaborate the way the Qur'an was written and thereby more fully capture its spoken form? (Mattson)

created a system of textual markers to indicate the correct grammatical endings of words and a system of dots was developed -added consonants markets -added vowel markers -- these made it look more like it would sound

Tajwid

discipline method for pronouncing the Qur'an correctly oral transmission rules of recitation when reciting the Qur'an - watched documentary about kids memorizing and going to comp. being judged on their Tajwid

Soteriology

doctrine of salvation, theory about who is saved

What challenges do the Qur'an's guidelines on looking at the opposite gender present for modern Muslims today?

dress modestly but if wearing hijab exposes women to abuse/harm then its not necessary as it is meant to protect

What range of interpretations did Muslims theologians offer regarding who will be saved in the next life? Explain the three major schools of thought, any internal diversity they may have had, and their reasoning. (Khalil)

exlusivists - only my religion goes to heaven pluralists - multiple religions can go to heaven inclusivists - other people outside of my faith might go to heaven

Fitrah (discussed previously; but see Lumbard for additional details)

human disposition to want to worship God

Which of the three major interpretations was historically the most popular? (Khalil)

inclusivism

Extra-Biblical

information or content outside of the Bible

Exegesis

interpretation of a text

Iltifat

linguistic alterations recognized as an attribute of eloquence in all forms of Arabic mainly used when shifting from 'I' to 'We' grammatical shift for rhetorical purposes

Describe the process by which many Muslims today study and become licensed to orally transmit the Qur'an to others. (See the example of Reem in Mattson)

memorize the Q with tajwid with a teacher who memorize the Q who has an isnad going back to Muhammad

Maqasid / Maqasid al-Shari'ah

objectives of the law purposes/aims of Shariah

Jizyah

poll tax on non-muslims in exchange for an exemption from military services "indemnity" or tax-like payments

Dhikr

remembrance of God (5x per day)

Occasions of Revelation (Mattson pp. 201-204, review Mattson, pp. 27-33

reports of revelations revealed to M in response to a specific incident

**Canon

set of text which a religious community regards as scripture

*** Give an example of a story about Abraham in the Qur'an that is also found in extra-Biblical material.

smashing of the idols in Kaba

Esoteric/Mystical Exegesis (Mattson)

spiritual interpretation of Q hidden meaning

Ijtihad (See Mattson, 210)

struggle to figure out what God wants

Jihad

struggle, striving, or exertion

Esoteric

the inward/hidden meaning

Exoteric

the literal meaning the outward/obvious meaning