The Story of the Qur’an: an introductory overview
Week 1: “The Civilization of the Book”: Overview of the Islamic intellectual heritage
What understandings and approaches to religion did the Qur’an inspire?
Broad outline of the different disciplines, paradigms, and orientations of Islamic knowledge in Muslim intellectual history
Go over objectives and outline of what we will be doing this year
Week 2: Modes of revelation: How was the Qur’an revealed?
How the Prophet received and conveyed revelation
The Qur’an as an ongoing process and dialogue
Compilation of the Qur’an into a “book”
Week 3: Chronology and themes of the Qur’an
What were the themes of revelation in the different periods of the Prophet’s life?
Approaching the Qur’an through the sirah (life of the Prophet), and approaching the sirah through the Qur’an
Week 4: Interpreting and Understanding the Qur'an (the tafsir literature)
What are the different types of Qur'anic commentary (tafsir) and their approaches to the Qur'an?
What are the different methods used to understand the Qur'an?