Reading Questions
M 8 Nov
Qur'an, Suras 1–4, 12, 17, 26, 39, 56, 63, 68, 112, 114 (pp. 13–241,
544–84, 671–705, 907–34, 1179–1202, 1407–18, 1470–74, 1505–14, 1713–14,
1717–18)
If you thought Isaiah was
difficult to follow.... The Qur'an is organized in chapters
called suras. The chapters are ordered by length (with the
exception of sura 1), from longest to shortest. I suggest
that you start with the shorter suras at the end before diving into the
longer ones, 2-4. That will give you a chance to develop
strategies for reading. Try to assemble specific passages
relating to a few of the subjects below (you
need not consider them all). Please bring these notes to class to help
with the discussion (not to hand in...).
What is the attitude of the text toward other religions (and their
central texts)?
Does the Qur'an offer evidence for early Islamic history (in the same
way
the the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures do)?
What does the Qur'an have to say about heaven and hell? About good and
evil?
What does the Qur'an have to say about law? About community?
What is the ethical system of the Qur'an? How does it compare to
Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman philosophies?
What is the attitude of the Qur'an toward violence and war?
Think about the place of women in this society. Is this really a
"sexist" text? Can you find support for the opposite position?
Where does this thought system come down on the great questions:
body/spirit, individual/community, religion/government,
religion/society?