Based on Lecture 1, and the 4 news articles (PDFs), Buck 2012 (PDF), Sells 2007 (PDF) & Sachedina 2006 (PDF), answer the following questions in about 2 paragraphs each, or more, if specified by the prompt. A paragraph consists of about 5-7 sentences.
1) Based on the Module One lecture, explain what is meant by the “Muhammadi Revolution,” and then describe at least two changes that the Muhammadi Revolution brought to pre-Islamic Arabian society. After this, identify three points from the lecture that stood out to you. Make sure that these points come from different sections of the lecture as a way to demonstrate that you engaged with the entire lecture. Re-state these three points in your own words and, for each one, explain how these points expanded your knowledge about the Qur’an and/or Islam as a whole. Please note if and how each point either countered or reinforced your expectations about the Qur’an and Islam.
2) Based on the lecture and news articles on the Qur’an controversy, discuss at least three misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. For each point, counter it with information that would lead to a more accurate understanding.
3) This question should be based mainly on your reading of Sells (2007), keeping in mind that readings from this book were at the center of a national-level controversy. If you were a new undergraduate at university who did not enroll in a Qur’an class and these excerpts were included as part of your freshman orientation, required reading, what would your reaction be and why?
4) Also based on Sells (2007), describe in your own words, at least three important lessons Sell’s reading taught you about the Qur’an, its topics, its language, its sound qualities, and the meaning of its surahs. After reading Sells (2007), Buck (2012), and revisiting the news articles, discussion and lecture expand upon your initial discussion post about the Qur’an controversy. Drawing upon Buck (2012) and at least one of your classmates’ discussion posts, elaborate upon at least two new insights you have developed regarding the 2002 controversy about teaching the Qur’an. With this, discuss how the Buck (2012) and. What role did the stereotyping of the Muslims Islamophobia, and political events play in this controversy? Or, if you believe that this has nothing to do with Islamophobia, stereotyping, or politics, explain your position. In your own words, explain how controversies such as this could negatively impact teaching courses on the Qur’an or Islam in general. If yes, highlight at least one reason to support your viewpoint. Or, if you do not believe that this controversy is likely to have a negative impact on undergraduate education, explain why not.
5) Based on Sachedina (2006), explain in your own words what the Qur’an teaches us about other world religions? Then, drawing on at least two examples from the reading, discuss how the Qur’an offers a model of coexistence among Muslims and non-Muslims.