The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the two principal textual sources of Islam: The Qur’an and Hadith. Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the Word of God sent to Muhammad to guide humanity. The Hadith is the documentation to Muhammad’s lived experience of the Qur’an and forms the first exegesis of the Qur’an. This course covers their history, codification, structure, content and style and their relation to each other. It also covers their importance in Muslim law, ethics, theology and society and their significance in the modern world.  Contemporary issues such as jihad, feminist reading, religion, marriage, modernity etc. will be looked at through the prism of scripture.

On successful completion of the module a student will be able to:

• Know and demonstrate a detailed understanding of the historical and conceptual significance of the Qur’an and Hadith both from the study of Muslim and orientalist sources
• Relate knowledge of sacred text to lived experience by exploring Muslim critical reflections of their own sacred texts.
• Analyse and appraise form, content and structure of sacred text through careful and meticulous study of the Qur’an and Hadith
• Develop innovative readings of sacred text through constructive participation in group discussions

• Informal lecturing
• Audio-visual resources
• Reading of selected printed material for class discussion

• Communication skills using a range of approaches such as group discussions
• Information management skills (retrieval, evaluation, analysis)
• People skills such as team/group working, recognition of diversity)
• Personal skills (time management, personal responsibility and the ability to continue learning)

• A summative essay of 2000 words (50%)
• An exam lasting 1.5 hours at the end of Spring semester (50%)

The opportunity for reassessment in this module will consist of

• A summative essay of 2000 words (50%)
• An exam lasting 1.5 hours during the August resit period (50%)

Semester 1

1. Introduction the Qur’an: it’s importance and significance in Islam
2. Qur’anic Revelation and the structure of the Qur’an
3. Compilation, Canonization and Themes
4. The Exegetical Tradition
5. Prophets in the Qur’an: Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus
6. Qur’an and Shari’a law
7. Qur’anic ethics and warfare
8. Soteriology in the Qur’an
9. Qur’an and the modern Muslim
10. Qur’an and Western Orientalist Studies

Semester 2

1. Introduction to Hadith: It’s importance and significance in Islam
2. A walkthrough of the Sahih al-Bukhari
3. History and canonization of Hadith: Muslim view
4. History and canonization of Hadith: Orientalist view
5. Authentication of Hadith: al-Tirmidhi
6. Authentication of Hadith: GHA Juynboll
7. Muslim opposition to the Hadith: From Mu’tazilites to progressive Muslims
8. Female scholarship and feminist reading of Hadith
9. Selected readings: ethics
10. Selected reading: law

Brown, Jonathan AC. Misquoting Muhammad: the challenge and choices of interpreting the Prophet’s legacy, (Oxford: Oneworld Books, 2014).

Brown, Jonathan AC. Hadith: Muhammad's Legacy in the Medieval and Modern World. Oneworld Pubns Ltd, 2009.

Ernst, Carl W. How to Read the Qurʼan: A New Guide, with Select Translations. UNC Press, 2011.

Lucas, Scott C. ‘Major Topics of the Hadith.’ Religion Compass 2, no. 2 (2008): 226-39.

Mattson, Ingrid. The Story of the Qur'an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life.  Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2008.

Robinson, Neal. Discovering the Qurʼan: A Contemporary Approach to a Veiled Text. Georgetown University Press, 2003.

Azami, M Mustafa. On Schacht's Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence. King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and New York), 1985.

Barlas, Asma. " Believing Women" in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur'ān. University of Texas Press, 2002.

Cleary, Thomas. The Essential Koran: Heart of Islam, The. HarperCollins, 1994.

Cragg, Kenneth. "The Event Of the Qur'an: Islam in Its Scripture." London: Allen and Unwin, 1971.

Esack, Farid. The Qurʼan: A User's Guide: A Guide to Its Key Themes, History and Interpretation. Oneworld Pubns Ltd, 2005.

Goldziher, Ignaz. "Muslim Studies. 2 Vols." Translated by CR Barber and SM Stern. Edited by SM Stern. London: Allen 86 (1967): 1968-71.

Haleem, MA Abdel. The Qur'an. Oxford University Press, 2005.

———. Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Styles. Vol. 1: IB Tauris Publishers, 1999.

Kamali, Mohammad Hashim. A Textbook of Hadith Studies: Authenticity, Compilation, Classification and Criticism of Hadith. Islamic Foundation, 2005.

Kenney, Jeffrey T., and Ebrahim Moosa, eds. Islam in the Modern World, London and New York: Routledge, 2014.

McAuliffe, Jane Dammen. The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an. Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Motzki, Harald. "Dating Muslim Traditions: A Survey." Arabica 52, no. 2 (2005): 204-53.

Rahman, Fazlur. Major Themes of the Qur'an. University of Chicago Press, 2009.

Rippin, Andrew. The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an. John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

Sardar, Ziauddin. Reading the Qur'an: The Contemporary Relevance of the Sacred Text of Islam. Oxford University Press, 2011.

Schacht, Joseph. The Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence. Clarendon Press Oxford, 1950.

Shareef, Abdul-Kader A, and Gerald R Hawting. Approaches to the Qur'an. Routledge, 1993.

Siddiqi, Muhammad Zubair, and Abdal Hakim Murad. Hadith Literature. Islamic Texts Society, 1961.

Stowasser, Barbara Freyer. Women in the Qur'an, Traditions, and Interpretation. Oxford University Press, 1994.

Websites

General Resources on Islamic Studies

http://islam.uga.edu/

The Qur'an and Qur'anic Interpretation (tafsir)

http://islam.uga.edu/quran.html

Hadith and the Prophet Muhammad

http://islam.uga.edu/hadith.html