It turns out we are almost all in religious studies! That means this is a good opportunity to do some "shop talk" from time to time - talking about why and how we study religions.
Actually, we studied sura (chapter) 1, 110, and 114. We came up with several main ideas that we can carry forward and seek to confirm or revise as we read other texts:
Sura (chapter) 1 of the Qur'an has the form of a prayer to God, combining praise and requests. It is in fact used in every Muslim formal prayer.
A key metaphor in sura 1 is that of the straight path or way that people need to follow. Let's listen for Muslims who might emphasize this metaphor.
Suras 1 and 114 point to the danger of straying from that path, and some "slinking whisperer" (traditionally Satan) seeks to lure people off the path.
People stand in need of God's help to stay on the path. That help consists of both guidance and protection from being led astray.
[Question: what does the path stand for? Is it a set of moral guidelines to follow? Or is it a spiritual quest? A path could be conceived of in many different ways.]
Instructions for next class.
Just click on the link for Th 1/17 in the schedule of classes, and follow the instructions there.
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Introduction