Religion 285 - The Qur'an and Its Controversies

An exploration of five salient controversies concerning the Qur’ān (the Islamic Revealed Book) and the role they played in the history of Islam.  We will investigate (1) how Muslims have explained the Qur’an’s own proclamation of its supernatural origin and its miraculous nature; (2) clarity and ambiguity in the Qur’an; (3) theories of language and revelation; (4) the Qur’an and violence/terrorism; the ideological use of the Qur’an; (5) Islamic feminisms; female liberation and the Qur’an. 

Spring 2026. Professor Jaffer.

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Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Emphasis on written work, readings, independent research, and oral presentations.