MENA 160A1 1st Edition Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture I. Define Hadith II. Define Tradition (Sunna)III. Hadith’s Collections (Sunni & Shi’ite)IV. Study of Hadith Outline of Current Lecture V. History of the origin, collection and structure of the Qur’an, Meccan and Medinan suras (chapters) VI. Qur’an as the most reliable source of knowledge; major topics of the Qur’an VII. Role of Qur’an in Muslim Society Current LectureAn early copy of the QuranWhat is the Quran? - The word “Qur’an” is derived from Arabic verb “Qara’a” meaning to read or to recite.-Qur’an means recitation or collection of things to be recited.-Muslims also use the terms “al-Kitab” [meaning the Book] and “al-Mushaf” to refer to the Qur’an. - A laborer discovered an extensive deposit of soggy paper and parchment located in a mosque in Sana, Yemen-ended up being fragments from hundreds of ancient codices of the Quran-these are seen as a crucial new piece of evidence about the earliest history of the Quran text- This finding of these fragments (old Quran texts) lead to two important approaches to the Quran-the first approach is characteristic of Muslim piety; the Quran is a sacred object. The reason being is that the finding of the ancient texts were preserved by someone, which had to mean that the texts were very sacred-the second approach does not see the Quran as a sacred object, but an historical artifact.-another approach, although obvious is simply focusing on what the Quran statesin other words discursive text.- The Qur’an is revealed in Arabic. It is revealed in the form of rhymed prose, easier to remember than normal prose; not restricted in style as poetry or prose.-Rote memorization (hifz) and its importance in traditional Muslim societies.- During the Prophet’s life many of his companions and some of his wives had their own partial collections of the Qur’an which they used in prayers.- These early collections differed in important respects in the order of chapters (suras) and verses (ayat).- The Qur’an is a book of law and code of life.-The Qur’an plays a central role in the larger world of Muslim society in at least five realms:1. Qur’an is the ultimate authority in all matters pertaining to religion2. The Qur’an is used in liturgy: prayers, Ramadan.3. A vehicle of education: education and inculcation.4. It is part of non-liturgical social events: Invocation of the blessing of God, death of loved ones, public/political/social meetings, etc.5. Qur’an artistic uses the Art of reciting. The Qur’an text- The Islamic believed the Quran was made up of two texts: Qur’an and Sunna. -The difference between these two sources of Islamic practice is that the Qur’an is for Muslims the literal word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The normal mode of revelation was direct communication (wahy) by the angel Gabriel.How is the Qur’an set up?- The text is arranged into 114 chapters called suras.- Suras are unequal in length.- They are not arranged in a way that reveals order of revelation. Opposite of chronological order. - They are arranged by length going from longest to shortest.- They are identified by their names instead of their numbers: examples “The cow,” “The Fig,” etc.- The Qur’an is classified into Meccan and Medinan suras.- Each sura is subdivided into ayat (verses) varying from three verses to 286.- The Qur’an was revealed over a period of 22 years from 610 to 632.- On the basis of internal evidence such as change in style, idiom, and subject matter of each revealed verse, modern scholars of the Qur’an divided the Meccan period into early, middle and late periods.- Still despite many efforts to construct a chronological history of the Qur’an, this remains hard to do because there is no reliable framework for the history of its revelation.-Example of Qur’an Sura:Sura 96: 1-5Recite! In the name of thy Lord, who createth,Createth man from a clot of blood.Recite! And thy Lord is the MostBounteous,Who teacheth by the penTeacheth man that which he knewnot.Recap of Muhammad and his revelation- During one of these retreats, when he was 40, Gabriel revealed the first verse of the Qur’an to Muhammad.- Tradition reports that when revelation came to the Prophet he fell into a trancelike state.- Gabriel is said to have met the Prophet in human disguise or in his angelic form.- Muhammad did not become acquainted with the whole Qur’an at once but only with isolated sections of it over a long period.- The first revelation took place in 610.- During the Pre-Islamic period, a number of Arabs, known as Hanifs, disagreed with the idolatrous and immoral ways of the Arabs. According to Muslims Muhammad was a Hanif. - Muhammad engaged in solitary prayer and meditation in a cave on Mount Hira near Mecca.- The four leaders of Muslim community after Muhammad’s death (caliphs, see section onthe Caliphate) are all credited for initiating the process of collection.- Historians however agree that the official codex as we know it today was adopted under the third Caliph ‘Uthman (644-656) within twenty years of the Prophet’s death.Experiencing the revelations- According to Muslim sources, when receiving the revelations, those around Prophet Muhammad were able to observe his visible audible and sensory reactions. His face would become flushed, and he would fall silent and appear as if his thought far away. Hisbody would become limp, as if he was asleep, a humming sound would be heard about him, and sweat would appear on his face even on winter days. This state would last for a brief period and as it passed the Prophet would immediately recite new verses of the Qur’an. The revelation could descend on him as he was walking, sitting, riding, or giving a sermon, and there were occasions when he waited anxiously for it for over a month in answer to a question he was asked, or in comment on an event. History of the Qur’an- Eternal or Created?- Angel Gabriel (Jibril) - Prophet Muhammad (610-632) - Caliph ‘Uthman (644-56)Major themes of the Qur’an- God and His Attributes- Man as individual and man in society- Prophethood and revelation- The Prophets of the past- Creation, Nature- Eschatology, judgment day- Satan & Evil- Legal issues such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, halal (permitted) and haram (forbidden) Facts about the