Islamic Sura Summaries and Study Questions

Guide us to the straight path

The path of those whom You have favoured, 

Not of those who have incurred Your wrath,

Nor of those who have gone astray.

 - The Exordium

When studying the Koranic Suras, it is important to keep in mind that many Muslims believe that study of the Koran can only be done in the original Arabic - the language in which Allah, through which Arch-Angel Gabriel dictated the "Recitation" or "Qu'ran".  Thus, to claim that the study of these passages is truly a study of the Koran can be considered inaccurate.  Nonetheless, given the difficulties of translation, it is hoped that these selected passages will give students a notion of some of the themes and structures found within this Islamic Sacred Text.

Some students may wish to pursue other translations for purposes of comparison.  Those students may find the following site from USC to be very useful and informative.
 
Purpose:
This project is a thematic investigation of seven Koranic suras.  Students will work independently to find themes in each of the suras and then summarize them in one word each, with a paragraph of explanation and justification for their choice.  In some cases the justification may be longer than the sura itself.
 
Materials and Set-Up (What you will need to get ready):
  
 A. The Seven Suras  - (see the link below)
You can use other copies of these suras, other translations.  The specific suras I have chosen have been selected on the basis of brevity and readability.  These are NOT considered the most important of the Suras (with the exception of the Exordium), nor have they been selected on the basis of any ideological basis.  They have been selected for their allusions to extra-Koranic elements.  The seven required suras are: The  Exordium (1),  The Cessation (81), Man (76), The Merciful (55),  Noah (71), The Romans (30) and Maryam (19).  These last two are excerpted, not complete versions of the suras.  Additional suras for further reading and comparison are included but do not have to be addressed in the assignment:  The Earthquake (99), The Cataclysm (82),War Steeds (100), Daybreak (113),and Men (114).  Use this link to download them.

B. Study Questions:                                                                       Listed below are focus questions for each of the suras.  These may or may not be quizzed upon, but reflection on them can help understanding the themes and interpretations of these passages.

The Process (what you need to do):

     Download the Suras - Read through them.  You may use the translation I have provided or ones you obtain from other sites.  Be sure to use the same suras, however.    

      Study Questions (see below) - Take a look at the study questions. You may answer them if you wish but they will not be collected.  They are merely provided to assist in focusing you on the central themes of the passages. 

     One-Word Summaries - For each of the ten passages, summarize the main idea or theme in one word.  You may not use the same word as the title (most of which would not be appropriate anyway: for example "Noah" is not about the story of Noah.)  And, although there may be many similar themes, you may not repeat words between each of the ten. Your goal is to determine the primary theme or idea of each one and capture it in one word only.  Each single word which is appropriate will receive 1 pt. (7 pts. total)

     Justification - Write a full paragraph supporting your choice of word.  If your paragraph is convincing, even if it is not what I had in mind, you will receive credit.  Be warned, no additional verbal persuasion for your choice will be accepted.  If you have justification, put it in the paragraph - I will not accept oral arguments on your behalf for this assignment.  Paragraphs need to be properly constructed (grammar, spelling, syntax, etc.)  Each paragraph will receive 2 points (14 pts. total).

      Turn It All In - There will be a quiz on the material in which you will be able to use your copies of the Suras, your summaries and one-words, as well as any notes you may have taken.  Then you turn it all in. (Grand total: 21 points)

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Islamic Sura Study Questions:

 1. Exordium   - This is the opening section of the Koran.  How does it differ in style and genre from the openings of Jewish and Christian works (Genesis and Matthew, first chapters)?  Overall, does it seem to be more closely linked to the Judaic or the Christian concept of God?  Why do you think this might be?

 2. Cessation  - to what is the title and main theme referring?   Is this sura drawing more on Judaic, Christian, or tribal traditions?  What evidence can you give to support that idea?

 3. Man  - these next three suras are also closely linked thematically (Man, The Merciful, Noah) yet each one has a very different structure and emphasis. What, in "Man", indicates that this sura was written later than many of the other suras?   Which of the Five Pillars of Islam is referenced in this sura?

 4. The Merciful - What is the purpose of having a repeated phrase in this sura?  What about this sura emphasizes the geographical and cultural context in which the Suras were first presented?  What imagery in this sura is the most vivid or memorable?

 5. Noah - Why is this sura called "Noah"?  How is Noah interpreted in this passage?  What are the similarities and differences between this presentation of Noah, the presentation of Noah in Genesis and the Sumerian tale of Ut-nap-ish-tim in The Epic of Gilgamesh? 

 6. The Romans (excerpt)- What view of history is presented in this excerpt?  How does this view differ from the views of the ancient Egyptians and from the Christians?

 7. Maryam (excerpt)-  What view of Jesus and Mary are presented?  How would these views be similar to Jewish views of Jesus and Mary?  How would they be different from Christian and Jewish views of Jesus and Mary?

Optional Suras

 8. War Steeds - How would this have been viewed by the Bedouin community in Mecca?  What reference does it make to the Earthquake, Cataclysm, and Cessation suras?

 9. Daybreak - These last two here are also the last two suras of the Koran.  Why do you think they are last?  Does this diminish their importance?

 10. Men - What are jinn?  From the suras we have looked at, what characteristics do they have?

 11. The Earthquake - these two sections (Earthquake and Cataclysm) are very closely linked thematically to the sura titled: Cessation.  To what are all three referring?  How does each one place a different emphasis on the main subject?  Are these drawing more on Judaic, Christian, or tribal traditions?  What evidence can you give to support that idea?

 12. Cataclysm - (see above)