This course introduces students to the Qur’an, and the hadith (words and actions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad himself). The first part of the course deals with Qur’anic topics, including: the Qur’an’s collection, transmission and preservation, variant readings, the theory of abrogation, the concept of iʿjāz (inimitability / miraculousness), and approaches to exegesis. The second part of the course will focus on hadith, which are an essential source of Islamic law and normative practice based on prophetic precedent. We survey the basic foundations of hadith studies (ʿulūm al-ḥadīth) which are essential to a well-grounded understanding of this important field of Islamic Studies, including: hadith terminology and classification, the legislative authority of the Sunna, methods of collecting and preserving hadiths, important transmitters, canonical hadith sources. The course also includes selections (in translation) from the Qur’an and hadith, and a survey of Western academic views and contemporary issues.

Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS- Islamic Studies – Foundational Fields
MAC- Islamic Chaplaincy