III. Surah of the Qur'an

Question 1

Surah al-Fatiha

Answer 1

The Opening Sura of the Qur’an as a logical argument and the story of Abraham as the everyday human rationally arguing for the idea of God.

Question 2

Surah Maryam

Answer 2

The Surah of Mary (Maryam) and many examples/incidents related to the Muslim - Christian relationship in early Islamic history

(provides connection and authority to text)

Question 3

Surah al-Kahf

Answer 3

The story of the Companions of the Cave and the significance of monotheism > allegorical structure: resisting persecution and perservering faith

Question 4

Surah Yusuf

Answer 4

The Chapter/Story of Joseph (Yusuf) and parallelism with the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

Question 5

Surah al-Noor

Answer 5

The verse of Light (Surah al-Noor, verse 35) and its metaphysical/theological and spiritual implications in the formation of Islamic world view

Question 6

themes found across surahs

Answer 6

Surahs/verses related to Jihad, monotheism, afterlife, rationality, moral life, spirituality in general