Quran: Feminist Readings

In this course we will examine the worldview, language, narratives and teachings of the Quran to begin to understand the implications of the Quranic texts on the lives of women, on gender construction and gender relations.  In the process we shall examine feminist writings on the Quran or on issues pertaining to Muslim women that relate to Quran. The course will involve an extensive and intensive critical engagement with the texts.  The insights of historical-critical method, form criticism, modernist interpretations and sufi praxis will inform our deliberations. As an intensive course, students will be expected to come to class having done the required readings and with the first draft of the course requirements.  The students will have a few weeks after the course to revise their assignments for submission.  It is imperative that students do the preparatory work or they will not be able to participate as fully in class and they will also have difficulty completing the course requirements after the course.