Appendix 2: Suggested Syllabus Study
Suggested Syllabuses for Quranic Study
Suggesting a syllabus of Qur'an passages for study,
individually or in study circles, presents formidable difficulties.
Firstly, what to include? An adequate or satisfactory selection is almost
impossible, short of the whole Qur'an. Every part of it has something
additional or new to say. Even the seemingly repetitive and similar
passages have their own insights to offer. A limited number of passages
can include only a limited number of themes. Every syllabus will therefore
suffer from the serious defect of omitting many more, equally or even more
important, themes. Further, any selective approach must be arbitrary, and
will reflect only the preferences of the selector, not necessarily of the
Qur'an. These limitations are very important to bear in mind while using
the syllabuses suggested here: remain conscious that whatever is omitted
is equally valuable and that you are being guided by a fallible human
being.
Secondly, where to begin, where to end, and in what order
to proceed? The only satisfactory order can be the Quranic order itself,
as revealed by Allah. But a syllabus cannot avoid changing that order, so
can the order be changed and if so on what criteria? Again, that must be
arbitrary. Any order can only be one alternative among many equally useful
ones. You may proceed by first establishing the status of the Qur'an as
Divine, and then introducing the evidence in the universe, self ,and
history; faith in Allah, iikhirah, and RiSalah; individual and
collective morality; the goal and purpose of Muslim life; the call to
Iman and Jihad, and fulfilling commitment and pledge to
Allah. Or, one may start from the basic faith. What I have preferred here
something which may be changed from situation to situation is to start by
reminding the readers of the blessings of Islam, their goal in life, and
their pledge to Allah. This is based on my understanding of how Allah
addresses 'Muslims-gone-astray' in al-Baqarah 2: 40-7.
Every circle must begin with a discussion of how to read
and understand the Qur'an. For this purpose the present book should be
helpful.
A special word about Surah al-Fatihah. It occupies a
unique place in the Qur'an, containing within it the whole world of its
essential meanings. You read it many times every day. This should
therefore form part of every syllabus. But a novice will need help a good
teacher or tafsir book to derive the necessary benefit from its study.
Wherever such help is available, it must be included in the syllabus, even
at the cost of dropping one of the suggested passages.
Also of importance are the short Surahs at the end of the
Qur'an which you read in your daily Prayers. Again, you will need help for
a proper understanding. They should be studied whenever proper resources
are available.
Two syllabuses are given here. The shorter syllabus of 12
selections should be useful as a one-year course for study circles, or,
for more intensive short duration, say a 12-week or 14-day
educational/training course, provided enough time is available for study
and preparation, or a teacher is present. It may also be used to devise
still shorter, say 5-7 day syllabuses.
With each selection I have given some and remember only
some, not all major points which you may reflect upon. Some Quranic
references are also given so that you may reflect upon them in their
light. These references, too, are by no means exhaustive, and their
relevance is based on my own understanding. As you proceed less references
are given, for it is hoped that you will become more initiated and
familiar by then.
The longer syllabus of 40 selections is intended as a
one-year course for weekly study circles.
The Shorter Syllabus: 12 Selections
One-year course for monthly circles, or short-duration
intensive courses.
1. Surah al-Hajj 22:77-8
Reflect on: life of worship and obedience; culminating
and fulfilled in Jihad; centerd on the mission of Shahadah;
purpose of being Muslim; resources of Salah, Zakah and i'tisam
bi'illah (holding fast on to Allah).
1.1 On ruku' and sujud, as acts of worship
and obedience; representing Prayers, especially during nights; as states
of the heart; and attitudes of conduct; in private and public: 2: 125; 16
49; 2: 43; 76: 26; 39: 9; 77: 48; 5: 55; 96: 19; 9: 112;
1.2 On 'Ibadah, as the purpose of creation; the
central message from Allah; total obedience and surrender; pertaining to
the whole of life; turning away from all false gods: 51: 56; 16: 36; 21:
25; 4: 36; 39: 11; 40: 66; 12:40.
1.3 On khayr, extending from the heart to each and
every part of life: 8: 70; 2: 269; 2: 180; 73: 20; 99: 7.
1.4 On Jihad, and its due: 49: 15; 8: 74; 3: 142;
9: 19-224: 95-6; 61: 11; 9: 41-5; 9:24.
1.5 On being chosen for the mission of Shahadah,
and belonging to Ibrahim: 2: 128-9; 2: 143; 6: 161-4; 3: 65-8.
1.6 On Ibrahim's uswah of Tawhid, obedience, and
sacrifice: 6: 79; 60: 4; 2: 131.
1.7 On Din, having no hardship: 5: 3-6; 2: 185; 4:
26-8.
1.8 On the mission of Shahadah: 2: 213; 33: 45; 5:
67488; 3: 187; 4: 41; 2: 159-63, 174-6.
1.9 On Salah, its importance; internal and
external conditions for its iqdmah: 2: 3; 19: 59; 70: 23, 34; 2: 238; 4:
102-3; 2: 239; 29: 45; 7: 29; 23: 2; 4: 43; 17: 78; 4: 142; 2: 43; 7: 31;
62: 9-11; 19: 55; 107: 1-7; 22:41.
1.10 On Zakah, its importance and spirit: 41: 6-7;
9: 5; 30: 39; 9: 103.
1.11 On i'tisam bi'llah: 3: 101; 31: 22; 26:
7742.
2. Surah al-Baqarah 2:40-7
Reflect on: remembering the blessing of guidance, and
others; fulfilling the pledge to Allah ('ahd); renewal of Iman;
bartering away Allah's message for trifling gains; overlaying and
distorting truth with falsehood; concealing the truth; Salah;
Zakah; collective life in Prayer; and outside; hypocrisy and
duplicity; sabr and Salah as the moral resources; faith in meeting Allah,
when nothing will avail, as their basis.
2.1 On ni'mah in guidance; in nature; in history:
5: 3; 2: 150; 5: 7; 16: 18; 3: 103; 8: 26; 5: 20.
2.2 On 'ahd: 9: 111; 48: 8-10; 7: 172; 36: 60; 33:
21-4; 5: 12-13; 3: 76-7.
2.3 On Allah's part of bargain, in this world and the
Hereafter, see additionally: 3: 139; 24: 55; 5: 66; 4: 66-9.
2.4 On summons to the renewal of Iman: 4: 136-9;
57:
2.5 On bartering Iman away for worldly gains: 5:
44; 2: 174-6.
2.6 On overlaying and confounding the truth with
falsehood, in beliefs and practices: 2: 75, 78, 79, 80, 85, 91, 94, 102,
111, 113; 5: 18.
2.7 On concealing the truth: 2: 157-63; 174-6.
2.8 On the emphasis on praying, and therefore living
wholly, with Jama'ah; congregational prayer in masjid as the
microcosm of Islamic Jama'ah: 18: 28; 9: 16-17; 24: 362114; 9:
107-8.
2.9 On discrepancy between words and deeds, especially in
da'wah: 61: 2-3; 63: 1-4.
2.10 On sabr and Salah as essential
resources for fulfilling commitment to Allah: 2: 153-7; 41: 35; 46: 35; 7:
137; 8: 46; 3: 125; 8: 65-6.
2.11 On awareness and certainty of returning to Allah and
meeting Allah as the basis of sabr and Salah: 52: 48.
3. Surah al-Muzzammil 73: 1-10 and 20
Reflect on (i'tisam bi'llah through) Qur'an
reading in night Prayers, dhikr, tabattul, tawakkul, sabr,
Salah, Zakah; infaq, istighfar.
3.1 On qiyamu 'l-layl: 32: 15-16; 39: 9-23; 51: 15-19;
17: 78-82.
3.2 On tasbih during the day as da'wah: 20:
24-33.
3.3 On dhikr as the key to tazkiyyah, all
the time, in varied forms, by heart, tongue, body, deeds, da'wah,
Jihad: 87: 15; 3: 191; 13: 28; 39: 22-3; 62: 9; 2: 150-5.
3.4 On tawakkul, as a key inner resource, based on
Tawhid; its spirit and need: 8: 2-4; 65: 3; 11: 123; 12: 67; 25: 58; 14:
i2.
3.5 On various forms of yaqulun, which require
sabr: 34: 8; 21: 5; 25: 4-5, 7; 68: 8-15; 17: 90-3; 10: 15; 17:
73.
3.6 On qard hasanah, and spending in the way of
Allah (infaq): 57: 11-16; 92: 18-21; 23: 60; 2: 264-74; 3: 92; 4:
38; 57: 10; 63: 11; 35: 29.
3.7 On istighfar as central to Allah's message,
watching, scrutiny, accountability, regretting, turning back, rewards in
this-world and that-world: 4: 110; 3: 15-17; 3: 133-6; 3: 146-8; 71: 7-12;
39: 53; 64: 17.
4. Surah al-Hadid 57: 1-7
Reflect on: everything glorifying Allah; to Him belongs
kingship; power to give life and death; power over everything; knowledge
of everything; sovereignty and rule; over time; knowledge of what lies in
hearts; summons to Iman and infaq in this context.
4.1 On Allahs attributes: 22: 18; 17: 44; 10: 31-6; 6:
59-61; 3: 154; 28: 70-2; 2: 255; 59: 22-4; 3: 25-6.
5. Surah al-Nahl 16: 1-22
Reflect on: evidence in the universe and self for
Tawhid, Akhirah and Risalah: purposeful creation; of
heavens and earth; of man; of animals; sending down of water; growing of
crops; night and day; sun, moon and stars; diversity in colours; food and
wealth from oceans; guidance through stars.
5.1 On evidence, in similar passages: 30: 17-27; 27:
59-68; 10: 1-10, 31-6.
6. Surah Ya Sin 36: 50-65
Reflect on various stages of journey beyond life: coming
of death and the last hour; resurrection; reckoning; judgement; reward;
punishment.
6.1 On Akhirah: 50: 16-35;75:20-30;18:47-9;20:
100-12; 22: 1-7; 23: 99-118; 43: 66-80; 44: 40-59; 51: 1-27.
7. Surah al-Hadid 57: 20-5
Reflect on: nature and the reality of present life;
preparedness to give life and money; for helping Allah and His Messenger;
through power; employed to establish justice among men.
7.1 On the present life and the life to come: 3: 14-15,
185: 10: 24; 18: 45; 4: 134; 17: 18-19; 42: 19-20.
7.2 On establishing justice and equity: 4: 135; 61:
9-14.
8. Surah al-'Ankabut 28: 1-10
Reflect on: the essentiality of trials and tribulations
to test Iman, and to bring success.
8.1 See 2: 155; 2: 214; 3: 140-2, 179; 47: 29-31.
9. Surah al-Anfal 8: 72-5
Reflect on the inherent and crucial link between
Iman and Hijrah, Jihad, and helping Allah's cause;
essentiality of collectivity for Jihad.
10. Surah al-Tawbah 9: 19-24
Reflect on: Iman and Jihad, together, as
the highest acts; and sacrificing everything relatives, wealth, career and
business, houses for the love of Allah, His Messenger, and Jihad in
His way.
11. Surah al-Nur 24: 47-52 and 62-4
Reflect on: obedience and response to the Messenger as
the basis of collective life established to fulfil Allah's mission.
11.1 See 8: 20-8; 49: 1-5; 58: 11-13; 9: 42-57, 62-6,
81-2; 62: 9-11.
12. Surah Al 'Imran 3: 190-200
A comprehensive summary: evidence for Allah,
Akhirah and Risalah in the creation of heavens and earth and
alternation of day and night; living a life ever-remembering Allah;
Hereafter is the goal; trust and faith in the Messenger; the implications
of faith struggle and tribulations; guidelines for collective life.
It has been assumed that the above syllabus will be
studied as part of a larger course, and hence nothing is included on the
individual and collective attributes of a Muslim's life. If not, then it
would be useful to take up additionally (a) al-Isra' 17: 23-39 (in
conjunction with al-Furqan 25: 63-77 and Luqman 31: 12-19 and (b)
al-Hujurat 49: 10-14.
The Longer Syllabus: 40 Selections
One-year course for weekly study circles
1. al-Hajj 22: 77 Life of worship; Jihad,
mission of Shahadah.
2. al-Tawbah 9: 111-1 Pledge of Iman, life
of worship.
3. al-Nisa' 4: 131- Witnessing to justice, summons
to Iman.
4. Al 'Imran 3: 102-10 Purpose of
Ummah.
5. al-Fath 48:8-1 Pledge to continue Prophets
mission.
6. al-Baqarah 2: 40-6 Call to fulfill the
pledge
7. al-Muzzammil 73: 1-10, 20 Building a
relationship with Allah
8. al-Isra ' 17: 23-39 Individual and
Collective Morality
9. al-Nahl 16: 1-11 Evidence for Tawhid,
Risalah and Akhirah
10. al-Nahl 16: 12-22 Evidence for Tawhid,
Risalah and Akhirah
11. Yunus 10: 31-6 Evidence for Tawhid and
Guidance
12. al-Hajj 22: 1-7 Evidence for
Akhirah
13. Qaf 50:1-1 Evidence for Akhirah
14. al-Mu'minun 23:99-118 Akhirah
15. Ya Sin 36: 50-6 Akhirah
16. Qaf 50: 19-35 Akirah
17. al-Zumar 39: 53-66 Preparing for
Akhirah
18. al-Hashr 59: 18-24 Preparing for
Akhirah, Allah's attributes
19. al-Hadid 57: 1-7 Allah's attributes, summons
to Iman and infaq
20. al-Hadid 57: 12-1 Iman and infaq
21. al-Hadid 57: 20-5 Present life, infaq
and justice
22. al-Saff 61: 9-14 Call to commit to the Prophet's
mission, Iman and Jihad
23. al-'Ankabut 29: 1-11 Testing of faith
24. al-Anfal 8: 72-5 Iman, Hijrah, Jihad
and Jama'ah
25. al-Nisa' 4: 95-100 Hijrah. Jihad
26. al-Tawbah 9: 19-24 Jihad. the highest act,
sacrifice everything
27. al-Tawbah 9:38-45 Jihad
28. Al 'Imran 3: 169-75 Dying in the way of
Allah
29. al-Baqarah 2: 261-6 Infaq fi Sabilili
'llah
30. al-Baqarah 2: 267-72 Infaq fi Sabilili
'llah
31. al-Anfal 8: 20-9 Collective life,
obedience
32. al-Nisa' 4: 60-7 Collective life,
obedience
33. al-Nur 24: 47-52, 62-4 Collective life: response and
obedience
34. al-Hujurat 49: 1-9 Collective life:
relationship with leaders
35. al-Mujadalah 58: 7-13 Collective life: rules
and duties
36. al-Hujurat 49: 10-15 Collective life:
interpersonal relations
37. Fussilat 41: 304 Dawah and the attributes
38. al-Baqarah 2:15043 Mission and its
obligations
39. Al 'Imran 3:185-92 Summary
40. Al 'Imran 3:193-200 Summary
Only 40 selections have been given for 52 weeks, allowing
for the fact that some weeks will have to be taken off and some selections
may take more than a week to study.
However, if time is available, it may be devoted to the
study of passages on history in the Qur'an a theme which I have not
included here. In this respect I would suggest taking up one prophet each
week, such as Nuh or Hud, basing the study on one passage in Surah
al-A'raf, but also referring to other relevant places in the Qur'an.
- al-A'raf 7: 59 64
- al-A'raf 7: 65-72
- al-A'raf 7: 73-9
- al-A'raf 7: 804
- al-A'raf 7: 85-93
- al-A'raf 7: 9-102
- Hud 11:11-23.
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