Koran or Quran
Recommended reading:
Suras: 1-4, 8,9, 12, 14, 18,19, 21, 72, 112-114
The Yusuf Ali translation is a good one. http://al-quran.info/ has a version with extensive commentary.
http://www.submission.org/Q-T.html has the Quran online with some helpful notes. The translator, Rashad Khalifa, has a colorful history.
Sources for recommended readings
Professor Szczesny said:
Chapter 9 of the Quran contains the idea of jizya which is fundamental to the notion of an Islamic State. It's been a long time and I don't have my copy handy, but I remember thinking 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21, 72, 112, and 114 were interesting, especially the chapters that retell a Biblical story with which I was already familiar.
From an anti-Islam site:
Reading Surahs 2,3 & 4 is essential to understanding Islamic jihad & misogyny. The second Surah deals mainly with defensive & retaliatory fighting. Surahs 8 & 9 contain the imperatives for global conquest. Surahs 47, 48 & 61 add some important reinforcing details.
That later passages supercede earlier passages: Sura 2:106, Sura 16:101, Sura 17:86 (how does that jive with the idea of the Koran being perfect?)
Possible discussion topics:
- Peace vs. Jihad
- Shari'a Law
- People of the Book
A Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad
Questions
What does Muslim mean? Islam? Qu'ran/Koran? Jihad? Zakat? Other new words?
What are the five pillars of Islam?
Literary differences between Koran and Bible? (stories, laws, teachings, diction, history, prophesies, etc)
What virtues does the Koran emphasize?
What is the relation of God to man in the Koran? Contrast with Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon. (What is the greatest evil, according to the Koran?)
If I meet a Muslim, what aspect of the Koran could I complement?
What errors does the Koran contain? (from a Christian point of view) How would a Muslim resolve that issue?
What is fundamentalism? Is it good or bad? How does it manifest in Muslim and Christian cultures?
Compare Judaism and Islam. (http://www.diffen.com/difference/Islam_vs_Judaism) Many beliefs are similar. Why wouldn't Jews accept Mohammed as a political Messiah? (see Theological Differences on this page)
Different stories
Moses and the Prophet (killing the son)
sura 11: Noah and his son (who did not get on the ark)
Andrew Kosorok
Favorite suras: 1, 3, 19, 113, 114.
99 most beautiful names: are traits of god which help you progress (e.g. the merciful, the mighty, the healer)
Islam is a religion, Muslim is a person who practices that religion
Islam translates to "path of peace" or "path of integrity"
Building Bridges of Understanding: The Church and the World of Islam, Introduction of Dr. Alwi Shihab by President Boyd K. Packer
many parallels between Joseph/Moroni and Mohammed/Gabriel
Arabic considered closest to Adam's language
Children of the Book means belief in Bible and blood of Abraham
Jihad means "struggle". Only valid struggle is to protect innocents (punishment for harming innocents stated in koran)
Hadith: collected anecdotes of Mohammed
Packer interview with James Christensen (see byu) measure, weight, and number are how we make beauty - pythagorean were first to quantify
no man can be saved in ignorance; responsibility to use brain to acquire knowledge
sura 19:32-34 about Jesus
prohibition of images not actual. No depictions of God or Mohammed allowed; other ok, but should be humble and not challenge God's creations.
Translation Comparison
Compare several translations of the Opening:
Sanderson Beck (selections)
In the name of God, the gracious, the loving:
Praise God, Lord of the universe, the gracious, the loving,
Master of Judgment Day.
We serve only You; we pray only to You for help.
Guide us on the right path,
the path of those whom You have blessed,
not of those who deserve Your anger
nor of those who have gone astray.
M.H. Shakir
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
Keep us on the right path.
The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors.
Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.
George Sale (selections)
In the Name of the Most Merciful God
Praise be to God, the Lord of all creatures;
the most merciful,
the king of the day of judgment.
Thee do we worship, and of thee do we beg assistance.
Direct us in the right way,
in the way of those to whom thou hast been gracious;
not of those against whom thou art incensed, nor of those who go astray.
Yusuf Ali
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we worship, And Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,
Those whose (portion) Is not wrath, And who go not astray.
E. H. Palmer (selections)
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Praise belongs to God, the Lord of the worlds,
the merciful, the compassionate,
the ruler of the day of judgment!
Thee we serve and Thee we ask for aid.
Guide us in the right path,
the path of those Thou art gracious to;
not of those Thou art wroth with; nor of those who err.
Marmaduke Pickthall (Yusuf Ali and M. H. Shakir translations here too)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment,
Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
Show us the straight path,
The path of those whom Thou hast favoured;
Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
Comparative Essay
Write an essay comparing the Koran with Christian/Mormon scriptures.
This is a large task, so the scope will need to be limited. Some ways to limit the scope of the comparison are:
- Choose a single sura, and looks for parallels in the bible (or BoM or D&C)
- Choose a topic and compare/contrast what the Koran and Bible say. (use online search tools to help) authority, women, charity/zakat, war/conflict
- Choose a person and compare how they and their stories are portrayed.
- Just write about similarities and differences that you noticed. (you still need to extract a thesis from the comparisons)
A comparative essay can follow the steps from thinking like a philosopher last year.
- First, find a similarity, or a basis for comparison
- Second, find a difference or contrast within that category
- Third, based on one or more similarities and differences, find some specific principles which we should learn
- Fourth, identify the universal principles behind the comparison, and how to apply them
LDS perspective
Note what was said by the First Presidency in February 1978:
The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.