MODL: 398: Women in Quran A Peer Review of Teaching Project Inquiry Portfolio

Transcription

1 University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln UNL Faculty Course Portfolios Peer Review of Teaching Project 2016 MODL: 398: Women in Quran A Peer Review of Teaching Project Inquiry Portfolio Abla Hasan University of Nebraska - Lincoln, abla.hasan@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Higher Education Commons, Higher Education and Teaching Commons, Islamic Studies Commons, Modern Languages Commons, Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Hasan, Abla, MODL: 398: Women in Quran A Peer Review of Teaching Project Inquiry Portfolio (2016). UNL Faculty Course Portfolios This Portfolio is brought to you for free and open access by the Peer Review of Teaching Project at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in UNL Faculty Course Portfolios by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

2 1 MODL%398:%% Women%in%Quran%% A%Peer%Review%of%Teaching%Project%Portfolio%!Abla!Hasan,!Ph.D.! Assistant!Professor!of!Practice!of!Arabic!Language!!Culture! Undergraduate!Advisor! Department!of!Modern!Languages!Literatures! University!of!NebraskaCLincoln! Fulbright!scholar! 1025!Oldfather!Hall! Tel:402C472C7922!

3 2 Abstract This project highlights the experience of teaching Quran as a literature through MODL 298: Women in Quran. This course is an attempt to read Quran as a diachronically approached literature and discover what would the analytic, linguistic as well as the critical study of both the Qur anic text and its exegesis reveal when it comes to feminism and gender issues in Islam. Key words: Islam, Quran, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Women in Islam, feminism.

4 3 TableofContents Abstract!...!2! The!Course!...!4! Course!Description:!...!5! Course!Goals!and!Objectives:!...!5! Required!Textbooks:!...!5! Instructional!Method!...!6! Requirements!...!6! Grading!Scale!...!6! Course!Policies!...!6! Course!Calendar!...!7! Course!Inquiry!...!9! Inquiry!Methods!...!9! Women!in!Quran:!PreCCourse!Survey!...!9! Women!in!Quran:!End!of!Course!Survey!...!12! Inquiry!Results!...!15! PreC!Course!Survey!Analysis!...!15! End!of!Course!Student!Survey!Analysis!...!16! Visual!Analysis!of!PreCCourse!/End!of!Course!Survey!...!17! Discussion!...!18!

5 4 The Course University%of%NebraskaGLincoln% Women%in%Quran%% Syllabus%% MODL%398% Spring%2016% To be taught for the first time at UNL!! Instructor:Prof.AblaHasan Time:!!W!1:30:'!4:20!p.m. Office:1025Oldfather Officehours:M:1:30A5:00p.m.

6 5 CourseDescription: This class introduces a diachronic approach to Quran as a literature, and provides an attempt to discover what would the analytic, linguistic as well as the critical study of both the Qur anic text and its exegeses can reveal when it comes to feminism and gender issues in Islam. The instructional method is based on engaging students in discussions and encouraging them to use their analytic as well as their critical abilities in an academic environment free from ideological commitments. CourseGoalsandObjectives: -In this class students will have a chance to explore some of the most controversial and debated topics in Arabic and Islamic culture. - Students will be encouraged to use their critical and analyutic abilities as a key to discover what does Quran say about issues like gender egaliterian, sexuality, women rights, etc. - Quran is a text globaly accesed by Muslims, therefore, studying the text provides better chances of enhansing students globale awarness. -The course will develop students comparative reading abilities, since students will be reading different medieval as well as modern commentaries of Quran, to conclude similarities as well as differences and even contraditions. - In this course a historical approch to the developmnet of feminin controversal issues will be considered. Aspecial attention will be given to the historical diachronical development of the same text. -The class introduces students to Arabic as well as western Media and the way both deal with muslim women issues, since debates about key concepts deeply rooted in Quran will be explored in media, disscused and evaluated by students. RequiredTextbooks: 2Wadud, Amina,Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective Paperback June 10, 1999, ISBN-10: Stowasser, Barbara Freyer, Women in the Qur'an, Traditions, and Interpretation, 1996, ISBN- 10: M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Translator), the Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) Paperback June 15, Jane Dammen McAuliffe, the Cambridge Companion to the Qur'ān (Cambridge Companions to Religion, 2006, ISBN-10: More documents will be posted on BB.

7 6 InstructionalMethod Instruction methods includes -in addition to lecturing: in -class group discussions, literature analysis, and media analysis. No late assignments will be accepted. Make sure to talk to the instructor immediately in case you had an emergency case or a serious reason for missing any of your assignments. Any compensation, if approved, should immediately take place the next class if possible. Requirements 20%assignments,20%presentations(canbereplacedbyanadditionalpaperaftertalkingtothe instructoraboutthat),20%participation,20%finalexam,%20finalpaperorproject. GradingScale Thegradingscaleinpercentageis:A+97A100,A93A96,AA90A92,B+87A89,B83A86,BA80A82,C+77A79,C 73A76,CA70A72,D=67A69,D63A66,DA60A62. CoursePolicies Instructorcontact: Ifyouneedguidance,additionalassistanceorifyousimplyliketohavefurtherdiscussionsotherthan whatwedoinclass,pleasefeelfreetocometomyofficeduringmyofficehoursor metoarrange foranappointmentifyouprefertimesotherthanmyofficehours.youcanalsocontactthetaaboutany question. Attendancepolicy: Studentsareexpectedtoattendeveryclass,ifyouhaveaseriousreasontobeabsentpleasemakesure tocontacttheinstructortotalkaboutthat.missingclassesfornolegitimatereasonwillautomatically loweryourfinalgradeonegradeforeachabsence. Disabilities: Studentswithdisabilitiesareencouragedtocontactmeforaconfidentialdiscussionoftheirindividual needsforacademicaccommodation.itisthepolicyoftheuniversityofnebraskaalincolntoprovide flexibleandindividualizedaccommodationstostudentswithdocumenteddisabilitiesthatmayaffecttheir abilitytofullyparticipateincourseactivitiesortomeetcourserequirements.toreceiveaccommodation services,studentsmustberegisteredwiththeservicesforstudentswithdisabilities(ssd)office,132 CanfieldAdministration,472A3787voiceorTTY. AcademicIntegrityPolicy: UNLPolicyofacademicintegrityandacademichonestyapplies.PleaseseeUNLStudentCodeofConduct formoreinformation.

8 7 Cellphoneandelectronicdeviceusageinclass: Usingelectronicdeviseforpurposesthatexceedclassneedscanbeextremelydistractiveandshowsno appreciationtotheinstructoraswellastootherstudents;thereforeitistotallyunacceptedtouseyour cellphoneoryourlaptopforotherpurposesintheclass.violationswillnotbetoleratedandevery violationwillreduceyourfinalgradeonedegree(froma+toa,fromatoaaandsoon). CourseCalendar Day Activity Reading(required) W1/13 W1/20 W1/27 W2/3 W2/10 W2/17 W2/24 W3/2 Introductiontoreading Quranasaliterature WomenstoriesinQuran Alinguisticanalytic study WomeninQuran Mary Alinguisticanalytic study Hijab,bodyownership andmodesty MarriageinQuran 1 MarriageinQuran 2 PolygamyinQuran -The Cambridge Companion to the Quran, introduction + Pp WomenintheQur'an, Traditions,andInterpretation, thechapterofeve. AQur'anandWoman, chapter2. ATheQur'an!(TBA)! AQur'anandWoman, chapter2,mary. AWomenintheQur'an, Traditions,and Interpretation.chapter1. A The Qur'an(selective readings TBA) AQur'anandWoman, chapter4. -The Qur'an(selective readings TBA) AQur'anandWoman, chapter4. ATheQur'an(selectivereadings TBA) AQur'anandWoman, chapter4. ATheQur'an(selectivereadings TBA)

9 8 W3/9 W3/16 Femalegenital mutilation(fgm) Whatdoesitmeantobea motherinquran? WomenissuesinIslam: Witness,leadership, publiclifeand inheritance. -The Cambridge Companion to the Quran, chapter 4. ATheCambridgeCompanion tothequran,chapter4 ATheQur'an(selective readingstbd) ATheCambridgeCompanion tothequran,chapter4 ATheQur'an(selective readingstbd) W3/23 Noclass Springbreak W3/30 Honorkilling Visualmaterial(TBA) W4/6 MuhammadinQuran Whowashe? Visualmaterial(TBA) W4/13 Studentpresentations1 W4/20 Studentspresentations2 TBA Exam+finalpaperdue!

10 Course Inquiry 9 This course was taught at UNL for the first time. It is an attempt to encourage students to use their analytic as well as their critical thinking abilities to read Quran in isolation from preconceptions and media created views. Two surveys were used to help insure an objective reading. First, students taking the course were asked to answer questions about the status of women in Quran. Then they were asked to answer the same questions towards the end of the semester. The second study targeted the overall attitude of students of UNL. The purpose of the two surveys is to objectively assess students readiness to be involved in an analytic reading of a religious text and to find out to what degree they are influenced by media when it comes to women issues in Islam. Inquiry Methods WomeninQuran:PreACourseSurvey ProphetMuhammedhad 10220wives Ayeshathemostbeloved wifewas9whenmarriedto theprophet Quransupportsminor marriage Islamsupportsminor Marriage Quransupportslimited polygamy Islamsupportslimited polygamy SomeMuslimmarital practicesdon treflecttrue Islam Strikthem (4:34)inQuran promotesmartialviolence I strongly agreea Iagree I I disagree strongly disagree Idon t know NA

11 10 (4:34)doesspeakabout womenbutdoesn t promotemaritalviolence Islamismisogynist Arabiccultureismisogynist Thereisaproblemin interpretingquranon womenissues Thereisnoproblemin Islamicinterpretation,the problemisonlyinwestern media TheIslamicviewofMary needstobereevaluated Muslimwomenrightsin Islamarenotfully understood Islamicjurisprudenceisnot fairtowomen Therearerestrictionson womenworkinislam Ifeelknoweverything aboutwomeninquran IfeelIknoweverything aboutwomeninislam Thestatusofwomenin Islamdoesn tcorrespondto Quran Islamicattitudeofgender issuesneedstobereformed SometranslationsofQuran arenotcorrect Someinterpretationsof Quranarenotcorrect Ifindsomedifficultiesin understandingquran Quranisacomplicatedbook Quranisaninterestingbook Polygamyhasits justificationisquran Muslimwomenshould acceptpolygamyaspartof theirreligion Wifebeatingismentioned inquran Adulterystoningisan Islamicpunishment

12 11 SodomystoningisanIslamic punishment Thestoryofcreationin Quranisthesamelikeinthe Bible HijabisanIslamicduty NiqabisanIslamicduty Muslimsneedtoreconsider maritalrightsofwomen Genderbasedrolesof womenandmenareislamic InIslamawomanshouldn t workunlesssheneedsto workforaneconomic hardship Hijabisadiscrimination againstwomen ThestoryofMosesinQuran supportsbasedongender divisionofroles Quranisthemostreliable sourceinislam QuranandSunnahbothare reliablesourcesinislam Theprophetdidn tacceptto keephisoldwife Sawda untilshegaveherdaytohis youngwife Ayesha Theprophethadspecial sexualpowers Theprophetmarriageswere divine Theprophetwasexcused frommarriagerelated dutieslikedowry,numberof wivesrestrictedto4, witnesses..etc Theprophetdidfallinlove with Zaynab beforeshe becamehiswife.

13 12 WomeninQuran:EndofCourseSurvey ProphetMuhammedhad 10220wives I strongly agreea Iagree I I disagree strongly disagree Idon t know Ayeshathemostbeloved wifewas9whenmarriedto theprophet Quransupportsminor marriage Islamsupportsminor Marriage Quransupportslimited polygamy Islamsupportslimited polygamy SomeMuslimmarital practicesdon treflecttrue Islam Strikthem (4:34)inQuran promotesmartialviolence (4:34)doesspeakabout womenbutdoesn t promotemaritalviolence Islamismisogynist Arabiccultureismisogynist Thereisaproblemin interpretingquranon womenissues Thereisnoproblemin Islamicinterpretation,the problemisonlyinwestern media TheIslamicviewofMary needstobereevaluated Muslimwomenrightsin Islamarenotfully understood Islamicjurisprudenceisnot fairtowomen Therearerestrictionson womenworkinislam Ifeelknoweverything aboutwomeninquran IfeelIknoweverything aboutwomeninislam NA

14 13 Thestatusofwomenin Islamdoesn tcorrespondto Quran Islamicattitudeofgender issuesneedstobereformed SometranslationsofQuran arenotcorrect Someinterpretationsof Quranarenotcorrect Ifindsomedifficultiesin understandingquran Quranisacomplicatedbook Quranisaninterestingbook Polygamyhasits justificationisquran Muslimwomenshould acceptpolygamyaspartof theirreligion Wifebeatingismentioned inquran Adulterystoningisan Islamicpunishment SodomystoningisanIslamic punishment Thestoryofcreationin Quranisthesamelikeinthe Bible HijabisanIslamicduty NiqabisanIslamicduty Muslimsneedtoreconsider maritalrightsofwomen Genderbasedrolesof womenandmenareislamic InIslamawomanshouldn t workunlesssheneedsto workforaneconomic hardship Hijabisadiscrimination againstwomen ThestoryofMosesinQuran supportsbasedongender divisionofroles Quranisthemostreliable sourceinislam QuranandSunnahbothare reliablesourcesinislam

15 14 Theprophetdidn tacceptto keephisoldwife Sawda untilshegaveherdaytohis youngwife Ayesha Theprophethadspecial sexualpowers Theprophetmarriageswere divine Theprophetwasexcused frommarriagerelated dutieslikedowry,numberof wivesrestrictedto4, witnesses..etc Theprophetdidfallinlove with Zaynab beforeshe becamehiswife.

16 Inquiry Results 15 PreACourseSurveyAnalysis I!don't!know strongly!agree agree I!disagree strongly!disagree

17 16 EndofCourseStudentSurveyAnalysis I!don't!know strongly!agree I!agree I!disagree I!strongly!disagree

18 17 VisualAnalysisofPreACourse/EndofCourseSurvey

19 Discussion 18 The course study (12 students) confirmed a decline in I don t know response (from % 44 to % 11) and more readiness to provide strongly agree answers (from %5 to %18) and strongly disagree answers (from% 8 to %14).