Storytelling in the Qur'an

Undergraduate / Graduate

About a third of the Qur'an is presented in the form of stories. This course content-based language course that introduces students to selected Qur'anic stories (Qassas قَصَص) and examines their thematic, linguistic, and cultural contexts. Through close reading of Qur'anic passages alongside relevant secondary readings in Modern Standard Arabic, students will engage with Qur'anic Arabic while strengthening their proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic. The course emphasizes vocabulary development, grammatical and morphological analysis ( Assarf الصرف), and rhetorical and stylistic features (Al-Balaghah البلاغة), highlighting how language functions within Qur'anic storytelling. Students will become acquainted with key figures and events in the Qur'an while developing the four language skills reading, writing, listening, and speaking through a variety of in-class and at-home activities. Prerequisites include two years of university-level Arabic, an Intermediate High score on the online Arabic placement test, or consent of the instructor.