Information Package / Course Catalogue
Contemporary Approaches to the Qur'an
Course Code: İL338
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

To examine the new and different approaches to the interpretation of the Quran that emerged as a result of Muslims searching for solutions to the problems they encountered in the modern period

Course Content

The characteristics of the modern period and the problems faced by Muslims in this period are examined, and the new approaches to Quran interpretation seeking solutions to these problems are discussed with background information. After examining the movements that emerged especially in the Indian Subcontinent and Egypt, it deals with different movements such as historicity, scientific approach and social method.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Understands the characteristics of the modern period.
2.Knows the problems that arise in the modern period and the answers given to them.
3.Knows the discourse of returning to the Quran.
4.Understands the Qur'anism movement.
5.Knows the movements and their leading representatives in the Indian Subcontinent, and knows the ideas put forward by the example of Sir Sayyid Ahmed Khan.
6.Knows the views that emerged in Egyptian geography; Recognizes these ideas through the examples of Afghani, Abduh and Rashid Riza.
7.Knows the characteristics of the scientific approach and the criticisms made.
8.Knows the characteristics of the thematic commentary movement and the criticisms directed at it.
9.Recognizes new approaches to Qur'anic stories through the example of Khalafallah.
10.Recognizes the social tafsir movement and its representatives.
11.Knows the historicist method and the criticisms it receives.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Fethi Ahmet Polat, Approaches to the Qur'an in Contemporary İslamic Tought, İz Yayıncılık, İstanbul 2011.
2.Muhammed Coşkun, Qur'an Interpretation in the Modern World, İFAV, İstanbul 2018.
3.Mustafa Öztürk, Contemporary Approaches to the Quran, Ankara Okulu Yayınları, Ankara 2019.
4.Contemporary Schools of Tafsir, ed. Aykut Kaya, İlahiyat, Ankara 2023.
5.Şevket Kotan, Quran and Historicism, Beyan, İstanbul 2011.
6.Süleyman Gezer, Scientific Interpretation of the Quran, Ankara Okulu, Ankara 2009.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Content of the course, its resources and its connection with other theology courses
Week 1 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 2 - Theoretical
The break from the classical period and the emergence of contemporary approaches
Week 2 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 3 - Theoretical
Discourses of returning to the Quran
Week 3 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 4 - Theoretical
Qur'anism movement
Week 4 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 5 - Theoretical
Contemporary approaches in the Indian Subcontinent
Week 5 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 6 - Theoretical
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Week 6 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 7 - Theoretical
Contemporary approaches in the Egyptian region
Week 7 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 8 - Theoretical
Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, Muhammad Abduh and Rashid Rida
Week 8 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 9 - Theoretical
Historicity and Fazlur Rahman
Week 9 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 10 - Theoretical
Social Approach
Week 10 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 11 - Theoretical
Nass-fact relationship and Nasr Hamid Abu Zeyd
Week 11 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 12 - Theoretical
New approaches to Quranic narratives and Khalafallah
Week 12 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 13 - Theoretical
Scientific Method
Week 13 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Week 14 - Theoretical
Overall Assessment
Week 14 - Preparation Work
Book, internet and library search
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures1%5
Verbal Examination1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory143270
Reading7017
Individual Work70214
Midterm Examination1314
Final Examination1516
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)101
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
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PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
PÇ-15
PÇ-16
PÇ-17
PÇ-18
PÇ-19
PÇ-20
OÇ-1
3
4
3
4
2
2
3
3
4
4
3
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-2
5
4
3
4
3
2
2
3
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-3
5
4
3
4
3
4
4
3
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-4
5
4
3
4
3
4
4
3
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-5
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-6
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-7
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-8
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-9
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
4
5
OÇ-10
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
OÇ-11
5
4
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026