The Quran (Koran): Resources and Lesson Plans For Teachers

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The Quran, literally “the recitation” is the sacred book of Islam. Received by Muhammad from the angel Gabriel (Jibril) from 610 to 632 CE, the text was codified in 653 and distributed throughout the growing Muslim empire. The Quran, (also translated Koran, Quran, Quran, Alcoran or Al-Quran) is recognized by millions of believers as the book of guidance, in original Arabic to be the very Word of God.

Lesson Plans About The Quran

The following are lesson plans that teachers can use when teaching about the Quran.

• The Qur’an is the sacred scripture for Muslims. They regard it as the Word of God. This page is part of the High School Lesson Plans collection.
• Teacher Lesson Plan about Ramadan for GRADE LEVEL: 5-7 by Christy Ferguson

Does the Koran Specifically Forbid Women’s Education?

There are numerous issues that are subject to debate within Islam based upon interpretations of the Koran. One of the most discussed and often hotly contested matters is women’s rights. Advocates of education for women state that the Koran encourages the pursuit of knowledge by all Muslims regardless of their gender. The Koran repeatedly commands all followers of Islam to read, to think and to learn. In fact, the first revelation to Muhammad was to read and the second revelation refers to God who teaches his people by the pen. In neither of these revelations, is gender is specified. The command is for all Muslims.

In a 2009 piece in the Kuwait Times entitled “What the Quran says about women’s rights”, Aftab Ahmed Khan quoted the verse in the Quran that he said demonstrates the equality of men and women. He stated unequivocally that education and knowledge are mandatory upon both men and women in Islam. The article praised the empowerment of women resulting from better education. Women’s confinement to the home has “no endorsement from Islam.”

Advocates of education for women cite Muhammad’s words as according a Muslim woman this right. “To seek the knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim…Whoever follows a way to seek knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a way to paradise.”

In his 2000 article entitled “Rights of Women in Islam”, the noted Islamic scholar, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, wrote, “The Prophet…said ‘It is essential for every Muslim man and woman to acquire knowledge.’”

If the Koran forbade the education of women, it is presumed that Muhammad would not have promoted it.

Khan, who has translated the Koran into English, said Islam permits equal opportunities to both men and women in the pursuit of learning. He observed that during Muhammad’s time, there were women who were scholars. There were women who contributed meaningfully in the fields of medicine, literature and religion.

Khan cited a verse from the Koran: “If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female and have faith, they will enter Heaven and not the least injustice will be done to them.”

However, in the more conservative Islamic societies, women are not afforded the same opportunities as are men in many areas including education. In the must fundamentalist Muslim societies, women are not permitted the most basic education. As an extreme example, the Taliban leadership issued a decree forbidding girls over the age of eight to receive any education and to be given only instruction in the Koran until that age.

There is a continuum in regards to women’s rights in Islam with the Taliban and its fanatical subjugation of women occupying the extreme position. But at other places on that spectrum are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other nations.

While it is estimated that 60% of Saudi university students are women, women are forbidden to receive an education in certain fields. Careers in engineering, architecture, pharmacy and law have traditionally not been available to women. In addition, it is problematic whether female students in Saudi Arabia and other countries may study abroad.

Many Islamic leaders who advocate the subjugation of women rely on a section in the Koran, sur 4:34. They interpret these passages to mean that women should not be accorded the same rights as men. Another Koran verse cited is 33:33 Al Quran. This passage is directed specifically to women. “Stay in your houses and do not display of yourselves like that of the times of ignorance.”

Resources About The Quran Online

• Quran Explorer features translations of the Quran in many languages.
• Sacred Texts  has the Quran Arabic with an English translation.
• Online Library of Liberty offers the Arabic text with an English translation and commentary.
• Islamic City has the complete text of the Quran plus a phonetic search and topic search function.
• Quran.nu contains 45 different language translations of the Quran.
• Searchtruth has a download text to a mobile phone.
• CRCC is the University Southern California Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement site.
• Guidedways interface makes it easy to compare differing English translations.
• Quod.lib.umich.edu includes an advanced search engine for finding specific passages
• Wse.edu  has an excellent over all introduction to the Quran.
• Al Tafsir   Completely free, non-profit website providing access to the “largest and greatest online collection of Qur’anic Commentary.”
• CRCC: Center For Muslim-Jewish Engagement: A transliteration of the Qur’an
• Think Quest  features an informative introduction to Islam, The 5 Pillars of Faith and The Quran.

Resource by Will

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