Students will study the following topics:

1. Major Themes in the Quran
   1. God in himself
   2. God’s relationship with the created world
   3. God’s Messengers.
2. The history and importance of the Qur’an
   1. the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet between the years 610 and 632
   2. the account of the compilation of the Qur’an under the Rightly Guided Caliphs
   3. the major themes of the Qur’an as contained both in the passages set for special study and in other similar passages
   4. the use of the Qur’an in legal thinking, and its relationship with the Hadiths, consensus (ijma‘) and analogy (qiyas)
3. The life and importance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
   1. the main events of the Prophet’s life from his birth to his call to prophethood
   2. the main events of his activities in Makka and Madina and his experiences with his opponents
   3. the importance of his actions as examples for Muslim individuals in their personal conduct and relations
   4. his significance as Seal of the Prophets and last Messenger of God.
4. The first Islamic community
   1. the Prophet’s wives
   2. his descendants, including his children, grandchildren
   3. his leading Companions
5. Major teachings in the Hadiths of the Prophet
6. The history and importance of the Hadiths
7. The period of rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and their importance as leaders
8. The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam