SMCE3023 W27 Introduction to the Qur’an

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A foundational guide to the text, context, and dynamic lived reality of the Qur’an

  • Delivery: Online
  • Duration: 6 weeks
  • Day of the week: Tuesdays
  • Dates: Tuesday January 19, 2027 – Tuesday February 23, 2027
  • Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  • Location: Online via Zoom
  • Cost: $150 **15% Discount Available for USMC Alumni & Seniors 65+
  • Level of Interfaith Dialogue (for learners taking the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue): Dialogue of Theological Exchange
  • Part of the Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies, offered in partnership with the Shi’a Research Institute
  • Learners participate actively in discussion and learning in this seminar-style course. Sessions in this course are not recorded.

Course Overview

This course provides an accessible and engaging introduction to the reception, content, and history of the study of the Qur’an, aiming to demystify the text for those with little to no background in the subject. Students will engage in close readings of key passages of the Qur’an alongside classical and modern secondary scholarship. We will explore how God is described and what topoi (regular motifs) can be found in the text.

We will also examine how early Muslims understood the concept of revelation, explore the traditional and critical-historical debates surrounding its compilation and codification, and trace how different Muslim interpretive communities including Sunni, Shi’i, Sufi, feminist, and modernist schools, draw upon its verses to debate theology, gender, law, and politics. Many of these questions fall under the rubric of Qur’anic sciences and Qur’anic studies, which we will explore at an introductory level in this course. Knowledge of Arabic is not required. 

SMCE3023 is an elective course within the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue. Learners who wish to complete this program can learn more on our website. Enrolment in this course is open to all learners.

SMCE3023 is part of the Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies, offered in partnership with the Shi’a Research Institute.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will: 

  • Explain the historical processes of the Qur’an’s revelation, oral transmission, and written compilation from both traditional and critical-historical perspectives. 
  • Analyze major themes, motifs (topoi), and prophetic narratives within the text, including how they relate to earlier biblical and late antique traditions. 
  • Compare the interpretive approaches of diverse Muslim communities (e.g., Sunni, Shi’i, modernist, and feminist) in addressing issues of theology, gender, and law. 
  • Evaluate the Qur’an’s living presence and function as a dynamic, recited text in the daily lives and cultures of Muslims globally. 
  • Apply critical close-reading skills and evaluate the vital role of context in interpreting primary Qur’anic passages. 

Method of Instruction

Delivered synchronously online over a six-week session, this course meets for 2 hours per week for a total of 12 instructional hours. Through guided live discussions, lectures, collaborative digital workshops, comparative textual analysis, and applied case studies, students learn to critically evaluate primary historical sources, navigate diverse theological traditions using epistemological humility, and analyze how the Qur’an is invoked within contemporary social and political movements. This course is suitable for students from all academic backgrounds, requiring no prior knowledge of Arabic, who are ready to engage thoughtfully with academic texts and Qur’anic translations, participate in structured online discussions, and approach unfamiliar intellectual frameworks with an open, imaginative mind. 

Learners participate actively in discussion and learning in this seminar-style course. Sessions in this course are not recorded.

About the Instructor

Faezeh Izadi

Faezeh Izadi is a Sessional Instructor and a doctoral candidate in Religious Studies at the University of Calgary, bringing over a decade of teaching experience at the university and secondary levels. She holds dual Master’s degrees in Religious Studies from Queen’s University and the Comparative Study of Religions and Mysticism from the University of Kashan, alongside four years of traditional Islamic seminary training in Qom.

Her instructional expertise is grounded in Shi‘i intellectual history, Islamic and Western moral philosophy, and philanthropic studies. Faezeh’s scholarly contributions have earned several prestigious honors, most notably a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and the AMI Scholarship for young scholars of Twelver Shīʿism. She is also the co-founder of the Muslim Impact Lab and a former Public Humanities Fellow at the Calgary Institute for the Humanities, dedicating herself to bridging scholarly research with tangible community action. In the classroom, Faezeh’s pedagogical approach is rooted in fostering epistemological humility and imaginative inquiry, encouraging students to engage deeply with complex religious and philosophical traditions.

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SMCE3023 W27 – Interfaith Dialogue: Intro to Qur’an

SMCE3023 W27 Registration

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  • St. Michael’s College alumni and seniors (65+) are each eligible for a 15% discount on course fees for select courses. Discounts may not be combined (e.g., alumni who are also seniors will receive a maximum of 15% off). Alumni and seniors discounts may not be applied where fees are already discounted. Graduates of other colleges or faculties at the University of Toronto are not eligible. Proof of St. Michael’s College graduation or proof of age may be required.
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