As an educator, one knows the possibility of bringing a new world into the classroom during each teaching session through the exploration of the literary text or material chosen by the teacher. The selection of the literary text is the first step for a teacher in attempting to create a positive relationship with his/her students.
The use of a Quran-based literary text is my innovative research aim or objective. It is not only having a whole class dedicated to Quranic Studies/Memorization but a whole new way of incorporating the Quran “naturally” through the literary text or material chosen into the main subject classroom. The Quranic literary text is asked to be looked at from a different angle, at its literary value. I have done some research work incorporating Quranic texts into the Literature classroom at the University level with success. The same objectives of the intended lesson were achieved at the end of the lesson as with any other text, with the added advantage of sparking up topics of discussion of Islam. With this success, I advocate the incorporation be done subtlely in each subject by each educator, especially starting with Islamic Institutions or institutions with Muslim majority of student population. As we are globally inclined in the our choices of material brought into the classrooms, being in touch with Islam in the English Language in the context of learning Linguistics, Stylistics, Literature, Culture, even Science, would undoubtedly, liven up the classroom with interest and curiosity. If one subject educator has the responsibility of incorporating one Quran based material per semester, this would be such an accomplishment indeed. There should be a center or a committee in each institution ready to assist each educator in each subject for the Quran based materials.
There are many translators of the Quran whose books are now available. In America, there are numerous Islamic educational projects at the primary and secondary levels in creating textbooks which are intended for use in the newly formed Islamic Schools in America. This is an early essential start for our young Muslims growing up in a non-Muslim environment. Many Muslims in America are non Arabic speakers and therefore understanding is sought through translations of the Quran.
There is a recommended English Language Translation of the Quran-The Glorious Quran by Dr Ahmad Zaki Hammad, especially for use in the teaching field. This book has received favourable reviews-“authoritative, complete, accessible and much needed in the modern world and work specially for the English speaking world.” Dr Hammad’s book received approval from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s Islamic Research Academy for Research Writing and Translation.
At the University level, comparative studies were taught in my Literature classroom. I have also used some Quranic based material for comparative linguistics. I have recently come across a very useful website on Quranexplorer.com where the english translation of every verse of every chapter of the Quran was put one after another by three translators .
For example, verse four of the first chapter of the Quran, Al-Fatihah (The Opening),
Translator: English Language Translation
- Dr Mohsin: The Only Owner (Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (ie the Day of Resurrection)
- Picktal: Owner of the Day of Judgement
- Yusuf Ali: Master of the Day of Judgement
It is always useful to remind students that these translators were attempting to translate
one book –The Quran. It is interesting to see the similarities and differences in their attempts.
Read my first Paper "
Quranic Verses in English for Academic Purpose":
