Essays
On the exam day, students will be required to answer one of the two essay options below. It is highly
recommended for students to have these essays prepared in advance, and simply cut and paste the responses
into the appropriate field in Canvas. Write at least 400 words. 50 points.
1. The Qur’an is replete with discussions regarding covenants, oaths, and pacts. Discuss this topic broadly.
Discuss and explain the kinds of covenants/oaths/pacts referenced and/or alluded to in the first 23 surahs
of the Qur’an? In our class discussions, we mentioned that if someone breaks an agreement, he/she/they
entered into freely, the first victim is social justice. Expound upon this and offer your opinion on why this
is the case. Last, though we still have approximately one-half of the Qur’an to cover, up to this point, what
can we say about social covenants and social pacts, and their connection with divine covenants as
understood in the Qur’an? In answering this question, please use examples from the Qur’an as well as
political history (including modern political history) to give context to your response.
2. Many of the surahs (chapters) we have read to this point in the semester have involved issues of warfare
and the mandated use of violence. Based upon our readings and class discussions, begin the process of
explaining what we termed in class as a “Qur’anic Just War Theory.” In doing so, discuss the
injunctions/permissions/restrictions for the use of violence and warfare as espoused in the Qur’an. Also
take into consideration the topic of hypocrites, captives, spoils of war/accessions, and relationships with
non-Muslim groups (polytheists, Jews, Christians, etc) in the Madinan period. What applicability, if any,
does this Qur’anic theory of war have on modern states and international relations?
Short Answer
Pick 5 of the following 8. Identify the character/event/concept and discuss their/its significance for the
various political/social theories we’ve discussed in our reading of the Qur’an up to this point in the
semester. Write 100-200 words. 10 points each.
Joseph
Moses and Aaron
Hud, Salih, and Shu’ayb
The Event of the Mubahalah
Abraham
Muhammad
Hypocrites
Enjoining the Good and Forbidding (Dissuading) the Evil