Course Title: The Quran on Context: Revelation, Structure, and Meaning

Course Overview:
This course examines the Qurʾān as both a sacred text and a historical phenomenon, balancing the devotion of traditional engagement with the rigor of academic study. Using Nicolai Sinai’s The Qurʾan: A Historical-Critical Introduction as our foundation, we will explore the Qurʾān’s revelation in 7th-century Arabia, its oral and written transmission, the process of canonization, and its structural and thematic coherence. Supplemental readings from Angelika Neuwirth and Gabriel Reynolds will illuminate the Qurʾān’s literary artistry and rhetorical strategies. Alongside historical context, we will reflect on how the Qurʾān addresses enduring human questions of meaning, morality, and the divine. Students will develop analytical skills for interpreting the Qurʾān’s message while deepening their appreciation for its role as a guide in Muslim life. The goal is to encounter the Qurʾān with both critical awareness and reverence for its continuing significance. 

Who Should Enroll: We welcome students from diverse academic, professional, and personal backgrounds. No seminary degree is required—just intellectual curiosity, commitment, and readiness to engage with advanced readings.

All applicants wanting credit for the class must submit a statement of purpose (highlighting their academic background, interest in the program, intended track) before the first day of class, September 8th, to Shaykh Omar Qureshi (OQureshi@instituteofknowledge.com).

Recommended Background:
 • Prior study in Islamic or Religious Studies (ʿĀlimiyyah program, university coursework, or sustained self-study with recognized scholars)
 • Relevant academic training in philosophy, political science, history, anthropology, or related fields
 • Ability to read and engage with advanced academic texts in English

Date: 9/8/25 - 11/12/25

Day: Every Monday and Wednesday

Time: 5:00-6:20 PM

Location: IOK Diamond Bar (1009 Vía Sorella, Diamond Bar, CA 91789) in Room 104 Left Side-Musalla and ONLINE Via Zoom

Course Duration: 10 weeks

Format: Weekly in-person or online lectures, interactive discussions with readings, and assignments.

Instructor: Shaykh Omar Qureshi, PhD in Religion, University of Southern California

Dr. Omar Qureshi was born and raised in Southern California and comes from a distinguished family of Subcontinent ?ulama? from the city of Tonk, such as Haydar Hasan Khan, Mahmoud Hasan Khan, and Wali Hasan Khan. After earning his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Qureshi traveled to Damascus, Syria where he spent three years (2008-2011) building a foundation in Arabic and Islamic sciences at Abu Noor University. He then enrolled at Cairo’s al-Azhar University (2011-2016), graduating from the Shari'ah College and receiving licenses (ijazat) to teach various Islamic sciences from numerous scholars. He then pursued his doctorate at the University of Southern California’s School of Religion (2016-2025). Specializing in Islamic intellectual history, Western philosophy, politics, and social theory, his research focused on the evolution of the Hanafi legal tradition, highlighting its dynamism and methods of continuity. After completing the PhD, Shaykh Omar began working on a monograph centered on the works of the Hanafi mufti Muhammad Amin Ibn 'Abidin and the societal role of fatwas. He is a full-time seminary instructor Institute of Knowledge Seminary as a full-time professor. In addition to his legal scholarship, Professor Qureshi is also engaged in Quranic studies, writing an exegesis of selected verses from the Meccan and Medinan periods of revelation.

Enroll now! Join us on this transformative journey into the heart of the Islamic intellectual tradition and its relevance for today.

Cost: $300

If you are auditing, the class will be $200. Please email rsohail@instituteofknowledge.com to pay for the course. Please note that you may attend lectures and participate in discussions. You will not receive any assignments, grading, or credential for this course. It is ideal for personal enrichment and flexible learning.

Please note that this course is NON-REFUNDABLE and will close 2 weeks after the course ends.