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Qur’an and Psalms : Reading the Psalms in Qur’anic Context

Fall 2024

Wednesdays September 4th - November 20th

Course leaders:  Dr Danny Crowther and Dr Motaz Al-Thaher

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This course will have classes on Wednesdays 8:00 am-10:00 am Houston time.

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Students who wish to obtain CMCS Houston credit for this course are required to complete the first four modules of our 'Research and Writing for Muslim & Christian Studies​' prior to the start of the course.   This course may be begun at any time - students are advised to begin as soon as possible.

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The course cost is $400, reduced to $150 for auditing and majority world students. 

 

CMCS Houston has full and half-scholarships available.  To apply for a scholarship, email a letter of application together with your c.v. and contact details of two referees to office@cmcshouston.org. 

- وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ

ۖ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا 

And it is your Lord That knoweth best all beings That are in the heavens And on earth : We Did bestow on some Prophets More (and other) gifts Than on others:

and We gave to David the Psalms.

Surah al-Isra 17:55

 

It is well-known amongst Muslims that 'God gave David the Zabur' - usually translated, as by Yusuf Ali above, as 'Psalms'.  But how far is this understood as referring to the biblical Book of Psalms?  How have Muslims read the Book of Psalms?  In what ways can the Qur'an be seen as referring to the Psalms and as teaching the same things as the Psalms?  How might today's Muslims understand and use the Psalms?  And what difference does reading the Qur'an alongside the Psalms make to Christian understandings of them?​

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This course is based on Dr Danny Crowther's current research project on the Psalms and the Qur'an.  It takes a reception history approach, first laying down a framework for understanding Muslim, Jewish and Christian reception of the Psalms, then going on to consider important aspects of reading the Psalms in Islamic context before doing focused study of selected Psalms.  

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​This class will be suitable for accreditation at master's or final year undergraduate level. It will offer 2 credit hours (27-30 hours of class or recorded online learning, with approx 60 hours of additional study and writing expected from each student). Preference will be given to students who have completed accredited modules/units of study (or the equivalent) in at least two of the following areas:  Biblical Studies, Qur'anic Studies, History, Islamic Studies, Christian Theology, Islamic History, History of Christianity, Literature.

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Of all the books of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, the Psalms are the most fascinating for most Muslims. First, the life and passions of David, as recounted in the Hebrew Bible, are most evocative of the life and passions of Muhammad, as recounted in the sīra (biographical) literature. Both are presented as passionate for God and for justice, both fought military campaigns and both had many wives. In this sense, Muhammad is very much the Son of David. Second, the Psalms (or zabūr) are not only mentioned in the Qur’an as the revelation given to David, but Q21:105 appears to quote from the Psalter. Third, the Psalms are presented as poems – many are very similar in length, structure and poetics to many Surahs of the Qur’an. Fourth, like many Surahs in the Qur’an, the Psalms presume their readers and reciters are already familiar with God’s ways and revealed laws. Finally, when Muslims stand to pray they recite Surahs of the Qur’an just as Jews and Christians throughout history have stood before God and recited Psalms from the Psalter. In both cases, the words recited have been found to contain many mysteries and, in both cases, the acknowledgement of these mysteries has added to the sense in which this recitation has become an act of worship.

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Dr Danny Crowther

Reserch Associate, Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford

Program for the course:

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  1. A Muslim Reception History of the Psalms

  2. Jewish Reception History: 1000BCE to 1000CE

  3. Christian Reception History: 100CE to 1000CE

  4. The Qur’an and the Psalms (form)

  5. The Qur’an and the Psalms (function)

  6. Hadith and the Psalms (The Prayers of Islam)

  7. Muslim History and the Psalms (David and Muhammad)

  8. Muslim Imagination and the Psalms (The Muslim Psalms)

  9. A Muslim Reception History of Psalms 1, 2 and 8

  10. A Muslim Reception History of Psalms 18, 23 and 37

  11. A Muslim Reception History of the penitential psalms

  12. A Muslim Reception History of the Psalms of Ascent

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