Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted THE NARRATIVITY Of THE ḤŪRʿĪN: THE DYNAMICS OF QURʾ NIC REINTERPRETATION IN CONSTRUCTING THE ḤŪRʿĪN OF ISLAMIC PARADISE IN THE POST TRANSLATION ERA(State University of New York, Binghamton University, 2024-09) alzahrani, azzah; Ghaemmaghami, OmidThe twenty-first century witnessed an enormous revival of interest in Islamic studies particularly in the Qurʾānic reinterpretation that is deviated from the inherited tradition. Following a post-structuralist approach, this dissertation investigates the endeavors of scholars who have engaged in the reinterpretation of a very important concept in Islam: the Ḥūrʿīn ( ,(حُورٌ عِینٌ ‘houris’ in English —— classically interpreted as the female-like creatures awarded to male believers in the Islamic Paradise (al-Jannah), and often rendered as virgins of paradise. The classical interpretation of the Ḥūrʿīn remains to the vast majority of Muslims a confession of the profound power of Islam’s aesthetic appeal: a man’s ultimate desire of a feminine companionship in the afterlife. The novel reinterpretations of the Ḥūrʿīn, however, offer space to think through the nature and logic behind these creatures’ existence in al-Jannah and challenge the classical notion that has been widely circulated and constructed in the minds of Muslims worldwide. Drawing on narrative theory, this research attempts to answer the question of why the Ḥūrʿīn has been revisited and reinterpreted differently in the twenty-first century. This dissertation employs discourse analysis to examine two reinterpretations of the Ḥūrʿīn, which appear to be motivated by the inherent ambiguity of the concept and the narrative desire to provide different narratives to the Islamic Paradise. These reinterpretations attempt to frame new narratives compatible with the conceptual narratives of two distinct approaches towards the Islamic Scripture: the revisionists and the reformists. The dissertation contributes to the ongoing research into dominance and resistance of Qurʾānic reinterpretations amongst Muslims and concludes by recommending avenues for further research in the area.12 0Item Restricted The Maternal Figure Symbolizes Stability and Continuity in the Novels of George Eliot: a Close Reading of The Mill on the Floss(Univeristy of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2024-05-18) Naseb, Razan A.; Henry, NancyThis study delves into the intricate mother-daughter dynamics and societal critiques in George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss, focusing on the Tulliver women's battle within a patriarchal society. It vividly portrays how Maggie Tulliver's emotional and intellectual needs are overshadowed by Mrs. Tulliver, who places social status and financial security above all, mirroring the deeply ingrained gender norms of their time. The research argues that the novel's exploration of women's confined roles and the enduring influence of maternal figures still strikes a chord, tackling timeless issues of gender and familial relations. Through the stark contrast between Maggie's rich inner life and her mother's preoccupation with appearances and social standing, Eliot brings to the fore the isolation and hurdles women encounter in asserting their individuality. The thesis posits that Mrs. Tulliver's treatment of Maggie reflects her entanglement in unresolved societal expectations, perpetuating the constraints in which that she has. The analysis uncovers a poignant irony in Mrs. Tulliver's adherence to patriarchal standards, reinforcing the novel's critical stance on Victorian gender limitations and their enduring relevance.27 0Item Restricted Exploring the Impact of Different Social Factors on the Use of English Social-Media- Related Terms Among Al-Qunfudhah Arabic Speakers and their Attitude Towards These Terms(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-16) Halawani, Huda; Childs, Claire; Bailey, GeorgeSpeakers’ linguistic choices play a crucial role in identifying who they are. Several studies have documented how speakers speak and utilise language differently and what accounts for this variation. However, previous studies have not dealt with how different monolingual Arabic speakers and users of social media platforms might have a tendency to use English social- media-related terms or their Arabic equivalents. Therefore, this study set out to examine the influence of Al-Qunfudhah Arabic speakers’ age and gender in the frequent use of English social-media-related terms. It also aimed to investigate Al-Qunfudhah Arabic speakers’ attitudes towards these terms. In this cross-sectional study, 115 participants filled out an online questionnaire. On a 5-point scale, the participants rated how frequently they use the English terms and their Arabic equivalents. The attitudes were measured explicitly, using an open- ended question, and implicitly, using the matched-guise technique. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively (using means and percentages) and inferentially (using paired or independent sample t-tests) as appropriate. Thematic analysis was performed for the qualitative data. The analysis of social factor effects revealed a significant age difference in the frequent use of English social-media-related terms but not significant in terms of gender. These informal terms are more regularly used by younger speakers in Al-Qunfudhah and become a marker of youth social group, as indicated by the perception results. It also highlighted that these words are salient in daily conversations and informal settings. The participants’ attitudes were reflected in the reasons they provided for the widespread use of the terms under study. Based on their viewpoints, the widespread use of these terms was attributed to their association with social media platforms, ease and practicality, youths’ language, and globalisation. In contrast, other opinions saw the widespread use of these terms as a kind of insufficient appreciation of the language of Arabic speakers. Thus, it is evident from the findings that the regular use of English social-media-related terms is part of Al-Qunfudhah’s younger speakers’ social identity, which can contribute to a better understanding of lexical variation in the language used in Al-Qunfudhah province.23 0Item Embargo Teacher Attitudes, Self-Efficacy Beliefs and the Utilisation of Evidence-Based Strategies in Classroom and Behaviour Management for Students with Learning Disabilities in Inclusive Primary Classrooms in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Librery, 2023) Aljabr, Moneerh; Johnston, ChristineToday, inclusive education is becoming an increasingly common and important educational practice in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how teachers work with students with learning disabilities in order to provide better inclusion experiences for them. This study investigated the perceptions of general education teachers (GETs) and special education teachers (SETs) regarding inclusion, and their assessment of their self-efficacy when teaching Saudi Arabian students with a learning disability (LD). In addition, the study examined GETs’ and SETs’ perceptions of their use of classroom and behaviour management (CBM) practices while working with students with LD. Lastly, the study evaluated how gender impacted on the beliefs of GETs and SETs with regard to the inclusion of students with LD, their aptitude for teaching and managing these students’ behaviour, and how they implement various CBM practices when teaching them. To meet the study objectives, an explanatory two-stage sequential mixed-methods design was established. In the first stage, a questionnaire was answered by 286 male and female primary school GETs and SETs, with 250 participants going on to answer the open-ended questions at the end of the questionnaire. The second stage consisted of semi-structured interviews involving 12 female primary school teachers, equally divided between SETs and GETs. Overall, the findings indicated that even though GETs and SETs held similar positive attitudes regarding inclusion, they had different levels of self-efficacy and different approaches to the use of CBM practices when teaching students with LD. Moreover, the finding indicated that gender had a statistically significant influence on the attitudes of GETs and SETs towards inclusion and on CBM strategies used by GETs; however, no impact was found for the self-efficacy levels of GETs and SETs regarding teaching students with LD in inclusive classrooms.41 0