Introduction to Islam Schedule

The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary!

Course Outline

1. Introductions and Beginnings, August 22-24
1. Denny, "Pre-Islamic Arabia"
2. Readings from Jahili poetry (handout)


2. The Life of the Prophet (August 29-September 12)
1. The early years
Denny, "Muhammad and the Early Muslim Community"

2. The beginning of Prophecy: development of the early Meccan community

In class handout: Tabari, Ibn Ishaq, Qur'an 73, 74, 96 (This will be under the title: "Sira-The Commencement of the Prophet's Revelations" (Electronic Reserves)

3. Medina, establishment of the nascent Islamic state, death of the Prophet
4. Prophetic sunna
Denny, "The Prophet's Sunna as Preserved in the Hadith"
Class discussion on the Ibn Ishaq and Tabari readings.

3. The prophetic revelation: the Qur'an (September 14-21)
1. Introduction and contents
1. Denny, "The Nature and Function of the Qur'an"
2. Abraham
1. Renard, Chapter 3 (part of e-reserves All the Kings' Falcons: Rumi or Prophets and Revelation) NOTE: this one reading has in it all of the selections on the various prophets. You only need to access this once, save it if you are able, and then go back to it for the various Prophets.
2. Qur'anic selections: Abraham (Electronic Reserves)
3. Joseph
Renard, Chapter 4 All the Kings' Falcons: Rumi or Prophets and Revelation)
4. Moses
1. Renard, Chapter 5 All the Kings' Falcons: Rumi or Prophets and Revelation)
2. Qur'anic selections: Moses (Electronic Reserves)


4. Questions of Faith and Belief (September 26-October 6)
1. Denny, "The Basic Beliefs and Worship Practices of Islam"
2. Denny, "Muslim Creeds and Theologies: Their Purposes and Varieties"
3. The Usul of Ibn Ukkasha, etc.(This is a set of creeds) (Electronic Reserves)


5. Leaders and Successors: The community after the Prophet (October 10-12)
1. God's Rule - Government and Islam Ch. 2: The First Civil War and Sect Formation (Electronic Reserves)
2. Nahj al-Balagha (collection attributed to `Ali) on the Succession
3. The Islamic Community after the Death of the Prophet (Electronic Reserves)

Al-Husayn, Karbala, and the commemorations of Muharram

4. Guests of the Shiek Ch. 7 -- Muharram (Electronic Reserves)
5. The Origins of the Ashura Ritual (Electronic Reserves)

Optional readings on Shiism:
6. Ch. 1 - The Origin and Growth of Shi'ism (Electronic Reserves)
7. The Abdication of al-Hasan (Electronic Reserves)


6. Introduction to our group project, Islamophobia! (October 17)


7. October 14--Semester Midpoint and last chance to withdraw without a "W"


8. Midterm (October 19) bring a Blue Book


9. Islamic Law (October 24-26)
1. Denny, "Law and the State in Classical Islamic Formulations"
2. Gilsenan, Chapter 2, "The Men of Learning and Authority"
10. Islamic Practice, Feasts and Time (November 1-3)
1. One Thousand Roads to Mecca (the following selections are online)
2. (The Medieval Period) (Electronic Reserves)
3. optional/additional (Ibn Batutta) (Electronic Reserves)
4. (Malcom X) (Electronic Reserves)
5. optional/additional (Saida Miller Khalifa) (Electronic Reserves)


11. Sufism (November 7-16)
1. Denny, "Islamic Mysticism and the Disciplines of Esoteric Piety" & "Masters and Disciples: The Forms and Functions of Sufi Orders
2. Sufis and anti-Sufis (Electronic Reserves)
3. Film: I am a Sufi, I am a Muslim
12. Thanksgiving Break (al-Hamdulillah!) November 21-23
Read over the break: Gilsenan Chapter 4, "The Operations of Grace.

Also, Gilsenan Chapter 7 "Everywhere and Nowhere." You must bring to class the day after the Thanksgiving break a 700-1000 word summary of this chapter (7). As you read, look up words you do not know. Do you know what "bourgeoisie" means? "Petite bourgeoisie?" "Lumpenproletariat?" Do you understand, at least partially, what he means by Salafiyya? Look these words up.
What is the austere and militant Islam that he refers to? What does he argue about what gives it its power? It will count for the second quiz.

13. Islam, Modernity, and Gender (November 28-December 7)
1. Modernity, colonialism, and its discontents
1. Gilsenan, Chapter 10, "The World Turned Inside Out"
2. Milestones(Introduction and Chapter 12) (Electronic Reserves)
3. Persepolis
4. Robert Newman's History of Oil
   
GROUP PROJECT due Thursday, December 7.
1. Final Paper due: December 7


14. LAST DAY OF CLASS! (December 8, 2005)


15. Final Exam: Thursday December 14, 10:15 a.m. (bring a blue book!)