Religious Studies 330: ISLAM

Spring Semester, 2005

Mon & Wed 12:40-2:20 in 114 Berkey Hall

Course instructor: Alford T Welch, Professor of Religious Studies

Course description:

Major developments of the Islamic tradition from its 7th-century beginnings in the Arabian peninsula to its multiple, global manifestations today. After a survey of the political, social, and religious setting for the rise of Islam, the first part of the course will focus on the life and contributions of the Prophet Muhammad, the early caliphate and the rapid spread of the Arab-Muslim ruled empire after the Prophet’s death, the early history and basic teachings of the oral and written Qur’an, and its significance in Muslim daily life.

The course will then turn to the stages in the establishment of normative Islamic practice, including the rise of Sunni Islam, the role of the Prophet as exemplar, the importance and functions of the Hadith collections and Islamic law in traditional Muslim life, descriptions of the “essential” Islamic practices called the “Pillars of Islam”, and the structure of traditional Islamic society, including various aspects

of family life and the roles of women.

The last half of the course will begin with a survey of the rich Sufi tradition (Islamic mysticism) and then provide an overview of the unity and diversity of the worldwide Muslim community, including the main distinctions between the Sunni and Shi‘i communities and the demography of the Muslim world today. Special attention will be given to the major modern movements and trends, beginning with 19th- and early 20th-century “revivalist” and “modernist” reform leaders and groups that set the stage for current developments in the Muslim world, dramatic changes now occurring in the lives and roles of Muslim women, and the distinctive goals and methods of prominent 20th- and early 21st-century religious and political movements, including “political Islam” and the use of militarist and terrorist methods in the name of Islam.

This course, which has no prerequisites, will provide an upper-level undergraduate introduction to the Islamic religious tradition. This is not a history course, but the major topics will be presented roughly in chronological order, thus providing a coherent story of Islam from the time of the Prophet Muhammad to the present.

Required textbooks and coursepack:

Malise Ruthven, Islam in the World, 2nd ed.

John A Williams, The Word of Islam (anthology of translations of Arabic sources)

Elizabeth Fernia, Guests of the Sheik: An Ethnography of an Iraqi Village

Fatima Mernissi, Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood

Elizabeth Fernia, In Search of Islamic Feminism

John L Esposito, Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam

Alford T Welch, articles in CoursePack (CP in course outline)

Course objectives:

(1) To provide an overview of the Islamic tradition from the time of Muhammad to the present,

(2) to provide a basic introduction to the distinctive Sunni, Shi‘i, and Sufi beliefs and practices,

(3) to survey the global ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity of the Muslim community today,

(4) to explore the nature and concerns of major “revivalist” and “modernist” Islamic movements,

and (5) to identify and distinguish the political and religious goals of representative secular, Islamist

and militant movements that are active in the Islamic world today.

Course outline and reading assignments:

Introduction: The setting for the rise of Islam

1.The Prophet Muhammad

(Ruthven, Chap II; Williams, pp 37-53; Welch, “Muhammad” in CP).

2.The early Muslim community and the initial spread of the Arab empire and Islam

(Ruthven, pp 68-79 + Maps 1-2; Williams, 53-6; Welch, “Islam” in CP, 222-4: key dates).

3.The Qur’an and basic Islamic beliefs

(Ruthven, III; Williams, I; Welch, “Islam” in CP, 162-5, 172-8).

NOTE: Begin reading Elizabeth Fernia’s Guests of the Sheik.

4.The Sunna of the Prophet, Islamic law, and the “Pillars of Islam”

(Ruthven, 122-51 + Chap I; Williams, 36-7, 56-108; Welch, “Islam” in CP, 165-6, 178-98).

5.Traditional Islamic family life and roles of women

(Ruthven, 151-63 + Index refs; Welch, “Islam”, 198-201; Fernia, Guests of the Sheik).

Discussion and review session

MIDTERM TEST

6.The Sufi tradition: Islamic mysticism

(Ruthven, VI; Williams, IV; Welch, “Islam”, 203-6).

NOTE: Begin reading Fatima Mernissi’s Dreams of Trespass.

7.Unity and diversity within the Muslim community & demography of the Muslim world

(Ruthven, V + Maps 4-5; Williams, VI; Welch, “Islam”, 206-8, 169-71, 227-9).

8.Modern interpretations of Islam: revivalist and modernist reform movements

(Ruthven, VII; Unholy War, 41-61; Welch, “Islam”, 208-17, 225: dates; Mernissi, Dreams).

9.“In Search of Islamic Feminism”

(Fernea, Search, selected chapters; Ruthven, Index refs; Welch, “Islam”, 220-2).

10.Political Islam and militancy in the name of Islam

(Ruthven, VIII, parts; Unholy War; Welch, “Islam”, 217-22, 226: dates).

Discussion and review session

FINAL EXAM

Course requirements:

1.Careful reading of the assigned portions of the required textbooks.

2.MIDTERM TEST, on topics 1-5:Wed, Mar 2

3. SYNOPSES & REFLECTIONS paper due: Mon, Apr 4

4.FINAL EXAM, on topics 6-10:Wed, May 4, 12:45-2:45 p m

IMPORTANT NOTE: Class attendance is very important in this course, and is essential for doing well

on the tests, all of which will be essay exams based on the lectures, class discussion, the assigned readings, and, in some cases, specific information from the videos and other class presentations.

Excessive absences will adversely affect your course grade.

Synopses and Reflections (S&R) assignment:

Virtually every week the class will watch some type of video or other multi-media presentation. Occasionally

we will discuss a Special Topic (ST) instead. These videos, other presentations, and STs are an integral part

of this course. In early April you will be asked to hand in an S&R paper or report on four or five of the videos, other presentations, and STs that you will select from a longer list. For each of the 4 or 5 you will be asked to write (1) a synopsis of the video or a brief summary of what was discussed and (2) your own personal reflections or other responses. During the second week of class I will prepare and make available the general guide-lines for this assignment. Then in late March we will decide together in class which items to include on the list from which you’ll choose a specified number to discuss. At least a week before the due date you will

receive the final list, with specific instructions for this assignment.

Optional research paper:

A research paper is not required, but is strongly recommended. It should be a minimum of 2,500 words

(8-10 double-spaced typed pages) on a specific topic directly related to the subject matter of this course.

I strongly recommend that you discuss your topic with me well in advance. It would be best for you to prepare your paper by computer. You need to follow a clear and consistent form of documentation of your sources (footnotes, endnotes, or citations to your sources in the text of your paper). Cite your sources for specific data and significant ideas or opinions of your authors, as well as for any direct quotations. Your paper must also include a Bibliography or list of Works Consulted. We will discuss other specifics about this paper in class.

Due: Wed, Apr 20

Evaluation:

For those of you who choose not to write the optional paper: The midterm test and the final exam will each count 35% of your course grade, and the Synopses and Reflections paper will count 30%.

For students who submit the optional paper: The midterm test, the Synopses and Reflections paper, the optional research paper, and the final exam will each count 25% of your course grade.

Office hours and contacting me:

Office hours: Mon and Wed, 4:45-5:30 in 115 Morrill Hall. If these times are not convenient for you, see me

before or after class, or send an email message to arrange another time.

Office telephone: 353-9098, which has an answering machine, so you can leave messages at any time. You can usually reach me more quickly, however, by email – which I read and answer daily during term.

Email: <> Feel free to contact me at any time through email regarding any questions

or concerns you may have about the course – or for any other reason.