Religion 55

ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION

Fall 2009

Professor: T. Jaffer

Office: Chapin 209

E-Mail:

Telephone: (413) 542-2921

Office Hours: Friday, 1-3PM

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to the major aspects of the Islamic intellectual tradition. In this course we will study works of theology, philosophy, governance, mysticism, jurisprudence, and governance authored by Muslims of various intellectual stripes. Our goal is to understand the concepts and theories that Muslim intellectuals articulated and the movements that they engendered from the 8th century through the 20th century. We will explore questions concerning language and revelation, the nature of God, prophecy, apostasy, heresy, tolerance, miracles, jurisprudence and governance.

REQUIREMENTS

General: Students are expected to do all of the assigned readings before class, to attend all class meetings and to participate actively in discussion sessions.

Papers: Formal work for the course will consists of two short papers (five double-spaced pages) and a final paper (twelve to fifteen pages). The first short paper is due on Monday, September 28 (in class); the second short paper is due on Monday, November 2 (in class). We will begin formulating topics for final papers about half way into the semester, and you will have at least one scheduled meeting with me to discuss it. There will be several stages of your work for this paper that will be graded, including submitting a proposal and bibliography, a rough draft, and a final paper. You will also be required to teach a mini-class on your paper topic. The paper is due on Monday, December 14.

Extension policy: Paper extensions are likely to be granted if they are asked for well ahead of time. A good reason must be offered for any request for an extension. No extensions will be granted less than twenty-four hours in advance of a paper deadline except in cases of emergency. Papers received late without an extension will receive a grade penalty.

Absence policy: Repeated, unexcused absences will result in a final grade penalty of not less than one-third of a letter grade.

Evaluations: Students will be required to submit course evaluations at the end of the semester. Students will not be able to gain access to their course grades until an evaluation has been submitted.

SECTARIANISM AND THE BEGINNINGS OF THEOLOGY (KALAM)

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Early Sectarianism

Wednesday, Sept. 9: The Beginnings of Theology

1.Shahrastani (d. 1153), Muslim Sects and Divisions, 37-56 (to be distributed)

LANGUAGE AND REVELATION

Monday, Sept. 14: The Mu‘tazila

  1. Tabari [d. 923], History of Prophets and Kings, 198-223 (packet)
  2. Van Ess, “Verbal Inspiration? Language and revelation in classical Islamic theology,” 177-194 (packet)

Read Tabari’s account of the caliph Maʾmun’s interrogation of the judges and traditionists. This event is known as the “trial” or “test.” Identify the theological issues at play in the controversy concerning the “created” and “uncreated” Qur’an. Use Van Ess to help you.

Wednesday, Sept. 16: The Mu‘tazila

  1. Zamakhshari [d. 1144], A Mu‘tazilite Creed, 13-46 (packet)

FREE WILL AND PREDESTINATION

Monday, Sept. 21: Ash‘ari; the doctrine of “Acquisition” (kasb)

  1. Ash‘ari [d. ca. 936], Highlights of the Polemic against Deviators and Innovators, 53-116 (packet)

Wednesday, Sept. 23: Discussion

  1. Re-readAsh‘ari [d. ca. 936], Highlights of the Polemic against Deviators and Innovators, 53-116 (packet)

Discussion topic: How would Ash‘ari respond to the following question:If God creates our actions, isn’t He unjust to punish us for them?

THE ARABIC PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITION (FALSAFA)

Monday, Sept. 28: The Life of Avicenna

  1. Avicenna [d. 1037], Autobiography, 22-30 (packet)
  2. Gutas, Avicenna and the Aristotelian Tradition, 149-198 (to be distributed)

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Proofs of Prophecy

  1. Avicenna [d. 1037], On the Proof of Prophecies, 112-121 (packet)
  2. Marmura, Avicenna’s Psychological Proof of Prophecy, 49-56 (packet)

HERESY, APOSTASY AND TOLERANCE

Monday, Oct. 5: no class

Wednesday, Oct. 7:Ghazali

  1. Ghazali [d. 1111], The Incoherence of the Philosophers, xv-xxvii and 1-11 (packet)
  2. Griffel, Al-Ghazali’s Philosophical Theology, 97-109 (packet)
  3. Van Ess, “Theology in Its Own Eyes: Division and Heresy in Islam,” 1-44 (packet)

GOD AND CREATION

Monday, Oct. 12: Mid-semester break, no class

Wednesday, Oct. 14: The Nature of the Godhead

  1. Ghazali [d. 1111], The Incoherence of the Philosophers, 96-109 (packet)
  2. Ash‘ari [d. ca. 936], Highlights of the Polemic against Deviators and Innovators, 5-51 (packet)

Discussion topic: The Divine Attributes. Pay close attention to Ghazali’s criticism of the Avicennian position. Identify the pivotal point of dispute in the controversy concerning God’s Attributes.

CAUSALITY AND MIRACLES

Monday, Oct. 19: Ghazali

  1. Ghazali [d. 1111], The Incoherence of the Philosophers, 166-177 (packet)

Pay attention to Ghazali’s statement: “Observation, however, [only] shows the occurrence [of burning] at [the time of the contact with fire], but does not show the occurrence [of burning] by [the fire] and that there is no other cause for it” (Incoherence, Seventeenth Discussion, para. 5). What role does this statement play in Ghazali's critique of the Avicennian position?

Wednesday, Oct. 21: Discussion

  1. McGinnis, “Occasionalism, Natural Causation and Science in al-Ghazali,” 441-463 (packet)

Discussion topic: Are God’s hands tied by the laws of nature, or can he override them in order to create miracles?

THE POISON OF PHILOSOPHY

Monday, Oct. 26: Ibn Taymiyya; In and Out of Jail

  1. Find youtube videos that illustrate the controversial character of Ibn Taymiyya
  2. Little, “Did Ibn Taymiyya Have a Screw Loose?” 93-111 (packet)
  3. Jackson, “Ibn Taymiyya on Trial in Damascus,” 41-85 (packet)

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Ibn Taymiyya; Critique of Philosophy

  1. Ibn Taymiyya [d. 1328], Against the Logicians, xi-lii and 3-30 (packet)

ISLAMIC MYSTICISM AND THE UNITY OF BEING

Monday, Nov. 2: Burhanpuri

  1. Burhanpuri [d. 1590], The Gift Addressed to the Spirit of the Prophet, 141-148 and 28-99 (packet)

Try to unpack Burhanpuri’s discussion. What does he mean by [God’s] Essential Perfection (p. 141, para. 8)? What does he mean by [God’s] Nominal Perfection (p. 142, para. 9)? We will discuss these paragraphs in class.

Wednesday, Nov. 4: Burhanpuri

  1. Re-read Burhanpuri [d. 1590], The Gift Addressed to the Spirit of the Prophet, 141-148 and 28-99 (packet)

Try to unpack p. 145, para. 17 by elucidating its key concepts, ideas and themes using simple and clear language. We will discuss this passage in class.

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Monday, Nov. 9: Avicenna

  1. Avicenna [d. 1037], Healing: Metaphysics X, 358-378 (to be distributed)

Wednesday, Nov. 11: Khomeini

  1. Khomeini [d. 1989], Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist, 1-112 (to be distributed)

ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE

Monday, Nov. 16:

  1. Sadr [d. 1980], Lessons in Islamic Jurisprudence, Preface, Introduction and 1-53 (to be distributed)

Wednesday, Nov. 18:

  1. Sadr [d. 1980], Lessons in Islamic Jurisprudence, 54-118 (to be distributed)

Monday, Nov. 30: Students teach mini-classes on their research

Wednesday, Dec. 2: Students teach mini-classes on their research

Monday, Dec. 7: Students teach mini-classes on their research

Wednesday, Dec. 9: Students teach mini-classes on their research

1