sign in sign up
<<
Home , Abida Parveen, Islamic mythology, Thuluth

Introduction to – Spring 2020 Dr. Hina Azam

Crosslistings: ISL 310 (40645), RS 319 (42395), HIS 306N.7 (38459), ANS 301M.15 (32170) *** This course carries a Global Cultures flag. ***

Days/Time: MWF 11:00 – 12:00 Course-related Email: use Canvas Location: RLP 1.106 Office: CAL 506 Office Hours: M 2:00 – 4:00 or by appointment – advanced notice/appointment encouraged Non-course related email: [email protected]

Course Description In today’s world, a functional knowledge of Islam– in terms of religion, history, and culture – is crucial. comprise approximately ¼ of the world’s population, with an estimated global population of 1.9 billion. Islam is the majority religion of 51 countries in the world; in 33 of these countries, Muslims make up 90% or more of the population. And while many people associate Middle Eastern languages such as , Persian, and Turkish with Islam, millions of Muslims also speak a range of other languages as their native tongues: -Hindi, Bengali, Indonesian/Malay, Pashto, Hausa, French, and many others. Over the course of its long history and geographical spread, Islam has branched into a spectrum of theological sects, schools of law, mystical orders, and ideological movements. At the same time, Muslims are bound together by a shared tradition anchored in the scripture of the Qur’an, the exemplary practice of the Prophet , and a 1400-year-old historical experience. This lower-division course aims to give students a foundational understanding of Islam as a religion, with attention to beliefs (cosmology, , ), practices (ritual, rites of passage), and morality (ethics, moral doctrines). It also introduces students to key moments in Islamic history as well as key aspects of Muslim societies and cultures, both past and present. Finally, this course will develop skills in news analysis and content knowledge is current affairs pertaining to Muslims. This course is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Islam and has no prerequisites.

Course Materials: • Textbook (available at Co-Op): - William E. Shepard, Introducing Islam (2nd edition, Routledge, 2014) - Todd Green, The Fear of Islam (2nd edition, Fortress Press, 2019)

• Canvas readings (pdfs under Files): - al-Ghazali (d.1111), Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship (The Islamic Foundation) - Abdel Haleem, Understanding the Qur’an

• Videos (links provided below)

Grading Attendance 13% 7 biweekly Current Affairs Synopses (3% each) 21% due Monday nights 12 weekly Homework Quizzes (3% each) 36% Fridays in class Final Exam 30%

Attendance • Regular attendance will be expected. You are permitted two unexcused absences without detriment to your grade; any absences beyond this may count against your attendance grade. Exceptions will be only

1 made at my discretion and with documentation. Any SSD paperwork must be brought to me within the first two weeks of classes. • Attendance will be taken at the start of each class period. If you walk in after attendance has been taken, then it is your responsibility to inform the responsible TA of your presence as soon as possible on/after the same class period. • Arrival after attendance has been taken will result in partial credit only.

Current Affairs Synopses • Every other week, submit a 500-word synopsis on a Muslim current affairs topic using reputable/approved journalistic sources. You must consult/draw upon at least three news articles for your synopsis. • Synopses must be submitted by 11:59 pm each Monday night. • Synopses will be graded on adherence to content requirements, to structural requirements, and on writing quality (organization, substance, mechanics, and diction). • Content requirements: You must address one synopsis to each of the focus topics at least once over the course of the term. A list of focus topics can be found under Announcements on Canvas. Your other synopses, even if not on a focus topic, must concern Islam and/or Muslims explicitly. • Structural requirements: I) At the top of your synopsis, provide links to the three main articles, the word count, and the topic. For synopses that are on one of the focus topics, indicate this. These elements will not count as part of your word count. II) Address the following questions, in the following order, each in its own section/paragraph with section heading. A) Who are the main actors? B) What happened/is happening? where? when? You may include background in this section, C) What is at stake? who are the stakeholders? D) Why is this story significant? Which underlying patterns does it reveal? E) How does this story relate to Islamic religion, Islamic history, or Muslim society and culture? III) Do not provide an introduction or conclusion. IV) If you consult additional sources to better understand the article, provide those additional links at the bottom of your synopsis in an “Additional Sources” section. This section will not count as part of your word count. • If you consult additional sources to better understand the article, you must provide those additional links at the bottom of your synopsis in an “Additional Sources” section. This section will not count as part of your word count.

Standard markdowns – these may increase with repeated occurrence - Inappropriate source: rewrite and -5 - Under 500 words or over 550 words: -5 - Not compliant with content requirements: -5 - Not compliant with structural requirements: -5 - Does not cite additional sources: -5

2 Exams • The Final Exam will cover both lecture and homework materials equally. • Make-up quizzes and exam will only be permitted at my discretion. If you have a scheduling conflict, you must obtain permission from me at least two weeks in advance of the exam. • Emergencies should be documented and I should be notified immediately.

Communication You are responsible for any announcements made in class, sent out via email, or made on Canvas. This includes announcements made during any portion of class for which you are absent, or email messages that you fail to receive. It is your responsibility to provide me a valid email address and to check it regularly. I will assume all Registrar-held email addresses are valid unless you tell me otherwise.

Grading Rubric Percentage Grade Letter Grade Percentage Grade Letter Grade 93-100 A 73-76 C 90-92 A- 70-72 C- 87-89 B+ 67-69 D+ 83-86 B 63-66 D 80-82 B- 60-62 D- 77-79 C+ 59 and below F

Note: Final course grades will be rounded to the nearest point, eg: 89.2 = 89 = B+ 89.7 = 90 = A- 89.5 = 90 = A-

Note: Students with disabilities may request appropriate accomodations from Services for Students with Disabilities at 512-471-6259, or www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/.

Note: Laptop and cellphone use is prohibited in class.

3 CLASS SCHEDULE

DATES TO REMEMBER: First day of class Wednesday 1/22 Spring Break Monday 3/16 – Friday 3/20 Last day of class Friday 5/8 Final exams TBA (available online at UT Registrar’s website)

UNIT 1: COURSE INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS

Week 1: Course Introduction; Islam in Public Discourse

1. Wed 1/22 Course Introduction; Review Syllabus Requirements

2. Fri 1/24 Thinking about Islam and Muslims; Phenomenon of • Shepard, Ch.1 (1-14, Approaching the subject)

Week 2: Islam in Academic Studies: Religious Studies and

3. Mon 1/27 Discussion; Idea of Religion; Concepts in Religious Studies • Shepard, Ch.2 (17-30, On the eve of Islam) Week 2 Synopsis due

4. Wed 1/29 Basic Concepts in Islam/Islamic Studies • Green, Ch.1 (9-41, What is Islamophobia?)

UNIT 2: ARABIA, MUHAMMAD & THE QUR’AN, & CLASSICAL ISLAM

5. Fri 1/31 Pre-Islamic Arabia Week 2 Homework Quiz • Shepard, Ch.3 (31-46, Muslim history to 700 CE)

Week 3: Pre-Islamic Arabia, the Prophet & the Qur’an; Early

6. Mon 2/3 Hadiths Discussion; Muḥammad & the Advent of Islam • First half of PBS documentary, “Muḥammad: Legacy of a Prophet” (watch from 0:00 to 53:05 - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xualnx_islam-muhammad-legacy-of-a-prophet-pbs_news)

7. Wed 2/5 The Qur’an: History of Revelation, Assembly, and Codification • Shepard, Ch.5 (65-83, The Qur’an) • “Chinese students study the in Xinjiang” (3 min – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lhyvXFHqWo) • Recitation by Malaysian woman reciter, Sharifa Khasif (5 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSR7Q-lzUKw) • Javanese recitation of al-Fatiha in English translation (2 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYilErF7Kpc)

4

8. Fri 2/7 The Early Caliphate Week 3 Homework Quiz • Shepard, Ch.8 (120-133, Sects and political theory)

Week 4: Islamic Traditions in the Middle Periods

9. Mon 2/10 Hadiths Discussion; Sectarian Divergences and Political Theology • Shepard, Ch.4 (47-62, from 700-1700 CE) Week 4 Synopsis due

10. Wed 2/12 Islamic Traditions / Medieval Period • Shepard, Ch.14 (209-226, Culture and counter-culture) • Thuluth circle, by Kurshid Gohar (8 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPQ4eIrEPAQ) • “The Art of ,” by Taha al-Hiti, at (3 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7e4QBxtCl8)

11. Fri 2/14 Islamic Traditions / Early Modern Period Week 4 Homework Quiz • Green, Ch.2 (The Historical Foundations of Islamophobia)

UNIT 3: ISLAM AS THE WAY OF THE PROPHETS; MUḤAMMAD AS A RELIGIOUS FIGURE

Week 5: Nubuwwa and Risala; Sunna and

12. Mon 2/17 Hadiths Discussion; Prophethood in Islam; the Prophets of Islam • Shepard, Ch.6 (84-98, The Prophet Muḥammad)

13. Wed 2/19 The Prophets of Islam, contd. • Second half of PBS documentary, “Muḥammad: Legacy of a Prophet” (watch from 53:05 to 1:56:53 - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xualnx_islam-muhammad-legacy-of-a-prophet- pbs_news)

14. Fri 2/21 The Concept of Sunna: Muhammad as Exemplar Week 5 Homework Quiz • Green, Ch.3 (Colonialism, Orientalism, and the Clash of Civilizations)

UNIT 4: ISLAMIC COSMOLOGY

Week 6: Beings and Their Relationships

15. Mon 2/24 Hadiths Discussion; Cosmology: Classes of Beings • Abdel Haleem, Ch.7 (Life and ) Week 6 Synopsis due

16. Wed 2/26 Cosmology: Divine Communication/Revelation

5 • Abdel Haleem, Ch.8 (Paradise)

17. Fri 2/28 Cosmology: God, the Self, and Others Week 6 Homework Quiz • Abdel Haleem, Ch.10 ( & Eve)

Week 7: Islamic Mythology/Sacred History

18. Mon 3/2 Hadiths Discussion; Cosmology: Sacred History Timeline • Green, Ch.4 (9/11, the War on Terror, and Rise of Political Islamophobia)

19. Wed 3/4 Cosmology, continued • BBC documentary, “What the Ancients Did For Us” (58 min – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMDjF64mGLw)

20. Fri 3/6 Cosmology, continued Week 7 Homework Quiz • HW TBD

UNIT 5: ISLAM AS THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

Week 8: Theological Debates and Doctrines Current Affairs: Islam in Europe

21. Mon 3/9 Hadiths Discussion; Theology (kalam); Theme A: Nature of Faith and Membership in the Community • Shepard, Ch.9 (134-145, Scholars and learning) Week 8 Synopsis due

22. Wed 3/11 Theme A, contd • Shepard, Ch.11 (163-174, Theology and philosophy)

23. Fri 3/13 Theme B: Divine Nature and Attributes • Green, Ch.5 (The “Islamic Threat” in Modern Europe) Week 8 Homework Quiz

SPRING BREAK – MAR 16 to MAR 20

Week 9: Theological Debates and Doctrines, continued

24. Mon 3/23 Hadiths Discussion; Theme B, contd primary text readings TBD

25. Wed 3/25 Theme C: Nature, Reason, History primary text readings TBD

6

26. Fri 3/27 Theme C, contd Week 9 Homework Quiz • Green, Ch.6 (Professional Islamophobia)

UNIT 6: ISLAM AS A PROGRAM FOR SOCIETY-BUILDING

Week 10: Moral-Legal Theory – Usul al-Fiqh (“Roots of Jurisprudence”)

27. Mon 3/30 Hadiths Discussion; Basic Concepts in Islamic Law • Shepard, Ch.10 (146-162, Islamic law) Week 10 Synopsis due

28. Wed 4/1 Sources and Methods of Jurisprudence • Ghazali, 19-39 & 44-48 (on salat)

29. Fri 4/3 Purposes of the Sharia Week 10 Homework Quiz • Ghazali, 53-73 (on )

Week 11: Moral Law – Furu‘ al-Fiqh (“Branches of Jurisprudence”)

30. Mon 4/6 Hadiths Discussion; ‘Ibadat/Worship: Prayer & Charity • Ghazali, 75-82 (on sawm) • Recitation of al-Fatiha in prayer context by Sh. Okasha Kamena (2 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievAZfkY3to)

31. Wed 4/8 ‘Ibadat/Worship: Fasting & Pilgrimage (sawm, ) • Ghazali, 95-120 (on hajj) • “What is ?” (@ 2 min – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ikpzGMoB5Y) find video showing hajj?

32. Fri 4/10 Mu‘amalat/ Society: Clothing, Sex, Marriage, Family Week 11 Homework Quiz • Shepard, Ch.7 (99-119, Rituals and ceremonies)

Week 12: Islamic Law – Furu‘ al-Fiqh (“Branches of Jurisprudence”), continued

33. Mon 4/13 Hadiths Discussion; Clothing, Sex, Marriage, Family, continued • Green, Ch.7 (Muslims in the Media and at the Movies) Week 12 Synopsis due

34. Wed 4/15 Mu‘amalat/ Society: State, Governance, Warfare • Abdel Haleem, Ch.5 (War & Peace)

35. Fri 4/17 Mu‘amalat/ Society: State, Governance, Warfare, continued Week 12 Homework Quiz HW TBD

7

UNIT 7: ISLAM AS SPIRITUAL/MYSTICAL PATH ()

Week 13: Sufi Doctrines and Practices

36. Mon 4/20 Hadiths Discussion; Sufism: Doctrines • Shepard, Ch.12 (175-193, the Sufi path to God)

37. Wed 4/22 Sufism: Doctrines, continued • “What is Sufism? Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri” (30 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GrglbVaKZc)

38. Fri 4/24 Sufism: Practices Week 13 Homework Quiz • “Ustaad Raees Khan & Abida Parveen - Mein Sufi Hoon (I am a Sufi)” (10 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiPtOcI6CBE&list=PLAB0pedI0T5R_5RjLLCA6D3z2ajh_P1 P8&index=8&nohtml5=False) • “Abida Parveen: 'I'm not a man or a woman, I'm a vehicle for passion'” interview in The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/08/abida-parveen-sufi-singer-passion)

UNIT 8: ISLAM, MODERNITY AND THE WEST

Week 14: Historical Encounters, Challenges, and Responses

39. Mon 4/27 Hadiths Discussion; Modern Encounter of Islam/Muslims & the West • Shepard, Ch.15 (229-255, Modern challenges: Western imperialism and Muslim response) Week 14 Synopsis due

40. Wed 4/29 The Liberal/Modernist Response • Shepard, Ch.20 (322-341, Globalization: challenge and opportunity)

41. Fri 5/1 The Islamist/Salafi Response Week 14 Homework Quiz • Shepard, Ch.21 (342-368, Gender, democracy and human rights)

Week 15: The Current Situation: Politics, Islam, and Islamophobia

42. Mon 5/4 Hadiths Discussion; Islam/Muslims in the U.S. • “How the How the autobiography of a Muslim slave is challenging an American narrative” (5 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBQelGvwkhE) • “Muslims in America” (2 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnzSKf6E53k) • “Latino Muslims in America” (10 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT40YXNKJ54) • “Wearing in the Military” (9 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCMT7Noj2lk) • “Secret Life of Muslims: An Education” (5 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0EcbyIF9QM)

43. Wed 5/6 Islamophobia • Green, Ch.8 (Islamophobia and Its Casualties)

8

44. Fri 5/8 Course Wrap-Up • Green, Ch.9 (Combatting Islamophobia)

FINAL EXAM (emphasis on Units 5-8) - DATE/LOCATION/TIME TBA

9