Islamic History As World History: Freshman Seminar

Islamic History as World History: Freshman Seminar

Instructor: SherAli Tareen M-W-F: 2:20-3:20 Old Main 111

Course Description:

This course is a survey of Islamic civilization and culture in both historical and in contemporary times. We will cover major themes of Islamic religious thought including the Quran and its interpretation, the intellectual history of Islam, Sufism, Islamic philosophy, Islamic revivalism and Islamic fundamentalism. Through the utilization of both secondary and primary sources (religious and literary texts, films), we will examine the ways in which we can treat Islamic history as world history. In addition to gaining a solid understanding of the problems associated with the study of Islam, the successful completion of this course should also equip you with the tools required to analyze broader theoretical issues pertinent to the study of religion in general. The primary goal of this course is to provide you with a strong theoretical foundation in religion studies so that you are able to think and speak about religion in an informed and insightful manner. In this sense, the scope of this course is not limited to Islam, as we will be using the example of Islam as a case study to wrestle with broader intellectual issues relating to the intersection between religion, history and politics.

Course Objectives:

The central objectives of this course include:

1) To introduce students to the major methodological and theoretical issues relating to the academic study of religion in general and to the study of Islam in particular.

2) To acquaint students with the most important categories of scholarship involved in the study of Islamicate cultures and civilizations both past and present.

3) To provide students with a basic understanding of the challenges associated with making sense of the complicated intellectual history of the Islamic tradition.

4) To help students acquire some sense of the diversity of thought and practice that characterizes the Islamic tradition.

5) Finally, by engaging in this course, students will hopefully develop a keen sense of appreciation for the importance of using precise and correct phraseology while articulating thoughts and ideas in Religion Studies.

1 Pre-Requisites:

There are NO pre-requisites for this course and I assume no prior knowledge of the subject. However, although this is an introductory course, it is nonetheless writing- intensive.

Course Requirements:

To successfully complete this course, you will need to turn in two short papers, and take a mid-term (October 8th) and a final exam (during finals week). In addition, you must also write a longer final paper (on a topic of your choice) to be turned in at the end of the semester. Attendance and active class participation are also vital to doing well in this course.

Exams:

Both the mid-term and the final will be held in-class. They will consist of two essay questions and a list of ten terms that you will be asked to identify. For each exam, I will provide you with 3 essay questions from which any 2 will appear on the exam. You will receive these questions at least one week in advance of the test. However, these are NOT take-home exams. You must write your responses in-class during the allotted one hour. The list of ten terms will NOT be provided in advance but they will be selected from class readings and lectures.

Book Reviews:

You are required to compose 2 short book reviews during the course of the semester. The first (Malcolm X) is due on September 21st and the second (Kite Runner) on November 17 respectively. I am looking for around 3-4 pages double-spaced. For each of these papers, I want you to primarily address the following question: where and how does ‘religion’ fit into the narrative content of these novels? This will represent a much clearer task in the case of Malcolm X than in regards to Kite Runner but in both cases there are multiple trajectories from which you can approach this central question. In general, these book reviews are intended to stimulate useful discussion on the intersection of religion, culture and politics in specific historical and local contexts. Also, these reviews will hopefully trigger questions relating to the efficacy of using novels to make sense of both religious and secular concerns of a given society. More instructions will be sent out later.

Final Paper:

You are expected to submit a15-20 page (double-spaced) research project at the end of the semester (December 21st) on a topic of your choice. I believe there is no such thing as good writing. Rather, there is only such a thing as good re-writing. Therefore, I envision this project to very much be a cumulative process with ample opportunities of re-writing. You will be asked to turn in 3 drafts of your paper (all un-graded) before

2 submitting the final product. You will receive timely feedback for each of your first 3 drafts if you hand them in on time. I would also encourage you to come see me before choosing your topic for the paper because you would not want to get stuck with a topic that you later regret having chosen. You will also be required to present your final projects during presentations to be held in-class during the last two weeks of the semester. All presentations will be allotted fifteen minutes each.

Grading System:

Your Final Grade will be Determined as Follows:

First Short Paper: 15% Second Short Paper: 15% Mid-Term Exam: 20% Final Exam: 20% Final Paper and Presentation: 25% Class Attendance and Participation: 5%

Grading Standards:

A- Extraordinary work, truly exceptional and outstanding performance in your papers and during in-class participation. B- Good Work, Reasonable Performance. C- Satisfactory Work, Nothing too special. D- Unsatisfactory Performance, Below Average. F- You ought to be taken out and shot!

Books for Purchase:

Carl Ernst, Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World. Marshall Hodgson, Venture of Islam Volume 1. Michael Sells, Approaching the Quran: Early Revelations. Alex Haley, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Khaled Hosseini, Kite Runner. Richard Eaton, Essays on Islam and Indian History. Carl Ernst, Shambala Guide to Sufism. Bruce Lawrence, Defenders of God: The Fundamentalist Revolt Against the Modern Age.

3 Reading Schedule:

Week 1: (9/1-9/5) Read: Haley, Alex. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, entire.

Week 2: (9/8-9/12) The Study of Islam and the Study of Religion

Read: Ernst, Carl. Following Muhammad, Ch 1 and 2 P. 1-72. Eaton, Richard. Ch.1 “Islamic History as World History” P. 9-41. Smith, Wilfred Cantwell. The Meaning and End of Religion, Chapters 1-3.

Week 3 (9/15-9/19) Early Islamic Civilization

Read: Hodgson, Marshall. The Venture of Islam, P. 101-187. Movie Screening- Islam: The Empire of Faith (Part 1).

September 21st, 1st Paper Due: Book Review (Malcolm X).

Week 4 (9/22-9/26) The High Caliphate

Read: Hodgson, P. 187-280.

Week 5 (9/29-10/3) The High Caliphate Continued

Read: Hodgson, P. 280-410.

Week 6 (10/6-10/10) The Quran

Read: Ernst, 71-107. Sells, Michael. Approaching the Quran: Early Revelations. P. 1-91.

4 Week 7 (10/13-10/17) Islamic Ethics and Philosophy

Read: Hodgson, P. 410-495 Ernst, P. 107-136.

Week 8 (10/20-10/24) Sufism and the Orientalist Tradition

Read: Ernst, P. 163-182. Ernst, Carl. Shambala Guide to Sufism. Ch. 1-3. P. 1-80.

Week 9 (10/30/11/3) Sufism and Comparative Studies in Mysticism

Read: Ernst (Shambala Guide to Sufism). Ch. 5-8. P.120-228. Ernst, Carl. “Situating Sufism and Yoga”. (E-Reserves). Start Reading: Hosseini, Khalid. Kite Runner, entire.

Week 10 (11/6-11/10) Islam in South Asia

Read: Eaton, P. 159-249. Film Screening: Banaras Muharram and the Coals of Karbala.

Week 11 (11/13-11/17) Islam in Afghanistan and Central Asia

Read: Khalid, Adeeb. “Islam in Contemporary Central Asia.” (E-Reserves). Discuss: Hosseini, Khalid. Kite Runner, entire.

November 17, 2nd Paper Due: Book Review: (Kite Runner).

Week 12 (11/20-11/24) Religious Nationalism and Islamic Revivalism

Read: Lawrence, Bruce. Defenders of God: The Fundamentalist Revolt Against the Modern Age. P. 1-119. Metcalf, Barbara, Islamic Revival in British India: Deoband 1860-1900, P. 3-46. Film Screening: “In The Name of God”. Anand Pathwardan.

5 Week 13 (12/1-12/5) Class Presentations

Week 14 (12/8-12/12) Class Presentations and Issues of Methodology in the Study of Islam

Read: Peter Hardy, “Some General Characteristics Analyzed” (E-Reserves). Carl Ernst, “The Study of Islam in www.unc.edu/~cernst”.