ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY WS‐639 Fall 2020 Hartford Seminary Colleen M. Keyes, Ph.D. [email protected] Course Description This is a historical and topical survey that examines Islamic spirituality (commonly known as Sufism), the growth of this tradition from the earliest days of Islam, and the early forms of personal piety that culminated in emphasis on mystical dimensions of Islamic religious experience and practice. We will read both primary sources (in translation) and secondary sources, and reflect on the works of several of the major Muslim spiritual figures throughout history, learn about the development of Sufi orders, and consider the relationships between spirituality, theology, and law in Islam. We will encounter English translations of some of the greatest masterpieces of Sufi literature in Arabic and Persian. This course provides knowledge useful for those generally interested in spirituality and those in spiritual/pastoral care and counseling professions. Required books: Please note that the required readings for this course will be available on the Digital Theological Library (DTL) to which all students have access and or will be provided in digitized form/ PDF and placed in Canvas under Course Resources. Only one book needs to be purchased as it is not available as an e‐book and cannot be digitized: Michael Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur’an, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings. Paulist Press, 1996. Recommended readings: These are additional readings that you may be interested in. You do not have to read or purchase any of them. Some may be available on the DTL. I have added these additional resources so that you may access them if you have time and interest. Please read the entire syllabus carefully and ask any questions you have by contacting me by email. Course Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to 1. Locate the roots of the spiritual dimension of Islam in the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet Muhammad 2. Demonstrate understanding of Sufi theology 3. Demonstrate understanding of the centrality of virtue and ethical development in Islam through Islamic spiritual practice 4. Demonstrate familiarity with key figures in Islamic spiritual thought and practice in historical context 5. Be conversant with the relationship between the spiritual, theological, and legal within Islam 6. For pastoral/spiritual care providers/chaplains/imams: Demonstrate how knowledge of Islamic spirituality may be utilized in the care of persons of various faith traditions and/or philosophies. 7. Engage in beneficial reflection on their own spiritual state and development This course assists students in achieving the following program outcomes through its content, learning activities and assignments and their assessment: Master of Arts in Religious Studies: Learning Outcomes 1. To demonstrate foundational and critical knowledge of one’s own religion 2. To demonstrate the knowledge, capacities, and willingness to respectfully engage other religions and world views 3. To demonstrate knowledge of the practices of one’s own religious tradition and the capacity to appreciate the practices of other religious traditions Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate foundational and critical knowledge of the Islamic tradition as relevant to Muslim chaplains. Course Schedule: (may be modified as necessary) This is an asynchronous fully online course. However, I will offer Zoom meetings for those who would like to meet. Please be aware that all Zoom meetings are completely OPTIONAL and participation/non‐ participation will not impact your grade negatively. I am offering this time to meet together in hope of adding a personal, interactive element and face‐to‐face discussion of readings to enliven the course. The Zoom sessions are not lectures and they will be offered for one hour a week for those who can and would like to come together to discuss readings, ask questions, and share our thoughts, etc. Writing Requirements: There will be 4 Reflection Essays of 3‐5 pages. 2 Class discussions in Canvas: There will be 9 online discussions of readings. You are required to participate in 6 of the 9 discussions, so you do not have to post every week. You are encouraged and welcome to participate in all 9 and may earn additional points to your final grade if you do. More information about this under Course Requirements, section c. Week 1: 9/8‐9/14 ‐‐ Situating Islam and Sufism—What is Sufism and where/how does it fit into Islam? See Canvas Week 1 Module for full information and specific assignments or directions. Optional Zoom session: If you would like to meet me and your classmates in a Zoom session the first week, I propose 8:30‐9:30PM, 9/10, Thursday ( Again,this session is completely optional. I am offering this opportunity to meet each other, introduce ourselves, and talk about the course, go over the syllabus.) Required Readings: (To be completed before 9/17 and discussed in Week 2. See below: Optional Zoom session for Week 2 and Discussion Prompt 1 response due on 9/19.) Jackson, Sherman. Sufism for Non‐Sufis? Ibn ‘Atā’ Allāh al‐Sakandarī’s Tāj al‐‘Arūs, Oxford University Press, 2012. Introduction 3‐42. (on the DTL) Martin Lings, What is Sufism? Ch. 1, “The Originality of Sufism”; Ch. 2, “The Universality of Sufism” https://archive.org/details/WhatIsSufism-martinLings Anne Marie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam. Ch.1, “What is Sufism?” https://thedtl.on.worldcat.org/oclc/769344370 Recommended (if you have time and interest): ‘Ajiba, Ahmed ibn The Book of Ascension to the Essential Truths of Sufism (Mir ‘raj al‐tashawwuf ila haqa’iq al‐tasawwuf) (Trans. Mohamed Fouad Aresmouk & Michael Abdurrahman Fitzgerald), Fons Vitae, 2011. Pp.1‐42; 115‐124 Week 2: 9/15‐9/21‐ The Spiritual Teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad d.10/632 See Canvas Week 2 Module for full information and specific assignments or directions. Optional Zoom class meeting: 8:30‐9:30 PM EDT, 9/17, to discuss Week 1 Readings. (Time of meeting may be modified and may vary to accommodate student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 1 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion on Week 1 readings: You will find the specific topic(s) of discussion in the Week 1 Module in Canvas. Your post to the Discussion Prompt is due by Saturday 9/19 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Please try to submit on time and respond thoughtfully to at least 2 classmates’ posts by Monday, 9/21 at 11:59 PM. Required Readings: (To be discussed in Week 3. See below‐ Discussion Prompt 2) Lings, Ch. 3, “The Book”; Ch. 4, “The Messenger” 3 Michael Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur’an, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings. Paulist Press, 1996: Introduction; Ch.1, “Sources of Islamic Mysticism”; Ch.2, “Early Sufi Qur’an Interpretation.” (You must purchase this book.) ‘Ajiba, Ahmad ibn. Trans. Abdul Aziz Suraqah, Prophetic Grace: The Qur’anic merits of the Prophet Muhammad, 2015. xi‐xiii. 1‐23.74‐109. (PDF/digitized) Recommended (if you have time and interest): Carl Ernst, Sufism: An Introduction to the Mystical Tradition of Islam, Ch. 1‐4 Chourif, Tayeb, Spiritual Teachings of the Prophet: Hadiths and Commentaries of Saints and Sages of Islam. Fons Vitae, 2011. Week 3: 9/22‐/9/28‐ Early Muslim Mysticism See Canvas Week 3 Module for full information and specific assignments or directions. Optional Zoom class meeting: 8:30‐9:30 PM Eastern, 9/24, Thursday (Date and time may change to accommodate student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 2 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion on Week 2 readings: You will find the specific topic(s) of discussion in the Week 2 Module in Canvas. Your post to Discussion Prompt 2 is due by Saturday 9/25 at 8:00PM Eastern. Please try to submit on time and respond thoughtfully to at least 2 classmates’ posts by Monday, 9/27 at 11:59 PM. Required Readings:(To be discussed in Week 4. See below‐Discussion Prompt 3) Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism, Ch. 5, “Muhasibi: Moral Psychology”; Ch. 6, Sarraj “The Seven Stations from the Book of Flashes (Kitāb al‐Luma ‘); Ch.7, “Bistami”; Ch.8, “Junayd: On the Affirmation of Unity (Tawhīd)” Abu Abdullah al‐Harith bin Asad al‐Muhasibi, Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance, (Risala Al‐ Mustarshidin) (Trans. Zaid Shakir) ND Publishers, 2008. Pp. ix‐xxv, 1‐61, 213‐224. ( PDF/digitized) Week 4: 9/29 ‐10/5‐ Early Sufi Women: Rābiʿa al‐ʿAdawiyya al‐Qaysiyya (d.179/ 801) See Canvas Week 4 Module for full information and specific assignments or directions. Optional Zoom class meeting: 8:30‐9:30 PM, Eastern, 10/1, Thursday (Date and time may change to accommodate student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 3 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion on Week 3 readings: You will find the specific topic(s) of discussion in the Week 3 Module in Canvas. Your post to Discussion Prompt 3 is due by Saturday 10/3 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Please try to submit on time and respond thoughtfully to at least 2 classmates’ posts by Monday, 10/5 at 11:59 PM. 4 Required Readings: (To be discussed in Week 5 in non‐mandatory online Zoom meeting, and may, if you choose, be the subject of Writing Assignment 1. See below in Week 5.) Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 23‐48. Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism, Ch. 4, “Rabi ‘a: Her Words and Life in ‘Attar’s Memorial of the Friends of God”. Recommended (if you have time and interest): Schimmel, 48‐62 from Ch. 2, “Historical Outlines of Classical Sufism” Abu 'Abd ar‐Rahman as‐Sulami, Early Sufi Women: Dhikr an‐Niswa al‐Muta'abbidat as‐Sufiyyat Margaret Smith, Rabi ‘a, the Mystic and Her Fellow‐Saints in Islam, Cambridge, 1928.