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. 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) Note well: Zoom meetings are OPTIONAL. Week 1: 9/8-9/14 -- Situating Islam and Sufism— Complete required readings (below) by 9/10 at 8:00PM Eastern. Zoom class meeting: 8:30-9:30PM, 9/10, Thursday (Optional but highly encouraged so that we may meet each other and our classmates.) Required Readings: Martin Lings, What is Sufism? Ch. 1-5. Anne Marie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam. Ch.1. 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. • Abu-l-Qasim ‘Abd-al-Karim bin Hawazin al-Qushayri, trans. Rabia Harris, The Risalah: Principles of Sufism. Great Books of the Islamic World, 2002. Week 2: 9/15-9/21- The Spiritual Teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad d.10/632 Complete required readings and access presentation in Canvas by 9/17 at 8:00 PM Eastern. 2 Zoom class meeting: 8:30-9:30 PM, 9/17, Thursday (Optional) (Time of meeting may be modified and may vary weekly to accommodate various student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 1 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion: If you choose to participate in this discussion, response 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: Michael Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur’an, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings, ch.1& 2. Selections (TBA) from ‘Ajiba, Ahmad ibn. Trans. Abdul Aziz Suraqah, Prophetic Grace: The Qur’anic merits of the Prophet Muhammad, 2015. 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 Complete readings and view presentation in Canvas by 9/24 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Zoom class meeting: 8:30-9:30 PM Eastern, 9/24, Thursday (Optional) (Date and time may change to accommodate student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 2 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion: If you choose to participate in this discussion, response to the Discussion Prompt 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: Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism, Ch. 3, 5,6,7,8. 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. Week 4: 9/29 -10/5- Early Sufi Women: Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya (d179/ 801) Complete readings and view presentation in Canvas by 10/1 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Zoom class meeting: 8:30-9:30 PM, Eastern, 10/1, Thursday (Optional) (Date and time may change to accommodate student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 3 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion: If you choose to participate in this discussion, response to the Discussion Prompt 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. 3 Required Readings: Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 23-40. Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism, Ch. 4. Recommended (if you have time and interest): • 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. Week 5: 10/5-10/12-- Union with God: Abū Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj (d. 310/922) Complete readings and view presentation by 10/7 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Zoom class meeting: 8:30-9:30 PM 10/7, Thursday (Optional) (Date and time subject to change to accommodate student schedules.) Writing Assignment 1- Write a 3 to 5- page Reflection Essay on a topic of interest to you that is related to course readings. Submit in Canvas by 10/11 at 11:59 PM. Required Readings: Sells, Ch.9. Schimmel, Al-Hallaj, Martyr of Mystical Love, 62-77. Recommended (if you have time and interest): • Louis Massignon, Hallaj: Mystic and Martyr, Princeton University Press, 1994. (abridged) Week 6: 10/13-10/19--Virtue Ethics: Abū al-Qāsim al-Qushayrī (d. 467/1074) Complete readings and view presentation by 10/15 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Zoom class meeting: 8:30-9:30 PM Eastern, 10/15, Thursday (Optional) (Date and time subject to change to accommodate student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 4 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion: If you choose to participate in this discussion, response to the Discussion Prompt is due by Saturday 10/17 at 8:00PM Eastern. Please try to submit on time and respond thoughtfully to at least 2 classmates’ posts by Monday, 10/19 at 11:59 PM. Required Readings: ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Qushayrī, Principles of Sufism, Von Schlegell trans., Berkeley: Mizan Press, 1992. Introduction and ch. 1-12. 4 Recommended (if you have time and interest): • Abu-l-Qasim ‘Abd-al-Karim bin Hawazin al-Qusharyri, Trans. Rabia Harris, The Risalah: Principles of Sufism, Great Books of the Islamic World, 2002. • Martin Nguyen, Sufi Master and Qurʾan Scholar: Abū al-Qāsim al-Qushayrī and the Laṭāʾif al- Ishārāt, Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012. Week 7: 10/20-10/26 --Symbolism of Light: Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 505/1111) Complete readings and view presentation by 10/22 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Zoom class meeting: 8:30-9:30 PM. Eastern, 10/22, Thursday (Optional) (Date and time subject to change to accommodate student schedules.) Discussion Prompt 5 (TBA) for Canvas Discussion: If you choose to participate in this discussion, response to the Discussion Prompt is due by Saturday 10/24 at 8:00PM Eastern. Please try to submit on time and respond thoughtfully to at least 2 classmates’ posts by Monday, 10/26 at 11:59PM. Required Readings: Schimmel, 77-97. Gairdner, W.H. Temple. Al-Ghazzalī’s “Mishkat al-anwar”: The Niche for Lights, 1915. pp 76-121. Al Ghazali, Abu Hamid, Trans./Annot. Aaron Spevack, Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality: Selections from The Forty Foundations of Religion, 2012. pp. 43-109 (to be divided among students to present on) Recommended (if you have time and interest): • David Buchman, The Niche of Lights, Brigham Young University, Islamic Translation Series,1998. • Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid, Trans. By M. Abdurrahman Fitzgerald, Kitab asrar al-salat (The Mysteries of the Prayer), Book 4 of the Ihya’ ‘ulum al-din, Fons Vitae, 2018. • ------------------, Trans., David B. Burrell, CSC, Faith in Divine Unity & Trust in Divine Providence, (Kitab al-Tawhid wa’l- tawakkul, Fons Vitae, 2001. • ------------------,(Trans. By Anthony F. Shaker), On Vigilance and Self-Examination (Kitab al- muraqaba wa’l-muhasaba), The Islamic Texts Society, 2015. • -------------------,(Trans. By Walter J> Skellie) The Marvels of the Heart,(Kitab sharh ‘aja’ib al- qalb), The Islamic Texts Society, 2010. • _____________, Trans. By T.J. Winter), On Disciplining the Soul and on Breaking the Two Desires, The Islamic Texts Society, 1995.