Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- Summarize the major historical developments of the Islamic tradition;
- Describe the guiding themes, practices, and beliefs of the Islamic tradition;
- Analytically engage the main sources upon which Muslims rely, recognizing how these sources are revered and utilized within the Islamic tradition and how they are approached from a critical scholarly approach;
- Scrutinize how historical and modern forms of power have shaped the Islamic tradition over time;
- Recognize the versatility of Islam and diversity among Muslims.
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This course provides an introduction to the Islamic tradition. Starting in sixth-century Arabia, we explore the setting in which Islam arose, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and the centrality of the Quran and hadith to Muslims past and present. We then trace the legal, theological, and political developments which animated Islam as it spread beyond Arabia over the next 1400 years. With an eye to how power shaped these transformations, we situate Muslims’ changing practices and beliefs in their historical, economic, and political contexts. Engaging primary Islamic sources alongside secondary scholarship throughout the course, we reflect upon how Islam is experienced by Muslims and analyzed by scholars not only as a religion, but also as a society, culture, political entity, and civilization.
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This course is part of the B1 program of Religious Studies, for both the Religious Studies and Islamic Studies track.
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This is an introductory level course. No previous knowledge of Islam is required or assumed.
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Your final grade will be determined by your performance on a final examination. The exam will consist of short answer and essay questions which cover all the material explored in the assigned readings and in class lectures.
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