Required reading:
Pickthall, M. M., The Meaning of the Glorious Koran
Welch, A. T., “al-Ḳur’ān”, Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd ed., V, 400-429
Ayoub, M. M., The Qur’an and its Interpreters
Rippin, A., Muslims, Their Religious Beliefs and Practices
Hillenbrand, C., Introduction to Islam. Beliefs and Practices in Historical
Perspective
Renard, J., Windows on the House of Islam: Muslim Sources on
Spirituality and Religious Life
The books by Pickthall, Ayoub, Rippin, Hillenbrand, and Reynard are on reserve
in Powell.
COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
1. Approaches to the study of Religion
Start reading:
Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran
Welch, “al-Ḳur’ān”
Ayoub, The Qur’an and its Interpreters
Renard, Windows on the House of Islam, pp. 1-57
Hillenbrand, Ch. 1, Introduction
2. Polemic, apologetic, and irenic reasons for the study of religion
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 1-5
3. The Islamic doctrine of the nature of God – tawhīd
4. The qadar debate
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 78-79
5. The formulation of Sunnī doctrine – the Muctazila and their opponents
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 79-87
Hillenbrand, Ch. 7, Thought
6. The importance of guidance
Reading:
Renard, Windows on the House of Islam, pp. 119-166, 359-
383
7. Revelation and the development of the Qur’ānic sciences
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 22-43
Hillenbrand, Ch. 3, The Qur’an
8. The doctrine of prophecy
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 44-58
Hillenbrand, Ch. 2, Muhammad
9. The responsibilities of believers: Islamic rituals
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 103-117
Renard, Windows on the House of Islam, pp. 92-116
Hillenbrand, Ch. 4, Faith; Ch. 9, Jihad
10. Piety, ḥadīth, and early zuhd
Reading:
Renard, Windows on the House of Islam, pp. 92-116
11.The nature of law
12. The formation of Islamic law
Reading:
Hillenbrand, Ch. 5, Law
13. The principles and operation of Islamic law
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 88-102
14. Early sectarian movements: the Khawārij, Shīca, and Murjica
Reading:
Hillenbrand, Ch. 6, Diversity
15. The Shīcī sects: Zaydiyya, Imāmiyya, and Ismācīliyya
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 121-135
16. Mysticism – the Ṣūfī alternative
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 136-148
Hillenbrand, Ch. 8, Sufism
Renard, Windows on the House of Islam, pp. 169-215, 301-
322, 336-359
17.Popular Islam
Reading:
Hillenbrand, Ch. 10, Women; Ch. 11, Tomorrow
18.The consolidation of Sunnī Islam
Reading:
Rippin, Formative Period, pp. 151-172
Renard, Windows on the House of Islam, pp. 217-301, 325-
336
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What is the purpose of the doctrine of acquisition (kasb) in
Islamic thought, and what issues was it intended to resolve?
2. What is “continuing revelation” and why is this issue important in
the development of Islam?
3. What is the significance of the doctrine of guidance and
misguidance in the Qur’ān, and how was it used by later
Muslims?
4. What is (are) the origin (s) of the concept of sunna, and how did
it contribute to the formation of a normative Islamic outlook?
5. What historical circumstances and influences contributed to the
Shī`ī concept of the Imām-Mahdī and to Islamic eschatology in
general?
6. What were the main concepts, practices and issues associated
with early Muslim ascetic piety?
7. To what extent and in what ways was neo-Platonic philosophy
integrated into various forms of Islam?
8. What issues and principles were involved in the formation of
Islamic systems of law?
9. What are the main ideas in Sūfism, and what was its impact on
Islam in general? Specifically, what did Sūfism contribute to
popular forms of Islam?
10.What is the attitude toward Islamic social ethics contained in the
concept of hiṣba?
11. How have attitudes toward the performance of ritual varied
among Muslims?
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