RELI 4301/6301 Islamic Thought in the Caliphal Age, Dr. Godlas, Fall 2005

MWF 3:35-4:25 ; 201 Peabody Hall

Email: godlas@uga.edu Website: http://www.uga.edu/islam phone 542-1486

Office hours: Wednesday: 4:25-5:15, 217 Peabody.

Note that everything on this syllabus is tentative and is subject to change at the instructor's discretion. Updates will be put on the WebCT website for the class, which you should regularly check.

Writing Intensive Program TA: Mr. David McDuffie davidmc@uga.edu

583-8093, Rm. 2, Peabody

Requirements: 1) Junior or Senior standing or consent of instructor. 2) a UGA myid by Monday of the second week of classes.

Course Description

The focus of this course is to gain an overview and understanding of the primary fields of Islamic thought from the 7th-13th centuries, focusing on analysis of the following categories of Islamic beliefs (expressed in Islamic texts) by asking primarily the questions that follow:

(a) Beliefs concerning the basis of knowledge (What should we rely on in order to gain knowledge? What should we rely on in order to understand and properly interpret that basis of knowledge?) -- Epistemology

(b) Beliefs concerning the nature of ultimate reality (What is truly real? What are some of the characteristics of ultimate reality? What is more real, less real? What degrees of reality are there, if any? How is what is more real related to what is less real? What will be the nature of reality if and when the world as we know it ends? ) -- Ontology (with subcategories of Theology, Cosmology, and Eschatology)

(c) Beliefs concerning the character of human nature as understood in the light of or in relation to that reality (Who are we? How do we identify ourselves? What are our identies?)-- Anthroplogy

(d) Beliefs concerning the nature of human psychology (What does our consciousness consist of? Namely, what are our faculties of consciousness? —e.g. mind, conscience, soul, etc.; and What are our states or contents of consciousness? —some contemporary answers are electro-chemical impulses, thoughts, and emotions such as love, grief, happiness, depression, anger, ecstasy, etc. ) -- Psychology

(e) Beliefs concerning the purpose of life (What is/are the purpose(s) of life?)-- Teleology

(f) Beliefs concerning the way of life that leads to that attainment (How can we achieve the purpose? What are some of the major aspects of the method or way of life that leads to that attainment?-- Methodology, with subcategories such as the following: social, political, economic, religious/spiritual.

Note that this is a Writing Intensive Program (WIP) Course.

Objectives of Course:

  1. To gain broad general knowledge of the major Islamic areas of scholarship and major Muslim writers and their thought during the Caliphal age, the 7th-13th centuries of Islam.
  2. To learn, in a relatively objective manner, how to understand and analyze beliefs in general and the thought and beliefs of Muslim scholars of the Caliphal age, in particular.
  3. To gain familiarity with basic English tools for research in Islam.

Course Methods:

  1. Religiological and Hermeneutically Objective Analysis
  2. Traditional lecture, discussion, writing assignments, and Webct discussion board.

Texts:

  1. Various articles from Dr. Godlas' website http://www.uga.edu/islam , and on the WebCT page for the class. Note that Dr. Godlas' website is linked to the Religion dept. home page http://www.uga.edu/religion . So if you forget the url of his page, you can just go the Religion Dept. home page. You can also just put Dr. Godlas last name into any search engine.
  2. The course packet is at Bel-Jeans copy shop on Broad St. (accross the street and to the left of the Arches).

**Note: Detailed instructions for all assignments will be given after the drop/add period.**

Writing Intensive Course:

This is a writing intensive course. This means you must work closely with the TA, Mr. McDuffie, on your writing assignments. In general, there will be the following writing assigments

  1. One 7 page page to be handed it at the end of the semester in which you will religiologically analyze a work of a Muslim scholar who was writing during the Caliphal period A list of scholars will be posted; and you will sign up for one so that there will not be duplication. This will also involve a brief five minute oral presentation. (Grad students will give 15 minute presentations at a separate time.)
  2. Five 1 1/2 - 2 page long religiological and hermeneutically objective analyses of the class readings, generally every few weeks beginning in the sixth week of class. See the handout (also posted on WebCT) titled "Steps for Hermeneutically Objective Analyses." For due dates, see the "Schedule of Readings and Assignments" and the WIP syllabus.
  3. Postings of #2 on webct and responses to three other students' postings one week after each of the five papers are due. Due dates will be posted on the discussion board of WebCt.

Tests and Grading:

1) 13% test 1, at the end of the fourth week, covering the Religiology, Hermeneutical Objectivity, the main terms and concepts in the articles "Islam" (by Voll), "Talking to Churches About Islam"(Kaltner); "Ten Things Everyone Needs to Know about Islam" (Esposito); and in "Muslim Beliefs"(S. H. Nasr); objective and essay format.

2) 14% test 2, at the end of the 10th week; objective and essay format.

3) 20% final, objective and essay format. Wed, Dec 14, 2005, 3:30 - 6:30 pm

4) 20 % religiological and hermeneutically objective analyses

5) 20% final paper and oral presentation

4) 8% WebCt posting and responses.

5) 5% class participation and attendance

Additional Requirements for Graduate and Honors Option Students:

Graduate and honors option students will be required to do additional readings, submit a well-documented fifteen page analytical and research paper, and facilitate online discussions, among other responsibilities. See me after class and email me if you want to take an Honors option.

General Topical Outline: (See the detailed "Weekly Schedule of Readings" posted on WebCT, as well as additional handouts and web-based articles)

Week 1 (Aug 19): Introduction to the class and to Islam

Read online articles over this weekend and next two weeks

Week 2-3 (Aug 22-26; Aug 29-Sept 2) Introduction to Dr. Godlas' website (www.uga.edu/islam ), Hermeneutical Objectivity, Religiology, and overview of Islamic history and beliefs; Read: article "Islam" by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, handout

Week 4-5 Qur'an and Qur'an commentary

Sept. 9 test 1 (material covered in Weeks 1-3.)

Week 6 Hadith and Hadith Criticism

Week 7- 10 Islamic Theology (test 2 at end of week 10, Oct 21)

Week 11-12 Islamic Philosophy

Week13 Islamic Law

Week 14-16 Sufism

Week 17 Oral presentations

Honesty Policy

The UGA Academic Honesty Policy will be followed. In other words, all academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty." Students are responsible for informing themselves about those standards before performing any academic work. The link to more detailed information about academic honesty can be found at http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/honesty/acadhon.htm

Changes to this Syllabus

The instructor reserves the right to make any changes to this syllabus. The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary. Changes will be posted on WebCT.

Detailed Weekly Schedule

Religion 4301, Islamic Thought in the Caliphal Age, Dr. Godlas, Fall 2005

Schedule and Readings note: ER= Encyclopedia of Religion

Week 1 (Aug 19): Introduction to the class and to Islam

Read these articles over this weekend and next two weeks:

1) Voll, "Islam" (from Congressional Quarterly)

http://www.cqpress.com/context/articles/epr_islam.html

2) Esposito, "10 Things Everyone Needs to Know about Islam,"

http://www.nitle.org/arabworld/texts.php?module_id=2&reading_id=62&sequence=1

(from National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education);

3) Kaltner, "Talking With Churches About Islam,"

http://www.congregationalresources.org/kaltner.asp

(from Congregational Resource Guide-- a Christian, church-based website)

Week 2-3 (Aug 22-26; Aug 29-Sept 2)

Religiology, Hermeneutical Objectivity, and overview of Islamic history and beliefs

Read: article "Islam" by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, handout

Assignment Week 2: Religiologically analyze your own beliefs, two of your peers (one male and one female), and one person of an older generation; ideally one and one-half pages per analysis and post on webct, hand in Monday of week 3.

ONLINE Dr. Godlas' website (www.uga.edu/islam ),

Assignment Week 3, choose any three of the major subpages on the table on Dr. Godlas' website, find one link for each of the three chosen pages, and in one paragraph summarize it and your candid response to it, post on webct and post by and hand in Monday of week 4.

ONLINE Qur'an search engine: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/searchquran.html :

Assignment Week 3, using the Qur'an search engine, research one major Biblical figure (including Jesus or Mary) in Qur'an, post on webct, post by and hand in Monday in week 4..

Week 4 Sept. 5-9, Qur'an

Sept. 5 labor day HOLIDAY

ONLINE Intro to the Qur'an: Chittick and Murata http://www.quran.org.uk/out.php?LinkID=142

ONLINE Surah 96, al-'Alaq (the Germ cell) http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/096.qmt.html ; http://www.geocities.com/masad02/096.html

ONLINE Surah 1, al-Fatiha (the Opening) http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/001.qmt.html ; http://www.geocities.com/masad02/001

ONLINE Surah 112, al-Ikhlas (Sincerity) http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/112.qmt.html ; http://www.geocities.com/masad02/112.html

ONLINE Qur'an: Message of the Qur'an (trans. by Muhammad Asad), surahs (chapters) 91-99 (online) http://www.geocities.com/masad02/

Week 4 Sept. 5-9, Qur'an

Sept. 5 labor day HOLIDAY

Von Denffer, 'Ulum al-Qur'an (Sciences of the Qur'an),

"Qur'an and Revelation," ch. 1 pp. 11-29; 1

"Transmission" ch. 2 pp. 31-56 11

Test 1, Sept. 9.

Week 5 Sept. 12-16, Qur'an commentary

Rippin, "Tafsir" (Qur'an commentary), ER, pp. 236-244. 25

Ayoub, Tafsir Surat al-Fatiha, pp. 41-49; 35

ONLINE: Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, al-Fatiha, http://www.tafsir.com and click on "Go."

Week 6 Sept 19-23 Hadith and Hadith Criticism

Librande, "Hadith," ER, pp. 143-151 41

Criticism of Hadith, (a) "Ikrima," pp. 77-81; Abu Salt, "Iman,"150-55. 51

Sakhawi (d. 1497) History and the Criticism of Hadith Transmitters, 273-8 57

(definition of tarikh "history" et. al), 332-41 (legal classification of history).

WIP- paper 1 due Mon. Sept. 26.

Week 7- 10 Islamic Dogmatic Theology

Week 7: Sept. 26-30 Overview of Dogmatic Theology

Fakhry, "Short Intro to Islamic Philosophy: Early Religious and Political Conflicts," (deals with early theological developments beginning with Kharijites and Rise of Systematic Theology-kalam), pp. 12-20 71

Anawati, "Kalam," ER, pp. 231-242. 77

Shahrastani (d. 1153), Muslims Sects and Divisions (Mu'tazilites), pp. 41-43. 89

Wolfson, The Philosophy of the Kalam, "Attributes," ch. 2, pp. 112-133. 91

Week 8: Oct 3-7 al-Ash'ari and Ash'arities

Fakhry, "Short Intro to Islamic Philosophy: Early Religious and Political Conflicts," (al-Ash'ari and Ash'aris, pp. 64-68 [stop before "Islamic assault...] ) 103

Watt, "The Achievement of al-Ash'ari", pp. 303-316 107

Watt, "The Relationship of al-Maturidi to al-Ash'ari," pp. 312-318. 112

ONLINE: Abu Hanifa (d. 765) al-Fiqh al-akbar, http://www.sunnipath.com/Resources/Questions/QA00000857.aspx

Al-Ashʿarī (d. 935) The Elucidation of Islam's Foundation (al-Ibanah), pp. 31-35 117 [creed from Maqalat al-islamiyin];

Al-Ash'ari, creed from al-Ibanah, pp. 50-55 which is also online at 121

http://www.islamic-paths.org/Home/English/Sects/Asharees/Creed.htm ;

Al-ʿAshʿarī (d. 935) The Elucidation of Islam's Foundation (al-Ibanah) 125

pp. 107-113. (predestination).

Al-Juwayni (d. 1085), A Guide to Conclusive Proofs for the Principles 129

of Being, pp. 103-11 (human action in the light of predestination).

Pavlin, "Sunni kalam and theological controversies," pp. 105-117. 135

WIP- paper 2 due Mon Oct. 10.

Week 9: Oct. 10-14 Al-Ghazali (and Jami)

Watt, "Al-Ghazali," ER, pp. 541-544 143

Marmura, "Al-Ghazali, pp. 137-154. 147

Al-Ghazali (d. 1111) The Mysteries of the Human Soul, from 159

the second half of ch. 1 (pp. 7-19), "The Reality of the Human Soul," "The Proof of the Non-Divisibility of the Soul," "The Attachment or Non-attachment of the Soul to the Body," "The World of Matter and the World of Creation." Also online at http://www.wponline.org/vil/Books/AG_MHS/Default.htm .

Al-Ghazali (d. 1111) The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife 167

(Heaven and the Varieties of Its Bliss) pp. 232-38 and p. 272 (notes, very important).

Al-Ghazali (d. 1111) The Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of God, pp. 51-57 173

(Allah and Rahman/Rahim)

Jami (d. 1492) , Precious Pearl, pp. 43-45, pp. 127-130 177

(on attributes, plus commentary)

Oct 14 Al-Ghazali film**

Week 10: Oct. 17-21 Hanbali Theology and Twelve-Imam Shi'ite Theology

Hanbali Thought: (three articles, continued on next page)

Ibn Qudama (d. 1223), Censure of Speculative Theology, pp. 19-24 183

(Criticism of Allegorical Interpretation).

Ibn Taymiyah (d. 1328), Principles of Islamic Faith, "Allah's Names and Attributes in the Sunnah" (ch. 2, all)

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/introduction/wasiti/taimiyah_6.html#HEADING27

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah (d. 751 rajab)*, Provision for the Hereafter, 187

pp. 261-74 (Visiting Graves, et. al).

Shi'ite theology

Muhajirani, "Twelve Imam Shi'ite Theological and 195

Philosophical Thought," pp. 119- 143.

Mullah Sadra (d. 1641), "Hell," pp. 235-41 209

Oct. 21, TEST 2.

WIP- paper 3 due Mon. Oct. 24.

 

END OF PART ONE

 

Week 11-12 Oct. 24-28 Islamic Philosophy I. Oct 27-28 (Thurs/Fri) Fall Break HOLIDAY

Marmura, "Falsafa," ER, pp. 267-76. 215

Neoplatonic thought, from the Book of Causes (Liber de causis) and (Pseudo-) Theology of Aristotle, trans. by Rosenthal, pp. 151-155. 225

Al-Kindi, (d. 870) Al-Kindi's Metaphysics (On First Philosophy, pp. 55-60). 229

Al-Farabi d. 950, in Anthology v.1, (a) pp. 116-119 (knowlege, soul, and 233 metaphysics); (b)125-133 (political philosophy)

Ibn Miskawayh (d. 1030) Refinement of Character (ch. Health of the 241

Soul: section-- Diseases of the Soul), pp. 157-170.

Avicenna (d. 1037), in Anthology, v. 1 (a) pp. 198-200 (ontology); 249

208-211 (most delightful happiness in union with necessary being);

(b) 251-259 (stations of knowers);

Avicenna (d. 1037) Treatise on Love on WebCt, pp. 211- 213

(Until the end of section 1); pp. 218-228 (section 5-7) also at http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/sina/works/avicenna-love.pdf

Oct 31- Nov. 4 Islamic Philosophy II.

Al-Ghazali, Incoherence of the Philosophers (d. 1111) online at http://www.tphta.ws/TPH_AGIP.HTM

Ibn Rushd (d. 1198), Incoherence of Incoherence, pp. 356-359 259

and 359-363 (eternal soul; and denial of bodily resurr.)

Suhrawardi (d. 1191) The Philosophy of Illumination, pp. 76-89 263

(The first discourse: On the Divine Lights)

Qutb al-Din Shirazi (d. 1236) (Souls after separation from the body), 271

pp. 216-223.

Al-Biruni, (d. 1051) "Beliefs of Hindus," in Anthology, v. 1, 376-90. 275

Ismaili Shi'ite Philosophy

Nanji, "Ismaili Philosophy," pp. 144-154. 283

Nasir-i Khusraw, Isma'ili Ontology, "On Different Kinds of Existents" 289

pp. 321-323.

Tusi (d. 1274), Ismaili theodicy: "Good and Evil" 291

in Anthology, v. 2, pp. 368-372.

WIP- paper 4 due Mon. Nov. 7.

Week13 Nov. 7-11 Islamic Law

Nov. 7 Islam and Media lecture-- Abdallah Schleiffer: Assignment: two page discussion of Control Room, Prof. Schleiffer's presentation and panel discussion. Due Mon. Nov. 14.

Nasr, "Shari'ah: Divine Law, Sacred and Human Norm," pp. 93-119. 295

Kamali, "Madhhab," ER, pp. 66-70. 309

ONLINE: Abd al-Hakim Murad, "Understanding the four madhhabs."

Weiss, "Usul al-fiqh," ER, pp. 155-159. 315

ONLINE: Maxims of Usul al-fiqh

Kamali, Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, pp. 366-74. (ijtihad) 321

Abou El Fadl, "The Rules of Killing at War," pp. 144-158. 327

ONLINE: Ibn Malik, Muwatta

al-Shafi'i's Risala, pp. 123-25, 128-30, 179-185, 252-253, 285-87. 341

Misri, Reliance of the Traveler: pp. 126-135. prayer. 353

Week 14-15 Sufism

Week 14: Nov. 14-18 Sufism: Formative and Consolidating Sufism

Awn, "Sufism," ER pp. 104-123. 359

Junayd, The Book of Fana' (in Early Islamic Mysticism), pp. 259-65. 379

Tirmidhi (d. ca. 932) , A Treatise on The Heart, pp. 12-15, 40-45 383

'Ayn al-Qudat al-Hamadani, Zubdat (souls and bodies), pp. 164-72; 393

Kalabadhi (d. 995), Doctrine of the Sufis, pp. 14-20, 28-36, 52-53, 112-17. 399

Sulami (d. 1021) The Stumblings of Those Aspiring, 413

"Faqir and Faqr," pp. 131-36.

Qushayri (d. 1072), The Treatise (in Early Islamic Mysticism, trans. Sells), 419

pp. 99-116 (states, stations).

Hujwiri (d. 1072 - 1076), Kashf al-mahjub, pp. 16-18 (knowledge), 429

267-77 (gnosis).

Qushayri (d. 1072) Sufi Book of Spiritual Ascent (al-Risala), 437

tr. Harris, pp. 285-91 (adab).

Al-Ghazali (d. 1111) , Deliverance from Error, abridged, on webct.

ONLINE: Al-Ghazali, from his Revival of the Religious Sciences pp. 37-70. http://www.ghazali.org/books/ghazali_worship.htm#c1

recommended ONLINE: Deliverance from Error (entire text), online at http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/gz/md/gz101.htm

WIP - paper 5 due Mon. Nov. 21.

Week 15-16: Nov. 21-25-- nov 23-25 Thanksgiving HOLIDAY -- Nov. 28-Dec 2.

Sufism: Institutional Sufism, Ibn 'Arabi, and Ecstatic Love Mysticism

Suhrawardi, Shihabuddin 'Umar (d.1234) 'Awarif al-ma'arif, pp. 22-36. 441

(shaykh and murid)

Chittick's Synopsis of Ibn 'Arabi's thought: Self-Disclosure of God, 449

pp. xvi-xxvii (11 pp.)

Ibn Arabi, Meccan Illuminations, pp. 77-88. 461

Jili, Universal Man, (The Quality of Divinity, Unity, Unicity) pp. 16-25 469

Ibn Arabi/Kashani Fatiha Qur'an Commentary pp. 50-54. 475

Ruzbihan, Sufi Qur'an Commentary, online at webct

Rumi, Discourses, pp. 235-242. 479

Najm al-Din Razi (d. 1256), The Path of God's Bondsmen 485

(Attaining to the Divine Presence) pp. 324-332

Friday, Dec, 2 Ibn Arabi lecture

Week 17 Dec. 5-8 (Mon, Dec. 5, Tues. Dec. 6 (Fri. sched), Wed. Dec. 7,) Oral presentations of major papers; Final paper due on Mon. Dec. 5 in class.

Friday Dec. 9 Reading day

Finals Wed, Dec 14, 2005, 3:30 - 6:30 pm;

Grades due Dec 19.