RELI 4305 / 6305 (31809 / 11811

Muhammad: His Life and Legacy

RELI 4304 / 6304: Spring 2008 Professor: Kenneth Honerkamp

E-mail: hnrkmp@uga.edu

Office: Rm. 201 Peabody Hall

Office hours: Mon., Wed. & Friday 11:30 to 12:30 or by appointment.

Classroom: Peabody Hall. room 201

Time: 9:05 - 9:55 Class: Mon. Wed. & Friday

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A historical and thematic study of the life of Mohammed, the founder of the Islamic tradition. From his birth in 570 CE to his death in 633 CE. The course will include: (1) an in-depth introduction to the genre of hadith and sira literature; the major works, the history of its compilation and an evaluation of various authors and their works, from the perspectives of both Islamic and Western scholarship; (2) a biographical study of the life of Muhammad and the principles that Muslims have gleaned from the example of his life; (3) an over view of the aspect of the veneration of Muhammad within the Sufi tradition of Islam as his legacy.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Muhammad, His Life and Legacy has a twofold purpose. The first is to provide the student with essential material on the life and legacy of Muhammad needed by anyone involved in research in the Islamic World. The second goal is to is to open a window for the student upon the “Muslim world view” of Muhammad as the exemplar of the Islamic norm as perceived by Muslims themselves with an aim towards increasing our understanding and appreciation of wealth and cultural diversity of Islamic culture. It is also hoped that this view through the “window of the Muslim world view” will provide the student with a window from which to view his or her own world.

Texts: (1) Lings, Muhammad his life based on the earliest sources, (LINGS.) (2) Tariq Ramadan, Lessons from the Life of Muhammad (RAMADAN), and Course Packet for RELI 4305/6305 (CP), available at Bel-Jean’s. Supplementary reading, (non-required) (1) Armstrong, Muhammad, A Biography of the Prophet, (2) Cleary, The Wisdom of the Prophet, (WP), (3) Nawawi, Forty Hadith, (on-line downloadable).

Format: The class will be conducted with a combination of lecture and full classroom discussion.

REQUIREMENTS:

A UGA/MyID ACCOUNT, you must try to logon to WebCT this week. If you are unsuccessful, e-mail me. Note that the only valid e-mail address you can use for WebCT is our UGA MyID. Actual WebCT entries will begin in two weeks, I will let you know.

WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS: Read the assigned readings from the texts and the text package as listed in the READING SCHEDULE located in the Course Packet. Be prepared for pop-quizzes and discussions on the material in the readings.

MIDTERM: One midterm given on Wednesday, March 5^rd. The exam will cover the historical study of the Sira sources, the life of Muhammad until and including the material on BANU QAYNUQA and the required readings in In the Footsteps of the Prophet. No makeup will be given without a dean's or doctor's excuse. If you do obtain such an excuse, you have one week after you return to make up the exam.

FINAL: The final will be given in accordance with the Finals Schedule. The final will cover a general overview of Muhammad’s life focusing on the Medinan Period and reading material from the second half of the course packet. If you are not able to take the final exam you will receive a zero for the exam. An incomplete for the course can only be given if you have a dean's or doctor's excuse. Both the midterm and the final will largely consist of fill in the blank and short answer questions. The final exam will include between 1 and 3 essay questions that will have time to prepare prior to the final exam.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is obligatory. Three unexcused absences will be reason for a 10 percent decrease in the total grade in this course.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (Due on the week after they are assigned)

You will be asked to write six academic summaries on assigned readings and to review the book In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad, by Tariq Ramadan. Each summary will include your own reactions to the text and your opinion of the text’s relevance to the subject matter. Each summary will be at least five pages, 1.5 spacing in a number 12 font). These will be turned in to the Teaching Assistant as required. Evaluation will be on a “20 percent basis” which means I will check 20 percent of the writing assignments on a weekly basis and assign a final grade based on the ten that I have been able to read carefully. Summaries that I have not read will be checked off on a done/not done basis (GRACE RULING: you can miss one summary and still get full credit for this requirement as long as I have evaluated 4 of your summaries plus the book review). Summaries will be graded over 20 points and will be evaluated on completeness of content, order and academic analysis (how is the article relevant to the study of the Muhammad’s life?). The texts designated for academic summaries are marked on the reading schedule with an asterisk (*).

Make sure to include the NAME OF THE ARTICLE, NUMBER OF READING, DATE OF ASSIGNMENT, and YOUR NAME at the top of each summary.

WEEKLY ONLINE JOURNAL ENTRY

Do one journal posting per week to be posted on the course WebCT discussion forum site that I will set up. Each entry must be posted by the Friday of the week it is supposed to deal with. In the subject box for the posting of your message, write your last name and a brief title of your posting.

The form of the entry should be numbered as in the following five sections. Make sure you leave a space between each section!

1) number and date of the posting

2) name of the article, chapter, and page number of the quote

Then in the body of your entry:

3) type the quote you are addressing in your posting (be exact) that was the most interesting to you in the section you read. If the passage is longer than a paragraph, either summarize it in detail, or choose a substantial portion for your posting.

4) explain in your own words the meaning of the quote

5) explain in detail why it interested you.

DO NOT UPLOAD YOUR POSTINGS AS AN ATTACHMENT!! FIRST DO THEM ON A WORD PROCESSOR, THEN COPY AND PASTE THEM INTO THE APPROPRIATE FORUM.

ONLINE RESPONSES

B) Using the WebCT Bulletin Board, respond thoughtfully to at least two entries of other students per forum. (You may post your responses to your fellow students until the Friday of the following week.) You may post and/or respond to as many entries as you wish, but one posting and two responses are the minimum. If one of your fellow student’s posting has already received four responses, choose another student to respond to.

Note on grading criteria for items A and B: As long as you complete the requirements; i.e. doing your postings and discussion entries on time and clearly indicating that you have put some effort and thought into the assignments, you will receive an “A” (25% of the final grade). To the degree that the instructions are not followed and to the extent that it is obvious to me that not too much effort and thought has been put into the assignments, your grade will decrease. For example, responses such as, “I agree” or “Awesome quote” or “This quote echoes my feelings” will not receive credit. The writing TA will be responsible for all on-line work, if you have any questions please direct them at him.

N.B Journal entries will be open to all textual material read throughout the semester including the Course Packet and (The Life of Muhammad by Lings and In the Footsteps of the Prophet by Tariq Ramadan). It is hoped however that you will focus on the life of Muhammad and In the Footsteps of the Prophet when we reach this part of the course.

GRADING : Academic Summaries 25 %, Book Review 10%, Postings and online discussion - 20%, Mid-term - 20% and Final 25% . Grading will be on a curve.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AND HONORS OPTION

- WRITING ASSIGNMENT

WEEKLY WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: There is no length limit for graduate students. Weekly summaries may be longer if the text requires it.

READ AND OUTLINE:

1) “Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam,” from the Encyclopaedia of Islam

2) The Development of Exegesis in Early Islam, by Herbert Berg (identify the major scholars in the debate outlined in this work, their dates and views)

3) “The Question of the Authenticity of Muslim Traditions Reconsidered: A Review Article” by Harald Motzki

MEMORIZATION: Memorize 5 short Hadith. If you cannot read Arabic, then memorize them in English with the names of the narrators.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Prepare an annotated/subject specific bibliography on the the Life of Muhammad and/or material related to sira and the early history of Islam including articles and chapters from anthologies. This will be a joint grad-student project. Present the instructor with your topic headings before starting work. Formatting will be as stipulated by Prof.

SOME SUGGESTED TOPICS (or by individual choice of graduate student)

Authenticity and Formative Islam

The Meccan Period (from Hira to Hijra)

Early figures of the meccan period

Early Martyrs

The Madinan Period (from Hijra to Muhammad’s death)

Early figures in the Madinian period

Muhammad’s wives

Jihad in the Sunna and Sira material

The Jews of Madina

The Quran and the life of Muhammad

The Truce of Hudaybiyya to the Conquest of Mecca

The Mir’raj and its literature

Shariah and Sira

Muhammad as a statesman and politician

Muhammad and Jesus comparative studies

Muhammad and Moses comparative studies

Governance in the early community

Human rights in the early community

REGULAR MEETINGS: Meet every two weeks with professor Honerkamp as a group, question/answer sessions, and in-depth discussions of reading from course packet. I may suggest topics for these meetings.

Changes to this Syllabus and Reading Schedule

The instructor reserves the right to make any changes to this syllabus. Changes will be announced in class and posted on WebCT. This will also be true of the reading schedule; flexibility is a key to understanding and should be allowed for in all affairs of daily living.

THE COURSE SYLLABUS IS A GENERAL PLAN FOR THE COURSE; DEVIATIONS ANNOUNCED TO THE CLASS BY THE INSTRUCTOR MAY BE NECESSARY.

He who wishes that there appear, at a given moment,

other than what God has manifest in it,

has not left ignorance behind at all

from the Book of Sufi Wisdom by Ibn Atâ’Allah

This course will abide strictly by the standards of academic honesty set forth in the University of Georgia publication “A Culture of Honesty”

Policy on Academic Honesty

RELI 4305/6305 MUHAMMAD: HIS LIFE AND LEGACY

Reading and Writing Schedule

- JANUARY 7 First day of classes: Introduction to course Life/Heritage

Syllabus / course packet / Reading Schedule

Sira and Maghazi Literature

- JANUARY 9 Sira and Maghazi Literature (continued)

Introduction to the Life of Muhammad

COURSE PKT: introductory material

- M. Hart’s article on Muhammad

- JANUARY 11 Sira and Maghazi Literature (continued)

COURSE PKT:

“Muhammad” by G. Eaton ( also prepare for questions and discussion)

Martin Lings and Tariq Ramadan

- JANUARY 14 LINGS: The House of God to The Desert pp. 1 - 22

COURSE PKT: (writing assignment # 1)

* “The Authenticity of Prophetic Hadith: a Pseudo-problem,” Wael Hallaq (prepare for questions and discussion)

- JANUARY 16 Arabia in the seventh century, socio-political context RAMADAN: Introduction & Encounter with the Sacred

- JANUARY 18 LlNGS: The Desert to First Revelations (23 - 42)

RAMADAN: Birth and Education (9 –18)

- JANUARY 21 Martin Luther King’s Birthday

- JANUARY 23 LINGS: The First Revelations (42 - 45)

RAMADAN: Personality and Spiritual Quest (19 – 36)

COURSE PKT:

- Qadi Ayyad - Ash-Shifa

Allah’s Praise for the Prophet

- JANUARY 25 LINGS: Worship to Quraysh Take Action (46 -51)

RAMADAN: Revelation, Knowledge (29 - 36)

- JANUARY 28 RAMADAN: The Message and Adversity, (37 – 44)

LINGS: Quraysh Take Action , (52 – 55)

- JANURAY 30 LINGS: Aws and Khazraj to Wonderment (56 – 63)

RAMADAN: The Message and Adversity, (44 – 49)

- FEBRUARY 4 LINGS: Leaders of Quraysh to The Hour (64 – 74)

COURSE PKT: (writing assignment # 2)

* “The Prophet Muhammad as a Teacher: Implications for Hadith Literature,” (71-86)

(also prepare for questions and discussion)

- FEBRUARY 6 LINGS: The Hour to Abyssinia (75 – 80)

RAMADAN: Resistance, Humility and Exile (51-58)

- FEBRUARY 8 LINGS: Abyssinia to The Ban and Its Ann … (81 – 87)

RAMADAN: Resistance, Humility and Exile (59 – 62)

- FEBRUARY 11 LINGS: Tbe Ban to The Light Thy … (89 -100)

RAMADAN: Trials, Elevation, and Hopes (63 – 70)

- FEBRUARY 13 LINGS: The Light of Thy Countenance, (101 - 104)

RAMADAN: The Night Journey, (70 – 74)

- FEBRUARY 15 LINGS: After the Year of Sadness to Yathrib (105 - 112)

RAMADAN: Trials, Elevation, and Hopes, ( 74 – 79

- FEBRUARY 7 LINGS: “The Light of ...” to Conspiracy, pp. 101 - 115

COURSE PKT: (writing assignment # 3)

*“Hijra as History and Metaphor,” D. Casewit

- FEBRUARY 18 LINGS: Many Emigrations to Harmony and (113 – 124)

RAMADAN: Hijrah (81 – 95)

COURSE PKT:

- The Pact of Madina (prepare questions)

- FEBRUARY 20 RAMADAN: Hijrah (81 – 95)

LINGS: Harmony and Discord to Threshold (125 – 135)

- FEBRUARY 22 LINGS: The Threshold of War to Badr (135 – 145)

COURSE PKT:

- The Verse of the Sword (prepare questions)

RAMADAN: Madina, Life and War (95 – 100)

COURSE PKT:

- Quranic verses: Change of Qibla (read and prepare questions)

- FEBRUARY 25 LINGS: The Battle of Badr (146 – 152)

RAMADAN: A Caravan & Battle of Badr, (100 – 105)

- FEBRUARY 26 LINGS: The Return to The Captives (153 – 159)

RAMADAN: In Mecca, in Madina (105 – 107)

- FEBRUARY 29 LINGS: Bani Qaynuqa (160 –162)

RAMADAN: Banu Qaynuqa (107 - 109

- MARCH 3 REVIEW FOR MID-TERM

- MARCH 5 WEDNESDAY - MID-TERM EXAM

- MARCH 7 LINGS: Bani Qaynuqa (160 –162)

RAMADAN: Banu Qaynuqa (107 – 109

COURSE PKT: (writing assignment # 4)

SPRING WRITING ASSIGNMENT

Read sections from Qadi Ayyad’s - Ash-Shifa

1) Allah’s Praise for the Prophet

2) On the Necessity of Loving the Prophet

Write a summary of his style, methodology, and what you think is the goal of these chapters. Who do you think this is addressed to? (Due March 21^st )

have a great spring break !

- MARCH 17 LINGS: Deaths and Marriaages (163 –166)

RAMADAN: Teachings (111 – 117)

- MARCH 19 LINGS: The People of the Bench (167 –169)

The Roots of the Sufi Tradition

COURSE PKT: (writing assignment # 5)

*“The Light of Muhammad,” A. Schimmel, (also prepare for discussion and questions)

- MARCH 21 LINGS: Desultory Warfare to March (170 –179)

RAMADAN: A Daughter a Wife (117 – 122)

- MARCH 24 LINGS: The Battle of Uhud (180 –188)

RAMADAN: Uhud to A Defeat (122 – 127)

- MARCH 26 LINGS: Revenge to After Uhud (189 –198)

- MARCH 28 LINGS: Victims of Revenge to Peace (199 –205)

RAMADAN: Tricks and Treason (129 – 133)

- MARCH 31 LINGS: Peace and War to The Trench (206 –214)

RAMADAN: Excellence and Singularity (133 – 136)

- APRIL 2 LINGS: The Trench to Bani Qurayzah (215 –229)

RAMADAN: The Confederates to A Trick (136 – 142)

- APRIL 4 LINGS: Bani Qurayzah to The Hypocrites (229 –235)

RAMADAN: A Trick to Banu Qurayza (142 – 145)

COURSE PKT (reading assingment #6)

1) - Read Bani Qurayzah article

2) - Read Kister’s response (prepare to discuss)

- APRIL 7 LINGS: The Hypocrites to The Dilemma (237 –246)

RAMADAN: Zaynab and Abu al-As (146 – 148)

- APRIL 9 LINGS: The Dilemma of Quraysh to … (247 –256)

RAMADAN: A Dream, Peace (149 – 156)

- APRIL 11 LINGS: After Hudaybiyah (257 –262)

RAMADAN: Spirituality and Victory (156 – 162)

- APRIL 14 LINGS: Khaybar (263 –269)

RAMADAN: Khaybar (162 – 163)

- APRIL 16 LINGS: “Whom Lovest Thou Most” (270 –279)

RAMADAN: Coming Home to the Lesser ... (165 – 170)

- APRIL 18 LINGS: The Lesser Pilgrimage (280 –285)

RAMADAN: Umrah and Mutah (170 – 174)

- APRIL 21 LINGS: Deaths to Qaynuqa (286 –296)

RAMADAN: The Covenant is Broken (174 – 176)

- APRIL 23 LINGS: The Conquest of Mecca (297 –303)

RAMADAN: Coming Back (176 – 179)

DEADLINE FOR THE BOOK REVIEW OF IN THE FOOTSTEPS

- APRIL 25 LINGS: Hunayn to end of Book (304 –345)

RAMADAN: In History, for Eternity (211 – 216)

(prepare to discuss)

- APRIL 28 LAST DAY OF CLASSES REVIEW FOR FINAL

Remember, you have all become informed members of the ongoing discussion of what Islam is and what it is not.

Please, do not take this responsibility lightly.

Have a great summer!