LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

COURSE OUTLINE FALL 2010

“. . .the historiography of the Islamic-Christian encounter will be moved to a new level when we have learned to see it as the intertwining destiny of human beings whose relation to God has for now fourteen centuries taken these two classes of forms.
The religious history of the world is the history of *us*. Some of us have been Muslims, some Christians. Our common history has been what it has been, in significant part because of this fact. Yet it is a common history for all that; and cannot be properly understood otherwise.
And if that be true of the past fourteen centuries, how much more so of the coming fourteen.” —Wilfred Cantwell Smith, 1977

THST 386: Islam

Classroom: St. Robert's 354
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:35 to 2:50 pm

Professor: Amir Hussain

Office: University Hall, Room 3724
Phone: (310) 338-5987 (or Department of Theological Studies at 338-7670)
Fax: (310) 338-1947
Email: amir.hussain@lmu.edu
Web Page: http://myweb.lmu.edu/ahussain/
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 to 6:00 pm

Course Description:

This course will introduce students to the Islamic religious tradition. There has been a tremendous increase in interest about Islam and Muslims since the attacks on September 11, 2001. After the attacks, there was more coverage about Islam than ever before in the American news media. Unfortunately, most of this coverage was biassed at best and inaccurate at worst. We will begin by reading a book that describes how the news media constructs reality. Having discussed media constructions of Muslim lives, we will then start our study of Islam by examining the historical developments of Islam. We will begin with a discussion of pre-Islamic Arabia before examining the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an and the Hadith will also be discussed in this first section. Finally, we will discuss Islamic religious practices and law to end this first section.

The second part of the course will examine aspects of Islamic civilization and culture. We will begin with a discussion of the split between Sunni and Shi‘i Islam. Next we will turn to an examination of Sufism, the mystical tradition in Islam. We will then discuss various Muslim communities through an examination of the life of several Muslim cities. In this section, we will discuss aspects of Islamic philosophy.

The final part of the course will be concerned with the modern phenomenon of Islam. We will examine themes such as Orientalism, Islamic “fundamentalism”, the “Islamic Threat”, the meanings of “jihad”, the “Rushdie Affair”, the Nation of Islam, the role of Islam in Canada and the United States, and the study of Islam after September 11, 2001. The roles of women in Islam will be examined throughout this course.

Student Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course students will 1) demonstrate that they will think both empathetically and critically about Islam and Muslims; 2) demonstrate knowledge of the histories and cultures of the Muslim world; 3) demonstrate that they have the ability to interpret texts and other cultural phenomena (such as rituals, myths, architecture) that have religious presuppositions or implications; 4) demonstrate that they will think both empathetically and critically about conflicting religious claims; and 5) through class participation and written assignments have improved their verbal and written skills.

Prerequisites / Recommended Background:

THST 180: Religions of the World; THST 383: Religions of the Near East; or permission of the instructor.

Required Texts:

Neil Postman and Steve Powers, How to Watch TV News revised edition (New York: Penguin, 2008).

Amir Hussain, Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God (Kelowna: Copper House, 2006).

A copy of each book is on reserve in Reserve Services of the Library.

Lecture Outlines, available from the LMU Bookstore. Please bring these outlines to each class meeting.

Evaluation:

It is important for each student to know at the outset that this course requires daily reading, written assignments and a final examination. Moreover, regular class attendance and participation are required. Clear, grammatically correct composition and standard spelling are expected on all written assignments.

Information on the book reviews and the research paper (which will be on a topic of the student’s choice, in consultation with the instructor) will be provided separately during the course. The final examination will be cumulative. The exam will be graded on a) familiarity with the readings and b) independent questioning and reflection elicited by the lectures and classroom discussions. Methodical reading, conscientious writing of the assignments, and participation in class discussion will prepare students for the exam.

Active class participation will positively affect the student’s final grade. More than two unexcused absences during the semester will negatively affect the student’s grade. The University’s grading policy, including the plus/minus system, will be used. The University’s cheating policy will be followed in this course.

Grades will be determined as follows:

15% A review of not more than 5 pages on the Postman and Powers book, due September 28.
40% A research paper of not more than 15 pages, due November 11.
35% A final examination (written in Green books) on December 16.
10% Class participation.

Schedule of Classes:

Aug. 31 - Sept. 2: Introductory meetings: What is Islam? Methodological issues in this course. The roles of women and men in Islam. READING: Oil and Water, Foreword, Preface and Chapter 1.

Sept. 7 - 9: “Here we are now, entertain us”: Islam, Muslims and the American media. READING: Postman and Powers book.

Sept. 14 - 16: Pre-Islamic Arabia to the time of Muhammad. READING: Oil and Water, Chapters 2 and 3. Muhammad’s birth and early life. Muhammad’s life to the Hijrah (622 C.E.).

Sept. 21 - 23: The Hijrah, and the developments of the first Islamic community. The return to Mecca and the death of Muhammad. READING: Oil and Water, Chapters 2 and 3.

Sept. 28 - 30: The development of the Qur’an: The Meccan Revelations. The Qur’an continued: The Medinan and Later Meccan Revelations. READING: Chapter 4. Book Review on Postman and Powers Due on Sept. 28.

Oct. 5 - 7: The Hadith and the Traditions of the Prophet. READING: Chapter 4.

Oct. 12 - 21: The religious practices of Islam: The hadith of Gabriel revisited. Islam (submission), Iman (faith) and Ihsan (doing what is beautiful). READING: Chapter 5.

Oct. 26 - 28: Islamic law and religious ethics. The succession of Muhammad. The beginnings of the Sunni–Shi‘i split. Shi‘i Islamic doctrines and practices. READING: Chapter 5.

Nov. 2 - 4: Sufism: The mystical dimension of Islam. READING: Chapter 8. Video on Sufism.

Friday, Nov. 5: Last Day to Withdraw or Apply for Credit / No Credit Grading.

Nov. 9 - 11: An introduction to Islamic philosophy and theology. Islamic thinkers from the classical to the pre-modern age. Islamic civilization: The cities of Islam. The Islamic contribution to “the West”. Research Paper Due Nov. 11.

Nov. 16 - 18: Video on women in Islam. Women and Islam. The impacts of Feminism on Islam. READING: Chapter 7.

Nov. 23: Women and Islam continued.

Thursday, Nov. 25: No class due to Thanksgiving Holiday.

Nov. 30 - Dec. 2: Orientalism, Islamic “fundamentalism” and the “Islamic Threat”. Manufacturing Islam?: The meanings of “jihad”. The “Rushdie Affair”. READING: Chapter 6.

Dec. 7 - 9: Contemporary Islam in the United States: Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. READING: Chapter 9. The role of Islam in Canada and the United States. The study of Islam after September 11, 2001. Muslim – Christian Dialogue. Review. READING: Chapter 10.

Thursday, Dec. 16: Final Exam (exam time 11:00 am to 1:00 pm). Final Exam Is Cumulative, Based On Everything Covered In The Course.

“Rather, his example —what he lived, taught, recommended, and inspired— was to stay firmly grounded in one’s own tradition (not dogmatically, but honestly, openly), and, from there, to reach across to those in other traditions —to speak to them, to love them, to celebrate life’s personal plurality. To be bettered, not lessened, by differences”. —Brian Cantwell Smith on his father, 2000

Return to Amir Hussain’s Web Page