CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

COURSE OUTLINE 2003

“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. . . Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” —Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

RS 365: Islam (Satisfies F2 Requirement for G.E.)

Sierra Hall 314
Tuesdays, 7:00 to 9:45 pm, Ticket No. 74517

Professor:

Amir Hussain
Office: Faculty Office Building, Room 234
Phone: (818) 677-2741 (or Religious Studies Department at 677-3392)
Fax: (818) 677-3985
Email: amir.hussain@csun.edu
Web Page: http://www.csun.edu/~ah34999/
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 to 10:30 am, and 6:30 to 7:00 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 begin this section with a look at some of the modern reformers in Islam. We will conclude the course with an examination of such themes 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.

Goals for students enrolled in this course are 1) to think both empathetically and critically about Islam and Muslims; 2) to gain knowledge of the histories and cultures of the Muslim world; and 3) to develop the ability to interpret texts and other cultural phenomena (such as rituals, myths, architecture) that have religious presuppositions or implications. This course satisfies the F-2 category of General Education requirements, and is classified as “writing intensive”.

Required Texts:

Neil Postman and Steve Powers, How to Watch TV News (New York: Penguin, 1992).

Omid Safi, Editor, Progressive Muslims: On Gender, Justice, and Pluralism (Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2003).

Sachiko Murata and William C. Chittick, The Vision of Islam (St. Paul: Paragon House, 1994).

A copy of each book is on reserve in the Reserve Book Room of the Oviatt Library.

Lecture Outlines, available from QuickCopies in the Matador 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 9.
40% A research paper of not more than 15 pages, due November 18.
35% A final examination on December 9.
10% Class participation.

Schedule of Lectures:

Aug. 26: Introductory meetings: What is Islam? Methodological issues in this course. The roles of women and men in Islam. READING: Vision of Islam, Preface; Progressive Muslims, Chapter 5.

Sept. 2: “Here we are now, entertain us”: Islam, Muslims and the American media. READING: Postman and Powers book.

Sept. 9: Book Review on Postman and Powers Due. Pre-Islamic Arabia to the time of Muhammad. READING: Vision of Islam, Introduction. Muhammad’s birth and early life. Muhammad’s life to the Hijrah (622 C.E.). READING: Progressive Muslims, Introduction, Chapter 10.

Sept. 16: The Hijrah, and the developments of the first Islamic community. The return to Mecca and the death of Muhammad. READING: Vision of Islam, Part I, Chapter 1.

Sept. 23: The development of the Qur’an: The Meccan Revelations. The Qur’an continued: The Medinan and Later Meccan Revelations. READING: Vision of Islam, Chapter 2.

Sept. 30: The Hadith and the Traditions of the Prophet. READING: Vision of Islam, Part II, Chapter 3.

Oct. 7: The religious practices of Islam: The hadith of Gabriel revisited. Islam (submission), Iman (faith) and Ihsan (doing what is beautiful). READING: Vision of Islam, Chapters 4, 5, and 6.

Oct. 14: Islamic law and religious ethics. The succession of Muhammad. The beginnings of the Sunni–Shi‘i split. Shi‘i Islamic doctrines and practices. READING: Progressive Muslims, Chapter 8.

Oct. 21: Sufism: The mystical dimension of Islam. READING: Vision of Islam, Chapters 7 and 8. Video on Sufism.

Oct. 28: 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”. RE-READING: Vision of Islam, Chapter 6; Progressive Muslims, Chapters 3 and 4.

Nov. 4: Video on women in Islam. Women and Islam. The impacts of Feminism on Islam. READING: Progressive Muslims, Chapters 6, 7 and 9.

Nov. 11: Reform movements and thinkers in modern Islam. Orientalism, Islamic “fundamentalism” and the “Islamic Threat”. Manufacturing Islam?: The meanings of “jihad”. The “Rushdie Affair”. READING: Vision of Islam, Chapters 9 and 10; Progressive Muslims, Chapters 1, 12, and 14.

Nov. 18: Research Paper Due. Contemporary Islam in the United States: Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. READING: Progressive Muslims, Chapters 11 and 13.

Nov. 25: Contemporary Islam in the United States (Continued).

Dec. 2: The role of Islam in Canada and the United States. The study of Islam after September 11, 2001. Review. READING: Progressive Muslims, Chapter 2.

Dec. 9: Final Exam (8:00 - 10:00 pm). Final Exam Is Cumulative, Based On Everything Covered In The Course.

Return to Amir Hussain’s Web Page