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AP/HUMA 2815 9.0A ISLAMIC TRADITIONS
(2013-2014)
COURSE DIRECTORS
Selma Zecevic
Office hours: TBA
Marta Simidchieva
Office hours: TBA
TUTORIAL LEADERS Nadir Ansari
Office hours: TBA
Irfaan Jaffer
Office hours: TBA
Sehrish Malik
Office hours: TBA
Susan Niazi
Office hours: TBA
ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
Rita Parente
210 Vanier College (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
416.736.2100; ext. x77389
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LECTURE: Tuesdays 12:30 – 14:30 in YK SLH A
Tutorial I Tuesday, 14:30 - 16:30 YK CC 109 Marta Simidchieva
Tutorial II Tuesday, 16:30 – 18:30 YK SC 212 Sehrish Malik
Tutorial III Monday, 8:30 – 10:30 YK FC 106 Susan Niazi
Tutorial IV Thursday, 10:30 – 12:30 YK TEL 0005 Nadir Ansari
Tutorial V Wednesday, 16:30 – 18:30 pm YK MC 214 Irfaan Jaffer
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES WEBSITE: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/huma/
Note : Cheating and Plagiarism are serious academic offenses, and will be treated as such in the
course. For information on Academic Dishonesty and its consequences, please see page 177 of
the University Calendar, under University Policies and Regulations. Also, see the Academic
Integrity web site at York University (hht://www.yorku.ca/academicintegrity), and read the
section ‘For Students’.
COURSE DESCRIPTION FOR AP/HUMA 2815 9.0A ISLAMIC TRADITIONS
2013-2014
This course examines the beliefs, doctrines and institutions that have constituted the Islamic
tradition from its inception until the present. While examining some of the most important
primary sources that have emerged within Islamic tradition, particular attention is placed on the
variety of interpretive strategies used by Muslim exegetes, theologians, legal scholars, Sufis,
feminists, etc. in their approach to variety of issues related to the sacred texts, the Qur’an and the
Hadith. Since Islamic tradition is also viewed as a cultural construct, the course also explores its
different manifestations throughout the Muslim world and beyond. In line with that view, the
course examines the Islamic tradition in terms of its system (“Great Tradition”) and dynamics
(“Little traditions”), which find expression in a wide scope of doctrines, interpretations, and
concerns facing Muslims now and in the past.
The course is designed to offer basic insight into the historical and ideological unity and
diversity of Islam. It is an introductory course aimed to provide a comprehensive survey of this
religious tradition in accordance with the expectations of a second-year course. As part of the
Religious Studies program, it is meant to offer some basic tools for the study of religion in
general. Finally, this is a Foundation Course, which implies an active involvement of critical
skills in reading, writing, and interpretation. The evaluation of your performance in every
assignment will be based on your analytical/critical engagement with the course material.
Mark breakdown:
1. In-class quizzes (Five administered, four best graded, 5 % each) 20 %
2. Mid-year exam (November 26, 2014: Last lecture of the Fall semester) 20 %
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3. Two essays based on the sources used in the course (First essay 6 pages, including title
page and ‘works cited’ page; second essay 7 pages, including title page and ‘works cited’
page), 10% and 15% respectively
Essay 1: Due November 19, 2013
Essay 2: Due March 25, 2014
4. Final exam (April 1, 2014: Last lecture of the Winter semester) 20 %
5. Attendance 5%
6. Participation 10%
All assignments must be submitted on time. You can obtain an extension only with the
permission of your Tutorial Leader. Late submissions will be penalized by 2% of the mark per
day.
Required readings: To be purchased at the University Bookstore:
1. Frederic Denny, An Introduction to Islam. (A copy is available on the Library Reserve
shelf).
2. Course Kit (to be purchased at the University Bookstore, at the beginning of the fall
term)
3. Calder, Norman (editor), Classical Islam : A Sourcebook of Religious Literature [E-
Book] - Available through York University library e-sources
Recommended readings:
1. Victor Shea and William Whitla. Foundations: Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing .(A
copy is available on the Library Reserve shelf.)
Online resources:
1. Link to Yusuf Ali’s and Marmaduke Pickthall’sTranslations of the Quran:
http://www.quran4u.com/quran_english_Yeh.htm (Abdullah Yusuf Ali)
http://www.ishwar.com/islam/holy_quran/ (Yusuf Ali with Arabic parallel text)
http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/pick/ (Marmaduke Muhammad Pickthall)
2. Ibn Ishaq. The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah,
http://www.justislam.co.uk/product.php?products_id=218
3. Link to Sahih Bukhari:
http://www.ishwar.com/islam/holy_hadith/
4. Link to Sahih Muslim:
http://sunnah.com/muslim
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FALL 2013 OUTLINE
I. SEPTEMBER 10, 2012: INTRODUCTION
No readings are required.
Required viewing:
VHS: Living Islam: Foundations (in tutorials)
Critical skills: 1. Critical viewing
II. SEPTEMBER 17, 2013: APPROACHES TO ISLAM: SOURCES AND
METHODOLOGIES
Required reading:
1. Edward Said: “Islam through Western Eyes”, publ. in The Nation, April 26, 1980.
http://www.thenation.com/article/islam-through-western-eyes#
2. Zulfikar Hirji. “Debating Islam from Within: Muslim Constructions of the Internal
Other” in Diversity and Pluralism in Islam (London: I.B. Tauris, 2010), 1-15. KIT
Required viewing: VHS: Great Religions: Islam (in tutorials)
III. SEPTEMBER 24, 2013: THE WORLD OF THE LATE ANTIQUITY AND THE
MONOTHEISTIC TRADITIONS OF THE NEAR EAST
Required reading:
1. F.M. Denny. “Religion and Common Life in the Pre-Islamic Near East” pp. 3-25.
2. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source):
“The Birth of Jesus” , pp. 14-15,
“Al-Tarafi on Mary, the mother of Jesus” pp. 59-63
Critical skills: 2. Citing your Sources
IV. OCTOBER 1, 2013: POETRY, DESERT AND HORSES: SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN
PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA
Required readings:
1. F.M. Denny. “Pre-Islamic Arabia: Beliefs, Values, Way of Life” pp. 29-41.
2. Robert Irwin. “Night and Horses and Desert” KIT, pp. 9-21
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3. Ibn Ishaq/Ibn Hisham The Life of Muhammad: Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat
Rasul Allah, pp. 35-39.( On-line resource)
“The Story of Amr Ibn Luhayy and an account of the Idols of the Arabs”
Critical skills: Writing Annotations/Summarizing Arguments
V. OCTOBER 8, 2013: MUHAMMAD, THE PROPHET: ANNUNCIATION, REVELATION
AND THE FIRST MUSLIM COMMUNITY
QUIZ 1 : IN LECTURE
Required readings:
1. F.M. Denny. “Muhammad and the Early Muslim Community” pp. 47-56.
2. Ibn Ishaq/Ibn Hisham. The Life of Muhammad: Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat
Rasul Allah
a) “What was said to Amina when she had conceived the Prophet” p. 69.
b) “The Birth of the Apostle and His Suckling,” pp. 69-73.
c) “The Story of Bahira,” pp. 79-82
d) “The Night Journey and the Ascent to Heaven,” pp. 181-187
3. Martin Lings. Muhammad: His Life based on the Earliest Sources (“The Rebuilding
of the Ka’bah” and “Worship”) KIT, pp. 21-25.
4. Uri Rubin. “The Khadija- Waraqa Story” KIT, pp. 75-80.
Critical skills: 3. Thesis statement
VII. OCTOBER 15, 2013: CONSOLIDATION OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND THE
MIGRATION TO MEDINA
Required readings: 1. F. M. Denny. “The Hijra” (pp.61-67), “Muhammad’s Later Life” (pp.67-69),
“Muhammad’s Personal Life” (pp. 69-72).
2. Ibn Ishaq/Ibn Hisham. The Life of Muhammad: Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat
Rasul Allah
a) “The Institution of Friday Prayers in Medina,” pp. 199-201.
b) “The Hijra,” 221-231.
c) “The Call to Prayer,” 235-236.
d) The Farewell Pilgrimage,” 649-652.
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VIII. OCTOBER 22, 2013: THE QUR’AN: FORM AND CONTENT
QUIZ 2: IN LECTURE
Required readings: 1. F.M. Denny. “The Nature and Function of the Qur’an” pp. 128-145.
2. William A. Graham. “The Earliest Meaning of 'Qurʾ ān” Die Welt des Islams,
New Series, Bd. 23/24 (1984), pp. 361-377; (JSTOR e-resource)
3. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source). “The Qur’an,” pp. 3-16.
Critical skills: 4. Essay writing I (Thesis Statement Exercise)
IX. OCTOBER 29, 2013: THE QUR’AN: MAJOR THEMES
Required readings:
1. Andrew Rippin. “The Qur’an” in Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (e-
book, available through York University Library e-resources), pp. 22-35.
2. Toshihiko Izutsu. Ethico-religious concepts in the Quran, (e-book, available through
York University Library e-resources)
a) “The Basic Moral Dichotomy,” pp. 105-116.
b) “The Believer,” pp. 184-203.
Critical skills: 5. Essay writing II (Writing outlines and formulating arguments)
X. NOVEMBER 5, 2013: INTERPRETATIONS OF THE QUR’AN
Required readings:
1. F.M.Denny. “Interpretation of the Qur’an” pp. 140-145
2. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source), “Qur’anic Interpretation,” pp. 97-133.
XI. NOVEMBER 12, 2013: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SUNNA AND THE HADITH
Required readings:
1. Frederick Denny. “The Prophet’s Sunna as Preserved in the Hadith,” pp. 150-164.
2. Daniel Brown. “The Relevance of the Past” KIT (pp. 31-39).
3. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source), “Hadith,” pp. 36-50.
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XII. NOVEMBER 19, 2013: THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
ESSAY 1 IS DUE TODAY !
Required readings:
1.F.M. Denny “The Pillars of Islam” pp. 109- 126.
2. Dunn Ross. “Mecca” in The Adventures of Ibn Battuta, A Muslim Traveler of the
Fourteenth Century (e-book, available through York University Library e-resources), pp.
65-80.
Required viewing: DVD: The Hajj
Mock Exam and review session (in tutorials)
XIII. NOVEMBER 26, 2013:
MID-YEAR EXAM (IN CLASS)
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WINTER 2014 OUTLINE
I. JANUARY 7, 2014: AFTER MUHAMMAD: THE “CLASSICAL PERIOD” OF
ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION.
Required readings: 1.Denny. Ch. 4 (selections) “The Arab Conquest and Islamic Rule: the Struggle for
a Unified Umma” pp. 72-83 (from “Muhammad’s heirs” to “Ali’s Downfall”) and
(from “The Spread of the Islamic Empire” to the end of the chapter) pp. 84-95.
2. Ibn Ishaq. The Life of Muhammad: Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah
(online): “The beginning of the Apostle’s illness” , pp. 680-683
3. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source),
*4.7 “Umar II and the protected people”, pp. 90-93
II. JANUARY 14, 2014 : DEBATES OVER THE SUCCESSION AND ISLAMIC
GOVERNANCE: THE EMERGENCE OF THE CALIPHATE
Required readings:
1.Denny, Ch. 4 (segment) “The Arab Conquest and Islamic Rule: the Struggle for a
Unified Umma” : subsection “Two approaches to politics and rule” pp. 83-84 and
Ch. 9 (segment) “Islamic Political Institutions: Forms, Functions, and Theories”
(from “The split between the Shi’is and the Sunnis” to “Ibn Taimiya” (incl.) pp. 198-
205.
2.Ibn Ishaq.The Life of Muhammad: Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah.
“The meeting at the hall of Banu Saida” (online), pp. 683-687.
3.Ibn Khaldun, sections from MUQQADIMAH (online): http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ik/Muqaddimah/ Chapter III. “ On dynasties, royal authority, the caliphate, government ranks, and
all that goes with these things” (selections, uploaded as document on Moodle)
-24. “The differences of Muslim opinion concerning the laws and conditions
governing the caliphate”
-26. “The transformation of the caliphate into royal authority”
III. JANUARY 21, 2014: HOW TO KNOW AND OBEY GOD: SHARI’A, THE LAW
Required readings:
1. Denny. Ch. 9 “Law and the State in Classical Islamic Formulations” pp, 187-198.
2. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source),
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-“Al-Nawawi on the Ranks of Muftis” 192-197;
-“The fatwas of Nawawi” 197-202;
-“Ibn Hazm on Dispute and Variation in Law” 202 – 207;
-“Al-Tusi on the Division of the khums” 215-219
IV. JANUARY 28, 2014: THE EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC
SCHOLASTICISM (KALAM)
QUIZ 3: IN LECTURE
Required readings:
1. Denny. Ch. 8: “Muslim Creeds and Theologies: Their Purposes and Varieties,” pp.
164-179
2. “The Sermons of Abu Hamza the Khariji” in The World of Islam, edited by John Alden
Williams, (KIT) – 39-41.
3. “The Letter (Risala) of al-Hasanal-Basri on Free Will and Predestination” (KIT) pp.
43-46.
4. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source), “al-Ghazali on theological
reasoning”,pp. 150-151.
V. FEBRUARY 4, 2014: THE DOCTRINE OF THE IMAMATE. DEVELOPMENT OF SHI’I
THEOLOGY AND LAW
Required readings: 1. Denny. Ch. 9 (segment) “Law and state in Classical Islamic Formulations”: (from
“The Shi’i Imamate” and “Legal concept of the Imamate”) pp. 205-207.
2. Husain Jafri “The Doctrine of the Imamate” (KIT ) pp. 53--66
3. “The Speeches and Letters of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib” (KIT) pp. 47-49.
VI. FEBRUARY 11, 2013: TASAWWUF: ISLAMIC MYSTICISM
QUIZ 4 : IN LECTURE
Required readings: 1. Denny. Ch. 10: “The Sufi Way of Mysticism and Fellowship” pp. 211-233.
2. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source) “Al-Ghazali on the Path of Sufis” ), pp.
228-238
3. -D R , Maulana, 1207-1273. MASNAVI, book 1. (e-resource)
“The man who learned to knock on the Beloved’s door and say ‘It is you’”—188 (book)
= 221 (online)
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4. -D R , Maulana, 1207-1273. MASNAVI, book 2. (e-resource)
*”Four men fight because they use different words for “grapes”—216—218 (book)=251-
252 (online)
VII. FEBRUARY 15-21, 2014: READING WEEK
VIII. February 25, 2014: ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE
Required readings:
1.Richard Taylor. Ch. “Philosophy” in Cambridge Histories Online: The New
Cambridge History of Islam, Edited by Robert Irwin, pp. 532-540 (up to al-Kindi)
2. Norman Calder. Classical Islam (e-source)
-“Al-Tusi and al-‘Allama al-Hilli on prophecy” 166-169.
-“Al-Farabi on the Soul,” 170-177.
Required viewing (in tutorials): 1.DVD – TBA
IX. March 4, 2014: THE GUNPOWDER EMPIRES AND THEIR DECLINE: THE FIRST
RENEWAL MOVEMENTS
QUIZ 5
Required readings:
1.Denny. Ch. 14 (selection). “Major Movements and Trends in Renewal and Reform”
(from “Three phases of Islamic history” to “The need to reform” incl.) pp. 315-324
2.Ahmad Dallal. “The origins and Objectives of Islamic Revivalist Thought 1750-
1850” in Journal of the American Oriental Society Vol 113., No 3. (1993). (online)
X. MARCH 11, 2014: ISLAM AND COLONIALISM: THE QUEST FOR REFORMATION
AND MODERNIZATION (M)
Required readings:
1.Denny. Ch. 14 “Major Movements and Trends in Renewal and Reform” (excerpts—“Some
Modernist Thinkers” and “Islam and nationalism” ), 324-339.
Ch. 15: “Three forms of Islamic Revival….” (excerpt—“Fundamentalism”), 341-347
2.Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Afghani. “Lecture on Teaching and Learning” and
“Answer to Renan” MODERNIST ISLAM, 1840-1940 edited by Charles Kurzman (E-
book), 103-110
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XI. MARCH 18, 2014: ISLAMIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Required readings:
1.Marcus Milwright. Ch. 25: “Islamic Art” in Cambridge Histories Online: The New
Cambridge History of Islam, Edited by Robert Irwin, pp. 682-710 (up to “The Written
Word”)
Required viewing: 1.An Introduction to Islamic Art (in tutorials)
XII. MARCH 25, 2014 ISLAM IN NORTH AMERICA
ESSAY 2 IS DUE TODAY, IN LECTURE
Required readings:
1. Frederick Denny. Ch. 15: “Three forms of Islamic Revival…..”—excerpt, “Islam and
Muslims in North America” pp. 352-362.
2. Amir Hussain and Jamie S. Scott. “Muslims” in The religions of Canadians, edited
by Jamie S. Scott. KIT, pp. 67-91.
3. Malcolm X. Ch, 17: “Mecca” in Autobiography of Malcolm X. (E-book)
Mock Exam and review (in tutorials)
XIII. APRIL 1, 2014: FINAL EXAM
MAKE-UP QUIZ for those who have missed a quiz for valid reasons to be held after the exam, TBA
