Islam: Texts and Contexts

Catalog description

Did you know that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and is expected to be the world’s largest religion soon? Did you know that approximately 1/3 of enslaved Africans in what came to be the United States came from predominantly Islamic parts of West Africa? Did you know that “Islam,” usually translated as “peace” and “submission,” more correctly means “commitment”? This course introduces students to religious currents in the Islamic world, past and present. We will begin by looking at the origins of Islam, and placing the chief features of its principles, practices, and beliefs in their historical context. In an attempt to explore the enduring ties that bind the myriad interpretations of Islam across time and space to their universal foundations, each week will be devoted to a different theme. Topics include the origins of Islam; the life of the Prophet Muhammad; major themes of the Quran; Tradition (Hadith) in the making; the Imamate in Shi’i Islam; Sufism and the aesthetics of Islamic mysticism; Islamic messianism; the Islamic world in the 19th century; Islam in America: From Enslaved Africans to Malcolm X and Dave Chappelle; and Islam in Binghamton. This course has no prerequisites, and no prior knowledge of Islam or Arabic is required or will be assumed by the instructor. Offered every two years in spring.