Sufism

Catalog description

Mysticism is an integral aspect of every religious tradition. In recent years, however, Sufism or Islamic mysticism has often been described as somehow separate from Islam itself. In this course we will investigate the historical origins of Sufism and the nature of the long-standing tension between certain Sufi practices and the Muslim legal establishment. We will also chart the evolution of Sufism from personal spiritual practice and experience to the establishment of mystical brotherhoods in which, depending on time and place, a large portion of Muslim society participated. Finally, we will turn to the continued importance that Sufism has played in the Muslim World (including the Arab Gulf) and the United States during a period in which its practices have come under criticism. Sufi authors examined will include Rumi, al-Hallaj and Ibn al-Arabi.