REL350: Islam

Islam is the religion of over one billion people and has adherents across the world from Mecca to Brooklyn. Through readings in history, scripture, theology, law, and spirituality, as well as more contemporary memoir and artistic works, this course introduces students to the diverse beliefs, practices, and cultures of people who identify as Muslims. Students will examine the history of the early Muslim community and the life of the Prophet Muhammad, how Muslims relate to and revere the Prophet, the process of revelation and the compilation of the Quran, as well as the role that it plays in the devotional life of Muslims, the development of Islamic law (shariah), theological arguments regarding the nature of God, and the ways that Islam is practiced in different cultures. Toward the end of the term, students will study a number of topics such as women and gender in Islam, jihad and warfare, political Islam (Islamism), and Islam in America including immigration, conversion, and the African American experiences of Islam.