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ISLAMIC STUDIES

School

Hartford International

SC-539

Hadith Methodology: History and Transmission of the Prophetic Sunna

BTI Category

Semester

Islamic Studies

SP26

Compilations of hadith, or words attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, are the second most important form of scripture, or religious text, in the Islamic scholastic tradition. Hadith are an essential source of deriving Islamic law and determining what is deemed as Sunna or a model of proper Islamic practice based on prophetic precedent. In addition, hadith are critical to understanding the Qur’an and many of its general injunctions which would be otherwise ambiguous without their correlating explanations found in hadith sources. This course will analyze the basic foundations of hadith studies (ulum al-adith) which are essential to a well-grounded understanding of this important field of Islamic Studies. A progression of the various elements related to hadith studies such as hadith terminology, the legislative authority of the Sunna, methods of collecting and preserving hadiths, important transmitters, canonical hadith sources, hadith classification, weak hadiths, and forged hadiths, will be presented over the course of the semester to build a solid understanding of the role of hadith in shaping the Islamic scholarly tradition. Furthermore, this study of the scholastic aspects of hadith studies will culminate with an exploration of relevant contemporary issues such as debates regarding the authenticity of hadiths in Western scholarship.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Laher

W

5:00 - 6:50 PM

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 3338

The Prophet Muhammad in History, Devotion, and Polemic

BTI Category

Semester

Islamic Studies

SP26

In the early seventh century, a man named Muḥammad son ofʿAbdallah founded a movement that in time grew into a global religion, empire, and civilization. This course explores three discourses that developed around the life and character of the Prophet Muhammad. First, we will survey some of the biographies that Muslim scholars, both ancient and modern, have written about the life of their prophet. Second, we will explore how the Prophet's life, teachings and persona have served as subjects of Islamic devotion. Finally, the course examines some of the ways in which non-Muslims, again both ancient and modern, have perceived and portrayed Muhammad in polemic against Islam or dialogue with Muslims. Jointly offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Religion 1078.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Goudarzi

T

03:00pm-05:00pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 3063

Spiritual Care from a Muslim Perspective

BTI Category

Semester

Islamic Studies

SP26

This course introduces students to practices of spiritual care from a Muslim Perspective. As we will survey spiritual care practices of different Muslim cultures, our focus will be the relevant application of these practices in North America with a special focus on contemporary issues. We will study meditative/ritualistic, medical, philosophical, counseling, and psychological practices that have relevance and meanings in personal journeys of Muslim spiritual experience in different settings such as hospital, prison, university, community, social, and professional settings. Through a combination of readings, class discussions, practical exercises and expert guest lecturers in each class, students will begin to develop their own approaches to spiritual care in different circumstances such as the issues involving spiritual crises, trauma, mental illness, marriage/divorce, refuge related mental and spiritual complications, substance abuse, and others. Different stake holders such as pastoral care/chaplaincy (minister) candidates, students in education, social work, counseling, psychology, and health sciences as well as medical school students will find much value and benefit in this course. Class format will include weekly expert guest speakers including medical doctors, counselors, social workers, psychologists, clergy, and chaplains, from different disciplines who provide service to Muslim clients, patients, students, or inmates followed by a class discussion.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Kumek

M

12:00pm-01:59pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston University Graduate Program in Religion

CASRN735

Women, Gender, and Islam

BTI Category

Semester

Islamic Studies

SP26

Investigates the way Muslim religious discourse, norms, and practices create and sustain gender and hierarchy in religious, social, and familial life. Looks at historical and contemporary challenges posed to these structures.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Ali, Kecia

T

3:30-6:15p

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

Graduate only

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 3649

Chosen Silence in Medieval Islamic Mystical Literature

BTI Category

Semester

Islamic Studies

SP26

Amid the vast corpus of biographical writings, poetry, and historical accounts on Sufis and Muslim mystics, appear tales of masters who, after a lifetime of study, teaching, and spiritual discipline, chose to throw all their books into the sea or to embrace silence for the rest of their lives. There are also reports of (mostly) nameless women, revered as teachers of great male mystics, who suddenly vanished, leaving behind no trace. These haunting narratives gesture toward the dark face of Truth which no language can express, that ultimate dimension of being which forever remains inaccessible to conceptual or linguistic understanding. Such tales often link namelessness, silence, and femininity.  In this course, we will read these short yet profound texts closely and trace together their narrative structures, mystical metaphors, theological implications, and the gendered political contexts behind them. 

Professor

Class Day & Time

Moballegh

R

03:00pm-04:59pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Online?

N

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

N

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