Information Literacy for Islamic Studies

Conducting basic research in Islamic Studies requires knowledge of resources from manuscripts to websites, Arabic transliteration systems, Arabic keyboarding for data searches, the nature of historiography and its relation to disciplines within Islamic Studies, and the role of Orientalism, to name a few.  Students will learn how to think critically concerning information produced about Islam from both within and without the religion.  Differing editions of the Qur’an in translation as well as hadith, fatwas, and other classical texts will also be addressed, in addition to differing calendar systems, styles of calligraphy, the use of maps and atlases, and so on.

In addition to our required textbook (above), we will use (a) materials on Reserve in the Library, (b) general online resources, and (c) restricted databases which must be accessed through the Hartford Seminary Library website (http://www.hartsem.edu/welcome-hartford-seminary-library).  Of course, students may wish to purchase their own copies of any number of other works such as ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddima, Said’s Orientalism, and / or The Hans Wehr Arabic-English Dictionary, J M. Cowan, editor.

I. Information Literacy / Thinking and Writing Critically: 9/6

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill26.htm

“Developing Research and Communication Skills”

II. First Bi-Weekly Assignment Due: Compare online, database, and monograph treatment of an Orientalist or Islamicist as assigned: J. Cumming, A. al-Tha`labi (d. 1035), H. Martyn, R. Llull, W. C. Smith, Syed Hosein Nasr, A. A. Mawdudi, V. Budovec, ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, ibn Kathir

Islamic Studies in Academe: Approaches and Issues: 9/13

Waardenbourg, in: Mapping Islamic Studies BP163.M365 1997

Rahman: “Approaches to Islam in Religious Studies: Review Essay” in Approaches to Islam in Religious Studies, Martin (ed.) BP42.A67 1985

III. Historiography: 9/20

Ahmed, Akbar “A Theory of Islamic History” Discovering Islam BP52.A35 1988

Rosenthal: History of Muslim Historiography DS222.7.R727 pp 3-58, 195-201

Ibn Khaldun: Muqaddima D16.7.I2333 1969 pp 5-32

Abdul-Rauf: “Outsiders’ Interpretations of Islam: A Muslim’s Point of View”

Robinson: Islamic Historiography BP49.R63 2003 “Writing History” pp 171-86; “Historiography and Society” pp. 103-23; “Historians and the Truth” pp. 143-55

IV. Second Bi-Weekly Assignment Due: Discuss Ibn Khaldun’s attack on historians as presented in pp. 5-32 of al-Muqaddima, critiquing his methods and assumptions

Orientalism:  9/27

Said: Orientalism pp 31-110 DS12.S24 1978

Salvatore: “Beyond Orientalism?” Arabica 43.3 Sep 96 pp 457-485 (photocopy)

Lockman: Contending Visions of Islam DS61.8.L63 2004 pp 182-214

Hussain, et al: Orientalism, Islam, and Islamists chs 1, 2, 3, 4 BP49.O64 1984

V. Historiography IN Art, kalam, tasawwuf, falsafa: 10/3

Skreslet: Literature of Islam “Philosophy” pp. 127-48; “Theology” pp. 149-71; “Spirituality and Mysticism” pp. 173-96

Renard: Windows on the House of Islam BP161.2.W57 1998 “Collections of Holy Lives” pp. 130-44; “Patronage and the Arts” pp. 244-66; “Required Readings for Mystics,” pp. 301-22

Sonbol: Beyond the Exotic: Women’s Histories in Islamic Societies HQ1170.B443 2005 “Discerning the Hand of Fatima” pp. 347-61

Students should by now have selected a work for their Critical Presentation

VI. Third Bi-Weekly Assignment Due: Discuss an Orientalist in view of Edward Sa`id’s indictment; Guilty, or Not Guilty?  Duncan Black Macdonald, Louis Massignon, Bernard Lewis, H. A. R. Gibb, Edward Lane, Baron de Sacy, Ernest Renan, Richard Burton, T. E. Lawrence

STANDARD REFERENCE WORKS in Islamic studies:  10/10

Handout: Works Since 1985

Geddes: Guide to Reference Books for Islamic Studies. Ref Z7835.M6A54 pp 70-140, 305-329

VII. THE QUR’AN IN TRANSLATION:  10/17

Pastoral, Traditional, Community-oriented, Academic, Apologetic, Orientalist

Lecture:  “Protestant ‘Readings’ of the Qur’an”

Skreslet, Chapter 1 (Qur’an)

Carl Ernst: How to Read the Qur’an BP130.E76 2011, Introduction and Chapter 1

Cantwell Smith: “Is the Qur’an the Word of God?” On Understanding Islam BP25.S6

Graham: “Qur’an as Spoken Word: An Islamic Contribution to the Understanding of Scripture” Approaches to Islam in Religious Studies BP42.A67 1985

VIII. Fourth Bi-Weekly Assignment Due: Library Treasure Hunt (10 Items)

TAFSIR al-QUR’AN / SIRAT al-NABI:  10/24

Skreslet, Chapter 3 (Tafsir)

Kister: “The Sirah Literature,” in Beeston: Arabic Literature to the End of the Umayyad Period, pp. 352ff PJ7510.A8 1983

Renard: Windows on the House of Islam, pp. 35-43 (ibn Taymiyah), 48-54 (al-Ghazali) BP161.2.W57 1998

IX. AHADITH:  10/31

Sunan Abi Dawud; Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, al-Muwatta’, al-Nisa’i

Skreslet, Chapter 2 (Hadith)

Stowasser: “Mothers of the Believers in the Hadith” Muslim World 82,1 pp 1-36 (photocopy)

Students should by now have selected a topic for their Term Paper

X. Fifth Bi-Weekly Assignment Due: Compare translations of, and commentaries on, one of the following ayat: 4:34, 5:38, 9:29, 23:6, 24:35, 112:1-2, 113:4.  Translations should include a representative sampling, such as  Asad, Yusuf Ali, Pickthall, Arberry, Fakhri, Mawdudi, Abdel Haleem, etc. Commentators should be similarly variegated, including both classic and modern, such as Zamakhshari, Razi, Baydawi, Asad, Mawdudi, Abdel Haleem, etc.

TABAQAT:  11/7

Beeston: “Arabic Nomenclature”
http://www.islamicmanuscripts.info/reference/books/Beeston-1971-Nomenclature.pdf

XI. SHARI`AH / FIQH / USUL al-FIQH / FATAWA:  11/14

Stowasser: “Legal Codes and Contemporary Fatawa: Muslim Women and Contesting Paradigms,” Hawwa 6,1 pp. 32-51.

THANKSGIVING BREAK

XII. Sixth Bi-Weekly Assignment Due: Fatwa analysis (Qaradawi on mourning, wealth, Hadith of the fly, merchants and zakah, bismillah, death)

Manuscripts: their nature & access / CALLIGRAPHY

Unedited printed documents and works:  11/28

Blackburn: “Mysteries of the Scribes” in The Illuminated Manuscripts of Hartford Seminary: the Art of Christian-Muslim Relations ND2895.H37H3 1994 (photocopy)

Pederson: The Arabic Book ch 3, 4 (photocopy) Z464.I8 P413 1984

XIII. LEARNED SOCIETIES, Professional Associations:  12/5

Bijlefeld: “A Century of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Hartford Seminary,” Muslim World, April 1993, pp. 103-17 (photocopy)

D’Souza: “Evangelism, Dialogue, Reconciliation: A Case Study of the Growth and Transformation of the Henry Martyn Institute,” Muslim World, Spring 2001, pp. 155-84 (photocopy)

XIV. TRANSLITERATION, Calendars, Dates;

            Keyboarding in Arabic and the Online Search:  12/12

            http://guides.lib.umich.edu/data/files//25838/lcromanization.pdf

XV. In-Class Student Critical Presentations (see below):  12/19

The Bi-Weekly Assignments will help introduce you to the Library and its resources, requiring some scavenging and scouring of databases, reference works, items from the Main Collection, and even possibly the Archives.  Report briefly and informally to the class, noting how your search proceeded, where you looked, what you were able to find, any frustrations, etc.  Please be prepared to give feedback to your classmates.

For the Critical Presentation, you are expected to analyze a text from the following list, reflecting upon the author’s ideological pre-suppositions, methodology, use of resources, and so on.  Discussion can include observations concerning the author’s appeal to reason or emotion, reaching conclusions that are not justified, cherry-picking evidence, and any other matters worth noting.  If you had written an article on this topic, what might you have done differently?  Both positive and negative contributions to the literature of the field in question should be mentioned.  What has the author missed, in your opinion?

Said: Orientalism

Watt: Muhammad

Crone and Cook: Hagarism

Lawrence: Seven Pillars of Wisdom (selections)

Ramadan: In the Footsteps of the Prophet

Fernea: Guests of the Sheik (selections)

Bullock: Rethinking Muslim Women and the Veil

Abul-Fadl: Where East Meets West

Shariati: Man and Islam

For the Term Paper, the length of which should be 10-12 pages (not including endnotes and bibliography), make contrastive arguments regarding one of the following issues.  Please clear with the Professor which issue you would like to cover so that there is little duplication of effort among us.  The term paper is due January 10, 2011, but may be handed in as early as the last day of class in December.

1. Islamic Studies in secular institutions and faith-based settings
2. Linguistically or theologically based translations of the Qur’an
3. Uses of Hadith in theological argumentation, past and present
4. Production of critical editions of Arabic language texts, including manuscripts
5. The roles of Muslims and non-Muslims in Islamic Studies

Grading:

Participation 25%, Bi-weekly assignments 25%, Presentation 25%, Paper 25%

Attendance Policy:

Attendance in class is required.  If you know you will be unable to attend a class session, please inform the Professor in advance.  Missing two sessions will result in an automatic lowering of your final grade by 10%.  Missing three or more sessions may result in failure of the entire course.

Of course, every accommodation will be made with respect to prayer times, holidays, and other observances as appropriate.