January Intersession 2012

Focused on skills needed for success in Islamic Chaplaincy and other programs where practical matters of service to Islamic communities, congregations and individuals are important, this course introduces students to a contemporary American condensed version of Ibn al-`Attar's Kitab al-Watha`iq wa'l-sijjilat. The topics under consideration include but are not limited to Islamic legal documents, writing contracts, and completing other legal obligations in the U.S. context. Students will be exposed to practical information and training in the preparation of these documents.

The Mosque has a spiritual reality, but it is also a social organization, made up of human beings, with conflicts and habits, and grounded in a particular context. The more these social dimensions of the congregation are understood, the better its leadership can make decisions, plan ministry and envision its future. This course is designed for current and future mosque leaders who wish to better understand the dynamics of their congregations. We will use a combination of lectures, readings and practical hands-on experience to study one mosque during the class meetings and then each student will explore his or her own mosque as the final assignment. We will look at the congregation’s identity and culture, its context, the material and human resources, the structures of power, and the leadership dynamics in an effort to understand this complex spiritual entity that is the mosque. (This course will take place in Herndon, Virginia.)