It is the intention of this course to introduce to you a complex and important subject: Islamic Civilization. You will learn about the origin, development and spread over centuries of Islam. The history and content of Islam as a religion and a culture, how it has changed over time and what internal and external factors have brought about this change and the contributions Islamic culture has made to the world, as a whole.

    You will need this type of background to understand the status and relevance of Islam in the world today. Many actions taken and decisions made in the Muslim world are misunderstood in the West precisely because of a lack of this type of knowledge. Thus, this source will give you insights, which allow you better to interpret the news that you see, read and hear as well as to study further topics relating to Islam and Muslim countries.

     The course also poses the following questions: what distinguishes Muslim countries from the world’s other cultural areas? What is the connection between Islam and distinctively Arab traditions? What are the roles of women and men in Islam and how is this reflected in Muslim societies today? What are Islamic Laws and punishments?

Bibliography

We use the standart textbook for ISLAM:

Esposito, J. L., Islam – the Straight Path, Third Edition, Oxford University Press 1998

Copies of the textbook are available in the university’s library, and there is also a copy on ‘reserve’.

In addition, a separate bibliography will be supplied every week: this will include the relevant pages or chapter-references for each ‘topic’, and relevant texts from authentic historical sources.

Course Requirements and Assessment

The academic assessment of this course will be divided into four parts:

• Written Papers

Each student will be required to submit one written paper during the course of the semester. This paper should be about 5 pages in length and it will account for 20 % of the total final-grade.

• Mid-term exam

During the semester there will be two mid-term exams. Mid-terms will account for 30% (15 x 2) of the final total grade.

• End of the Term Exam

At the end of the semester, there will be a final examination. This will be a 2-hour ‘in class’ exam. This final exam will account for 30% of the total final – grade.

• Attendance

In addition to these academic requirements, the student’s final grade will also be assessed according to his or her attendance of classes participation in class-based discussion. Attendance and participation will account for 20% of the total final-grade.

Course Outline

Date Topic

Week 1                                   Introduction

Week 2                                   Pre-Islamic Arabia

Week 3                                   Mohammed

Week 4                                   Qur’an

Week 5                                    The Four Righteosly Guided Califs

                                                Review for Mid-Term Examination

Week 6                                   1st Mid-Term Exam

Week 7                                    Spread of Islam

                                                The Middle East & Colonialism

                                                The Five Pillars of Islam

Week 8                                    Shari’a – Islamic Law

Week 9                                   The Islamic Doctrine on War and Peace

Week 10                                  2nd Mid-Term Exam

Week 11                                  Women in Islam

Week 12                                 Mass Media & Islam

                                               Islamic Countries

Week 13                                 Islam Today

                                               Discussion of Research Papers

                                               Review for Final Examination

Week 14                                 Final Exam