RELS 202 / MEST 261 / HIST 261
ISLAM
Spring 2008 MWF
Section 1: 10:00-10:50, BUTE 505
Section 2: 11:00-11:50, BUTE 505

Professor Mahan Mirza
Office Hours: Trinity 233, M 1:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment
Ext. 3088
Email: Use Vista for all course-related communication

Course Overview
This course is an introduction to the religion of Islam and its development in history. Topics that will be covered are Arabia and the rise of Islam, Muhammad and the Qur’ān, Muslim tradition and jurisprudence, Islamic intellectual thought (philosophy, theology, mysticism), the beliefs and practices of Muslims (worship and ritual), geography and demographics, and issues relating to Islam in the modern world. Although the syllabus is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Islam, students with a Muslim background will also find it engaging.
 
Course Objectives
This course is designed as a broad introductory survey course. Students with a range of interests from religion, law, politics, economics, international relations, art, and science will be provided a basis to explore the relationship of these to Islam and the Muslim world through further study. Key course objectives are:

• To provide an overview of Islamic historyand the Islamic religious tradition
• To understand the central place of Muḥ̣ammad and the Qur’ān in Islam
• To learn basic vocabulary and terminology in the study of Islam
• To appreciate the diversity of Muslim societies
• To identify some key questions confronted by Muslims in the modern world
• To reflect on methodological issues and approaches related to the study of Islam
• To assess common stereotypes and media representations of Muslims
• To provide a foundation for further study

Books
David Waines, An Introduction to Islam, 2nd Edition, (Cambridge University Press, 2003)
Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time, (HarperCollins, 2007)
Bruce Lawrence, The Qur’an: A Biography, (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2006)
Greg Mortenson, Three Cups of Tea, (Viking, 2006)

Vista
We will be using the university’s online teaching forum, Vista, for all class electronic communication. Please make sure your computer is properly configured for using Vista, or you may access it from any of the computers on campus. For help and further information please contact Student Computing at http://www.csuchico.edu/stcp or 898-HELP.

Requirements
Participation (10%): Attendance is mandatory. Come to class having read the material and prepared to ask questions and engage in discussion.

Book Review (15%): The first two weeks of class introduce students to a smattering of concerns in the study of Islam given the contemporary political and media environment. During this time students will read a book that challenges assumptions. At the end of this period students are required to submit a short 500 word reflective essay on the book Three Cups of Tea. Specific instructions and expectations for this assignment will be provided in class.

Exams (40%): There will be four exams worth 10% each. One exam will be on Muḥammad and the Qur’ān, two exams will be on the religion of Islam (history, theology, beliefs and practices), and one exam will be on Islam in the modern world. The exams will consist of multiple choice questions and scantrons will be provided. Students must bring No. 2 lead pencils.

Take-Home Final (25%): The final exam will be a take-home exam with essay questions. Books and online resources may be consulted but properly cited. The length of the exam will be no less than 1250 words. Students will be graded on content, writing ability, critical thinking, originality, and engagement.

Four Cultural Events (10%): Since this class fulfills a General Educational Requirement, every student must attend at least four cultural events. Any event related to the humanities will count but events related to religion (particularly Islam) are encouraged. Unless approved in advance, students may not make up their own events but rather attend events organized by a department, organization or center at Chico State. Students must submit a write-up of no longer than 250 words on each event. Write-ups must be submitted within one week of attending the event. These pieces must emphasize why a particular event was chosen and to what extent it has altered your outlook, rather than a mere summary of what transpired. We will do our best to visit the local Chico mosque on Nord Ave as a class. Such a trip, along with activities organized by the Religious Studies Student Society, are highly encouraged as events.

Penalties
Attendance: I take attendance very seriously. Your performance will drop as unexcused absences accrue. If you are sick or have a headache, an email notice is not an excused absence (although it earns my sympathy). In addition to an email notice, you must submit a 1-page reading response for the absence to be excused if there is a legitimate and documented reason for the absence.

Assignments: Assignments that are submitted late (without prior approval) will be penalized by the loss of a letter grade. This includes late submissions of the events papers and late submissions of the take-home final exam. Assignments that are more than one week late (without notice) will receive an automatic F.

University Policies
Students are responsible for making themselves familiar with university policies on academic integrity, cheating, and plagiarism. Please also get acquainted with the academic integrity policies of Religious Studies via the department’s website:
http://www.csuchico.edu/rs/pdf/RS_Academic_Integrity_Policy.pdf.

Grading

Students with Certified Disabilities
Please notify me of any special need relating to your disability within the first two weeks of the semester. I will make every reasonable effort to facilitate your success in this course. Please note that you may be required to show documentation of your disability.

Schedule
The following schedule is subject to revision during the course. Ample notice of significant changes will be provided in advance. Additional readings or assignments in addition those listed may come up on an ad-hoc basis depending on discussions, events, or interest.

Part 1              Approaching Islam, introduction to the Muslim world
                        Weeks 1-2
                        Book: Mortenson, Three Cups of Tea
                        Fri Feb 1: In class video on the Ḥajj
                        Mon Feb 11: Book review due (15%)

Part 2              Muḥ̣ammad and the Qur’ān
                        Weeks 3-7
                        Books: Armstrong (Muḥ̣ammad) and Lawrence (Qur’ān)
                        (Also read Waines, pp. 1-32 and 298-312)
                        Fri March 14: Exam 1 (10%)

SPRING BREAK
March 17-21

Part 3              The religion of Islam and its development in history
                        Weeks 8-12
                        Book: Waines (Introduction to Islam), pp. 33-210
                        Mon March 31, no class (Cesar Chavez Day)
Fri April 11: Exam 2 (10%)
                        Exam 2 will focus on ḥadīth, law, and theology (pp. 33-132)   
Fri April 25: Exam 3 (10%)
Exam 3 will focus on Ṣūfism, Shī‘ism and the medieval Islamic world (pp. 133-210)

Part 4              Islam today
                        Weeks 13-15
                        Book: Waines (Introduction to Islam), pp. 211-297
                        Mon May 12: Exam 4 (10%)

Part 5              Take-home final exam, comprehensive essay questions
                        Fri May 16: Exam handed out in class
                        Fri May 23: Exam due by 4:00 p.m.