99-086    Introduction to Islam
Spring 2003    1 Unit
 
Times    Thursday 6:00pm - 6:50pm (changed)
Room    PH 225B
Instructors    Syed W. Hussain, Sulaiman Malik, Jibran Rashid
 
Course Description
    This course will provide a strong foundation in Islamic beliefs such as absolute monotheism, divine justice, fate and destiny, prophethood, leadership and the hereafter.
 
Textbook
The Holy Quran (various translations and commentaries)
 
Syllabus (tentative)
Lecture 0: Logistical Issues (Attendance and Grading Policy)
 
Lecture 1: Introduction (Definitions, Islamic Teachings, Islamic Doctrines, Sources of Thought and Error)
    Readings:
        Man and Universe (Part I: Man and Faith) by Mutahhari
 
Lecture 2: Monotheism
    Readings:
        Lessons from Quran (Part 1: Monotheism) by Qaraiti
        God and His Attributes by Sayyid Lari
        99 Attributes of God by al-Jibouri
       
Lecture 3: Divine Justice (Free Will, God's Will, Fate and Destiny)
    Readings:
        Lessons from Quran (Part 2: Justice)
        Lessons from Quran (Part 3: Social Justice)
 
Lecture 4: Prophethood
    Readings:
        Lessons from Quran (Part 4: Prophethood)
        Seal of the Prophet and His Message by Sayyid Lari
        Words of Jesus (peace be upon him) by Legenhausen
   
Lecture 5: Leadership
    Readings:
        Imamate and Leadership by Sayyid Lari
        The Emergence of Shiism and Shiites by Sadr
        "Sunnah" from Shia and Sunni Point of View by Mishkini
 
Lecture 6: Hereafter (Resurrection, Day of Judgment, Accountability)
    Readings:
        Resurrection, Judgment and the Hereafter
 
 
Special Topics in Islam
 
Lecture 7: Ijtihad
Lecture 8: Modernism, Fundamentalism and Revival of Intellectual Islam
Lecture 9: Human Rights in Islam (Freedom, Universal Rights, Women's Rights)
    Readings:
        Treatise on Rights by Imam Zayn al-Abidin(as)
        The Islamic System of Judiciary in the Quran by Amuli
        Woman and Her Rights by Mutahhari
 
Lecture 10: Terrorism, Violence, Legitimate Struggle/Defense
    Readings:
        Islam and the Question of Violence by Sayyid Nasr
        Towards a Definition of Terrorism by Taskhiri
        Terrorism According to Islamic Law (Principle of Public Security and Terrorism from the Point of View of Islamic Rights) by Araki
 
Lecture 11: Islamic Economics
    Readings:
        Islamic Economy: Its Ideological and Legal Foundations by Taskhiri
 
Lecture 12: Political Islam
    Readings:
        General Principles of Ayatullah Khomeini's Political Thought by Zadeh
    Case Study:
        Imam Ali(as) letter to Maalik al-Ashtar when appointed Governor of Egypt
        "Islamic Democracy" in Iran
 
Lecture 13: TBA
Lecture 14: TBA
Lecture 15: TBA

 
Recommended Books
 
Ethics
    Ethics and Spritual Growth by Sayyid Lari
 
History
    The Message by Subhani
 
Quran
    Quran in Islam by Tabatabai
 
Philosophy
    Philosophy of Islam by Behishti and Bahonar