Download Islamic Civilization

Islamic Civilization
‫مقدمة عامة‬
General Introduction
This general introduction aims at informing the students of the nature and importance of the
Islamic Civilization II course, familiarizing them with the research activities which they will be
assigned throughout the semester, and explaining and explicating the main concepts and
procedures of scientific research, and methods of using information sources.
‫األسيوع‬
‫الموضوع‬
Week
Topic
Introduction to Assignments (Book Review, Group Discussion, Film Report)
1
Distribution of Assignments
Scientific Methodology
1
Information Literacy
Week
Readings
(Textbook), Material
Topic
2
General Lecture
Book
Review
2
The Emergence of Islam (LESSON 1)
Book
Review
2
The Apostasy Wars (LESSON 2)
Book
Review
Book
Review
2
Conquests and the Construction of the Nation
3
Termination of the Caliphate and the emergence of
the modern state (LESSON 3a&b)
Book
Review
3
The Abbasid Revolution (LESSON 4)
1/8
Book
Review
3
The Split of the Caliphate: The Umawids in
Andalusia, the Fatimids in Cairo
4
Weakness and fall -the Crusades and Magul
4
The Establishment of the Ottoman State
Film
5
Western Colonialism in the Muslim World
‫كتابة التقرير‬
Film
5
Western Colonialism in the Muslim World
Group
Discussion
Group
Discussion
General Discussion of the Readings
5
Unit 2 - Islam Vis-à-vis other civilizations and Cultures
This Unit deals with the issue of acculturation and interaction of civilizations. It is better to start with
some anthropological theories, like cultural diffusions. It should also start with a discussion of the
Samuel Huntington's hypothesis clash of civilizations. This is to be followed by a discussion of Islam's
relations with other cultures with which it has communicated or interacted. The study of this relationship
should focus on two specific points:
a. How the Muslims benefited from one culture or another.
b. How they influenced or were influenced by other cultures.
On the other hand, the approach should go beyond the military political theory of history to focus mainly
on the social, cultural, scientific, institutional, commercial, artistic interaction in its most comprehensive
sense.
Week
Topic
Readings
presentation
(Textbook),
Material
Book
Review
6
General Lecture
6
Islam and Persian Civilization
2/8
Islam and Greco-Roman Civilization
6
Book
Review
Book
Review
Book
Review
Group
Discussion
Islam and Indian Civilization
7
Islam and primitive Civilizations (Africa and
7
Southeast Asia).
7
Islam and the Western Civilization
General Discussion of the Readings
8
Midterm Exam:
Unit 3 – Muslim Contributions to Natural Sciences
This Unit deals with natural sciences as a human heritage in which all cultures have contributed
and developed. Then, attention should be given to how the Muslims dealt with these sciences as
they inherited them from the Greeks, Persians and Indians, how they developed them, and the new
sciences they innovated. The contributions of the Muslims, the steps they followed to develop these
sciences, and how their contributions influenced the European Civilization as it was just coming
out of its dark ages are to be given special attention in this Unit.
Week
Readings
Topic
(Textbook),
Material
General Lecture
9
Book
Review
Book
Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Chemistry
Book
Review
Book
Mathematics
Astro logy and Optics
3/8
Review
Book
Review
Geography
Group
Discussion
Arab & Muslim Contribution to Western Sciences
General Discussion of the Readings
Unit 4 - Islamic contribution in Humanities and social sciences
Week
Readings (Textbook),
Material
Topic
General Lecture
Economy
Book
Review
Group
Discussion
Political science
Book
Review
Book
Review
Sociology
Anthropology
General Discussion of the Readings
Arts Unit 5. Audio and Visual
‫األسبوع‬
Week
‫الموضوع‬
Subject
‫القراءات‬
Readings (Textbook),
Material
General lecture
Book
Review
Arts in Islam
Book
Review
4/8
Book
Review
General Discussion of the Readings
General Revision for Units 3, 4, 5.
Final Exam
5/8
Standardization of the Learning Process
The table below provides an example of how the content of the above could be
standardized. It is included as a model to guide thinking about developing a document of
standards for the General Program of Islamic Studies that will meet the needs of
instructors/faculty as well as those of the departments.
The Learning Expectation of any individual theme from the above list should be based on
enhancing the student's understanding and should demonstrate how the required core texts and
related assigned texts can be used whenever the context requires a similar interpretation, either
written or oral.
Student
Products
The Essential Learning Skills and Strategies include Preparation (advance reading of the assigned
weekly readings), Class Participation (regular attendance and engaging in thoughtful discussion on
issues pertinent to the weekly readings) and Colloquium Presentations (to draw out new concepts,
issues, themes and questions for class discussion). Two students will be asked to make a 5-7
minute oral presentation on one of the assigned weekly readings. Discussion Groups and Debate
also be implemented to enhance the skills of thinking, researching, debating and understanding of
the new concepts, principles, values and issues.
The Student Products should include Written Work and Oral and Written Examinations.
Learning
Practice
Essential Learning
Skills and
Strategies
Learning
Expectation
Table No. ( ): Sample of Standards
The Learning Practice should reflect a discussion-driven class that depends on and assumes one's
close reading of the texts. Lecture-driven classes should not be part of this program.
A Recommendation for the Syllabus of Islamic Core Texts Readings for Two Courses (3
Chapters Each)
Topic No. 1: Pre-Islamic Arabia
Required Reading Text/s:
Optional Text/s:
* al-Kalbi: the Book of Idols Kitab al-Asnam
* Mualaqat
* Abdullah al-Udhari, Classical Poems by Arab Women (London: Saqi,
1999)
Topic No. 2: Islam I: Iman and Tawhid (God, Man and the World)
* Related Qur’anic Verses
Required Reading Text/s:
* The Book of Iman in al-Bukhari and Muslim
* Ibn Tayymiah the Book of Iman
Optional Text/s:
* Afghani, ‫ الرد على الدهريين‬The Refutation of the Materialists
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Topic No. 3: Islam II: Sharia (Individual and Community)
* al-Shatibi, al-Muafaqat (the Book of Maqasid)
‫لم أوفق لالهتداء بعد لكتاب تراثي مبكر يعالج الفقه في بعديه الفردي واالجتماعي بشكل يمكن للطالب‬
Required Reading Text/s:
‫ وأظن كتاب الشاطبي يمكن أن يسد هذا المسد – وهللا أعلم‬.‫غير المختصين فهمه‬
* al-Raysunni, Imam al-Shatibi’s Theory of the Higher Objectives and
Optional Text/s:
Intents of Islamic Law
Topic No. 4: Islam III: Ethics (Purity of the Soul and the Ethics of Daily Life)
* Ibn al-Qayyim, Madaarij Saalikeen
* al-qhazali, the ihya (the book of Norms of Daily Life Rubʿ al-ʿadat and The
Required Reading Text/s:
Book of the Proprieties [??] of Earning and Living
* Abdullah Diraz, Ethics in the Qur’an
Optional Text/s:
Topic No. 5: Religion and Identity I (Abrahamic and Non- Abrahamic Religions)
* Ibn Hazm, al-Fasl fi al-milal wa-al-ahwa' wa-al-nihal,
* Abu al-Rayhan al-Biruni, Compendium of India's Religion and
Required Reading Text/s:
Philosophy
* Muhammad Abdullah Draz, al-Din: Dirasat Mumahida Lidirasat al-Adian
Optional Text/s:
Topic No. 6: Religion and Identity II (the Question of Originality)
* al-Gazali, al-Munqidh min al-Dalal
Required Reading Text/s:
* Averroes Ibn Rushd, Fasl al-Maqal
* Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayya wa al-Nihayya (the Death of al-Halaj)
Optional Text/s:
* Mahmud Mohamed Taha, the Second Message of Islam
Topic No. 7: Islamic History I (the Wars of Apostasy and other Early Major Challenges)
* The History of al-Tabari, (al- ridda / the Death of Usman / the Caliphate
Required Reading Text/s:
of Yazid b. Mu'awiyah
* al-Jahiz, Nine Essays
Optional Text/s:
* Ibn Qutayba, ‫رسالة في الصحابة‬
* Qatari ibn al-Fuja’a, Poetry
* Abd AL-Aziz AL-Duri, the Historical Formation of Arab Umah ‫التكوين‬
‫التارخي لألمة العربية‬
Topic No. 8: Islamic History II (Cultural Prosperity)
* The Travels of Ibn Battuta
Required Reading Text/s:
* Tanukhi, Ruminations and Reminiscences
Optional Text/s:
Topic No. 9: Islamic History III (Political Fragmentation)
* Ibn al-Athir, On the Tatars [Mongols]
Required Reading Text/s:
* Usama ibn Munqidh, The Book of Contemplation (the Crusades)
* the History of al-Andalus under Abdalrahman Al-dakhil
Optional Text/s:
Topic No. 10: Islamic Intellectual Heritage I: the Meaning of Knowledge
* al-Ghdali, the ihya (The Book of Knowledge)
* Al-Harith Al-Muhasibi Kitab fahm al-Qur'an (Book of the understanding
Required Reading Text/s:
of Qur'an)
Optional Text/s:
Topic No. 11: Islamic Intellectual Heritage II: Islamic Thought (Theology and Usul al-fiqh)
* al-Shafie, the Book of Resala (the Introduction and the first chapter on alRequired Reading Text/s:
Bayyan)
7/8
Optional Text/s:
* Abu al-Hassan Asha’ri, Maqalat al-Islamiyin
* Abu Zahra, Imam Ahmed Abn Hanbal
Topic No. 12: Islamic Heritage III: Sciences and Civilization
* Ibn Khaldun, the Muqaddima (Bedouin civilization / On dynasties, royal
Required Reading Text/s:
authority and the caliphate / the Various Kinds of Sciences)
* George Saliba: (‫ )الفكر العربي العلمي نشأته وتطوره‬The Origin and Development
Optional Text/s:
of Arabic Scientific Thought
* 1001 Inventions: the Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization (OR, the
film 1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets)
* alKhatib Baqdadi, History of Bagdad
Topic No. 13: Modernity and Identity I (the Question of Acculturation)
* Taha Husain, mustagbal al-thagafa fi mesir
Required Reading Text/s:
* Malek Binnabi, The Question of Culture
Optional Text/s:
Topic No. 14: Modernity and Identity II (the Question of Women Rights)
* Verses from Sura al-nisa (Women in Tafsir al-Qurtobi)
Required Reading Text/s:
* Qasim Amin, Tahrir al-ma’a (the Liberation of Women) OR al-Mar’a alJadida (the New Women)
Optional Text/s:
* Ibn Ahashur, Maqasid al-Shari’a al-islamia, (Equality + the Objective of
Family Law)
Topic No. 15: Renaissance and Revival (Questioning the concept of Civilization)
* Edward Said: the Orientalist (Orientalist Structures and Restructure)
Required Reading Text/s:
* Malek Binnabi, shurut al-nahdah (Respectable Attitude Toward
Optional Text/s:
Colonization ‫)القابلية لالستعمار‬
8/8