COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This is an intensive interactive five-day summer session course. Full attendance and participation are mandatory. Students will be graded for participation and will lose points for unexcused absences from class.
Book Reviews must be concise and comprised of the following: book review itself and a teaching tool of talking points. The book review should be no longer than 2 pages and the talking points no longer than 1one page in bullet form. The purpose of this assignment is to focus on core points the author is making and to be able to synthesize such points articulately in the form of a teaching tool e.g. the talking points. Demonstrating comprehension of text is critical. Book Review selection process: Any book on the reading list is open. A sign up for books will be on a flipchart in the classroom. Each student will select a book to focus on and there will be one book per person relative to the size of the class.
The research paper must be on a topic relating to a Muslim congregation in America. An outline and bibliography must be submitted to the instructor on July 7th or points may be deducted from the final grade. In addition to any monographs the student may find on the paper topic, he or she must also consult the Index Islamicus, the Religion Index or another source to search for relevant scholarly articles. Students should follow Hartford Seminary guidelines for writing research papers. Copies of these guidelines are available from the Dean of Students. Final Research papers should be 5 to 7 pages. Deadline: August 8th. A mailing address for hardcopies will be given during class. Hardcopies are to arrive by August 8th as well.
EVALUATION/ GRADING
• 20% Attendance and Participation
• 30% Book Review and Talking Points
• 50% Final Research Paper
• You can e-mail both assignments to me as MS Word attachments: sayyeda110@gmail.com
• For more information on the grading policy, please refer to he 2008-2009 course catalogue.
TEXTS (Required Text are in bold)
1. Armstrong, Karen. Muhammad, Harper One, 2006 (REC) Introduction, Chapter 1 and 5
2. Asad, Muhmmad. Translation of the Qur’an. The Book Foundation. http://www.thebook.org/ (REFERENCE)
3. Aslan, Reza. No god but God, Random House, 2006 (REQUIRED)
4. El Fadl, Khaled M. Abou, The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists Harper San Francisco, 2005 (REC) Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 11 and 12
5. Esposito, John and Mogahed, Dalia. Who Speaks for Islam, Gallup Press, 2007 (REQUIRED) Chapter 1, 3 and 4
6. Hasan, Sheeraz. The Muslim American Dream: Autobiography of Sheeraz Hasan, World Entertainment Media 2006 (REC)
7. Jackson, Sherman A. Islam and the Blackamerican, Oxford University Press, 2005 (REQ) Chapter 1, 3 and 4.
8. Lings, Martin. Muhammad, Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions International, 1983: 1-49. (REC)
9. Nasr, Vali. The Shia Revival. W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. (REC) Chapter 1 and 9.
10. Patel, Eboo. Acts of Faith. Boston: Beacon Press, 2007 (REC) Chapter 4, 6 and 8
11. Qazwini, Hassan American Crescent, Random House, 2007 (REQUIRED)
12. Ramadan, Tariq. In the Footsteps of the Prophet, Oxford University Press, 2007 (REC)
13. Strum, Philippa Strum and Tarantolo, Danielle. Muslims in The United States, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (REQUIRED) pp 7-20, 79-136
14. Wadud, Amina.The Qur’an and Women: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective. Oxford University Press, 1999 (REC)
15. Wolfe, Michael. Taking Back Islam, Rodeo Press (REQUIRED) 67-75, 127-150 and 191-222.
ARTICLES (recommended)
1. On Pluralism, Intolerance and The Qur’an by Ali Asani
2. Newsweek Special Report: Islam in America, July 30, 2007
3. Articles by Andrea Elliot: An Imam in America Series, 2006 (to be given in class)
PRE-READING
1. If this is your first Islamic Studies class, you must read a general introduction to Islam. I require No God but God by Reza Aslan. This is available at the Hartford Seminary bookstore.
2. Before class, visit and surf the following website: http://onenationforall.org
FILMS (SOME SHOWN IN CLASS)
1. One Nation Many Voices, Digital Film Festival 2007
2. New Beginning: The Story of the Islamic Center of America by Raad Alawan. Live Camera Productions.
3. The Hajj: One American’s Pilgrimage to Mecca, ABC News Nightline 1997
4. Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet. Unity Productions
5. Who speaks for Islam? Hosted by Ray Suarez, Link TV Original Production
DAILY SCHEDULE
• Period 1 9:00-10:30
• Break 10:30-10:45
• Period 2 10:45-12:15
• Lunch 12:15-1:15
• Period 3 1:15-2:45
• Break 2:45-3:00
• Period 4 3:00-4:00
DAILY READINGS
DAY 1
MONDAY: FOUNDATION AND CONTEXT OF CONGREGATIONS: ISLAM 101 AND THE QUR’AN
1. Asad, Muhmmad. Translation of the Qur’an. The Book Foundation. http://www.thebook.org/
2. Armstrong, Karen. Muhammad, Harper One, 2006 (REC)
3. Aslan, Reza. No god but God, Random House, 2006 (REQ)
4. Nasr, Vali. The Shia Revival. W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. (REC)
DAY 2
TUESDAY: MUSLIM CONGREGATIONS: DIVERSITY
1. Esposito, John and Mogahed, Dalia. Who Speaks for Islam, Gallup Press, 2007 (REQ) 67-75, 127-150 and 191-222.
2. Jackson, Sherman A. Islam and the Blackamerican, Oxford University Press, 2005 (REQ)
3. Qazwini, Hassan American Crescent, Random House, 2007 (REQ) Chapter 3.
4. Strum, Philippa Strum and Tarantolo, Danielle. Muslims in The United States, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (REQ)
5. Wolfe, Michael. Taking Back Islam, Rodeo Press (REC) Chapters 1-5.
6. Website: Omar Ibn Khattab Mosque, Los Angeles, California: http://www.islamicity.com/Culture/Mosques/America/USA_MasjidOmar.htm
7. Website: Islamic Education Center of Orange County (IECOC): http://www.iecoc.org
8. Website: Islamic Center of America
9
. Ismaili Shia Community Website
DAY 3
WEDNESDAY: ISLAMIC ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA (A KEY SELECTION)
1. Jackson, Sherman A. Islam and the Blackamerican, Oxford University Press, 2005 (REQ)
2. Patel, Eboo. Acts of Faith. Boston: Beacon Press, 2007 (REQ) Chapter 8.
3. Strum, Philippa Strum and Tarantolo, Danielle. Muslims in The United States, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (REQ)
4. Website: One Nation: http://onenationforall.org
5. Website: Muslim Public Affairs Council: http://www.mpac.org/
6. Website: (IRCV): http://www.ircv.org/
7. Website: Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) http://www.cair.org
8. Website: Islamic Society of North America (ISNA): http://www.isna.net/
9. Website: Islamic Networks Groups (ING): http://www.ing.org/
10. Website: Interfaith Youth Corp. (IFYC): http://www.ifyc.org/
11. Website: Council of Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC): http://www.ciogc.org/
12. Website: (MANA): http://www.mana-net.org/
13. Website: Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU): http://www.ispu.us/
14. American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA): http://www.asmasociety.org/index_splash.html
15. Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA): http://www.umaamerica.org/
16. W.D. Muhammad Community: http://www.themosquecares.com/
17. Shia Ithnasheri Association of NY: http://www.sijny.org/
DAY 4
THURSDAY: CHALLENGES IN CONGREGATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA
1. El Fadl, Khaled M. Abou, The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists Harper San Francisco, 2005 (REC)
2. Esposito, John and Mogahed, Dalia. Who Speaks for Islam, Gallup Press, 2007 (REQ)
3. Jackson, Sherman A. Islam and the Blackamerican, Oxford University Press, 2005 (REQ) Chapter 4.
4. Wolfe, Michael. Taking back Islam, Rodeo Press (REC) pp 89-126.
5. Mona El Tahawy Articles: http://www.monaeltahawy.com/ (REQ)
DAY 5
FRIDAY: MOVEMENTS AND NEW MEDIA
1. Aslan, Reza. No god but God, Random House, 2006 (REQ) Last Chapter
2. Hasan, Sheeraz. The Muslim American Dream: Autobiography of Sheeraz Hasan, World Entertainment Media 2006 (REC) pp 79-166.
3. Patel, Eboo. Acts of Faith. Boston: Beacon Press, 2007 (REQ)
4. Wolfe, Michael. Taking Back Islam, Rodeo Press (REC) pp 169-190.
5. Website: Unity Productions: http://www.upf.tv/upf06/
6. Website: Muslim Girl magazine: http://www.muslimgirlworld.com/mgmag/
7. Azizah Magazine: http://www.azizahmagazine.com/
8. Website: BoomGen: http://www.boomgen.org/BoomGen/Home.html
9. Radio Islam: http://www.radioislam.com/
10. Elan Magazine: http://www.elanthemag.com/
11. Brookings Institution (Hollywood Project)- Discussion
12. Website: Mecca Web portal: http://www.mecca.com/Portal/htdocs/
13. Azhar Usman Comedy: http://www.allahmademefunny.com/
