Islamic Mysticism

Course goals

• Acquiring in-depth knowledge of the core concepts, doctrines, rituals, musical traditions and central texts that characterise Islamic mysticism (Sufism).
• Gaining insight into the application of Islamic mystical tenets in politics.
• Gaining insight into how this knowledge has been integrated and applied in debates on the role of Islam in society.
• Students will be able to analyze and contextualize a wide range of topics, rituals and material culture related to Sufism;
• Students will develop written academic skills. S/he learns how to formulate a thesis question and how to answer the questions in an orderly and well-argued fashion.
• Students will develop oral presentation skills. S/he learns how to analytically summarize an academic paper for both general and specialized audience; S/he learns how to formulate a question, how to answer the question in a convincing manner.

Content

This course explores the mystical dimensions of Islam, known as Sufism. We will examine key mystical terms, concepts, and practices, including Neoplatonism, asceticism, hagiography, and the concept of the “perfect man” as a bridge between God and creation. Central themes, such as travelling, both allegorical and literal, will also be explored, with a particular focus on the Prophet Mohammad’s nightly ascension. Popular mystic authors such as Ibn al-ʿArabi (1165-1240), Rumi (1207-1273), and Hafiz (1315-1390), will feature prominently in this course, alongside the contributions of influential mystic women, such as Rabiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya (d. 801), who introduced new notions of love, marriage, and piety. Beyond exploring the roles of dance, music, and the philosophy of love in mysticism, the course will investigate controversial currents within Sufism, shedding light on the unconventional lifestyles, beliefs, and rituals of wandering dervishes. Finally, the course will address the role of mysticism in contemporary Islamic societies and the growing interest in Sufism in the modern Western world.
The seminars of this course are interactive, inviting students to give a presentation which will be used to open a discussion on the assigned weekly literature. We also organise debates between students on central topics of Islamic mysticism and its relationship to a wide range of Islamic principles and current issues in society.

Additional information

Please note: the time slot shown here is not yet final and may still be modified until the 3rd Wednesday in September.

Course code was previously IA3V13002.

The Course Islamic Mysticism is part of verdiepingspakket Islam.

LAS and TCS students who follow this course as part of the core curriculum of their major, need to complete a compulsory preparation course/assignment. See for more information: https://tcs.sites.uu.nl/