RELI 312 - ISLAMIC MYSTICISM: SUFISM

Spring 2000

Instructor: Abdulaziz Sachedina

RELI 312 is a historical and topical survey of the origins and development of Islamic mysticism. The course is primarily concerned with the growth of mystical tradition in Islam, the rise of asceticism, the early Sufis, the development of Sufi orders, the systematization of Sufi teaching and the evolution of theosophical dimensions of mysticism, and finally, the contribution of Sufism in the Islamic art and literature. In doing so, we will attempt to study the lives and teachings of the outstanding Sufis as Rabi'a, Hallaj, Rumi, Gazali and others. For the first time the course will include multimedia component to explore Spiritual Dimensions of Islamic Art and Architecture to underscore the Sufi influence in the material cultures of Muslims. The multimedia component will provide students opportunity to articulate psychological and spiritual dimensions of the available sound and image resources.

 

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS:


i. REGULAR attendance at weekly session. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND: ATTENDANCE IS NOT OPTIONAL IN ANY OF MY COURSES.


ii. Reading assignments:

1. Annemarie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam (MDI)

2. -----, My Soul is a Woman (MSW)

3. S. H. Nasr, Islamic Art and Spirituality (IAS)

4. Farid ud-Din Attar, The Conference of the Birds

5. Michael Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism (EIM)

6. A. W. Chittick, Sufi Path of Love (SPL)

7. John Renard, Seven Doors to Islam (SDI)

 

iii. Slideshow preparation of Islamic Art and Architecture (There will be technical training and assistance available to prepare students enrolled in RELI 312 to interact intelligently and creatively with selections from images, sounds, and texts.) (15%)

 

iv. Final presentation of Spiritual Dimensions of Islamic Art using available sound and image resources in class. This presentation will provide opportunity to verbally articulate students' understanding of the psychological and spiritual impact borne by the images and sounds they will assemble. This articulation will done both orally and by writing out individual interaction with spiritually-oriented media. (15%)


v. Term paper on some aspect of Islamic mysticism (12-15 typewritten pages). (25%)


vi. Final examination (45%)

 

III. COURSE OUTLINE:


Jan. 25: Monotheism and Mysticism: The nature of Islamic mysticism, and its origins in the event of the Islamic Revelation.

 

Readings: Schimmel, MDI, 3-22; Renard, SDI, 1-33; Sells, EIM, 11-74.

[Media Assignment: Please note that there will technical training available for three days: January 25, 26 and 27,at Robertson Media Center between 6:30-8:30 p.m. Students enrolled in this class will sign-up for any of the three days with Mr. Yitna Firdyiwek. E-mail address: <ybf2u@virginia.edu>]

 

Feb. 1: The Paradigm of the Messenger and the Message: The two dimensional spiritual relationship in Islam.

 

Readings: Renard, SDI, 35-104; Sells, EIM, 75-96.

 

[Media Assignment 1: Take a look at "Sacred Biography" in Slideshow projection available in all university computer lab. Select an image from the database that reflect the experience of "revelation" and "inspiration." Articulate your own reaction to the image using some of the language in Renard reading.]


Feb. 8: Historical Survey of Classical period of Sufism within the general development of Islamic civilization.

 

Readings: Schimmel, MDI, 23-97; Sells, EIM, 75-96.

 

Feb. 15: Great Mystical figures of the Classical Age: Rabi'a, the Saintess and Hallaj, and Martyr.

 

Readings: Renard, SDI, 221-257; Sells, EIM, 151-170; 251-280.

 

[Media Assignment 2: Select two-three images from the database on the theme of "Infinite Love and Union" and an inspiring sound track, and work on a narrative to express their impact upon your own feelings of "sacred" love.]

 

Feb. 22: The Path to the Beloved: Tariqa leading to the mystical experience of the Sufis.

 

Readings: Schimmel, MDI, 98-186; Sells, EIM, 97-150; 196-211.

 

Feb. 29: Spiritual Energy Rediscovered and Articulated

 

Readings: Renard, SDI, 107-180; Nasr, IAS, 3-83.

 

[Media Assignment 3: Select three-four images from the database on the theme of "Separation" and a sound track to express the pain and longing; and articulate the psychological and spiritual impact borne by these on you, using the language developed to express these ideas by Renard and Nasr.]

 

Mar. 7: The Role of Women in Islamic Spirituality

 

Readings: Schimmel, My Soul is a Woman; Schimmel, MDI, 426-435.

 

MARCH 11-19: SPRING BREAK. ENJOY YOURSELVES!

 

Mar. 21: Ghazali and his contribution in reconciling Sufism with Sunni Islam

 

Readings: W. M. Watt, The Faith and Practice (on reserve), 11-85.

 

Mar. 28: The Idea of Perfect Man (Sainthood) in Islamic Mysticism

 

Readings: Schimmel, MDI, 187-227; Sells, EIM, 176-196, 281-303.

 

Apr. 4: The Flight to Union with Divine

Readings: Attar, The Conference of Birds; Nasr, IAS, 87-113.

 

[Media Assignment 4: Select four-five images from the database on the theme of "Union" and a sound track to express the joy and release of spiritual energy, and meditate on these in order to articulate the impact borne by the sense of "union" in you. Again, use the language of spirituality in art developed by Renard and Nasr.]

 

Apr. 11: Institutionalization of Sufism through Sufi Orders

 

Readings: Schimmel, MDI, 228-58; Renard, SDI, 143-218.

 

Apr. 18: Love Mysticism: Rumi and Shams-Tabrizi

 

Readings: Schimmel, MDI, 287-343; William Chittick, SPL (Take a dive in the "Ocean." Come up only when about to run out of breadth!); Nasr, IAS, 114-147.

 

[Media assignment 5: Plan your final presentation on any of the themes in the database and prepare your slideshow for presentation in the class, using images, sound tracks and texts to articulate your sense of spirituality for a 15 minute presentation in the class.]


Apr. 25: Listen to the Reed as it complains of "Separation"

 

Readings: Chittick, SPL; Nasr, IAS, 151-174.

 

May 2: Theosophical Sufism or Intellectualization of Islamic mysticism: Suhrawardi and Ibn al-Arabi.

 

Readings: Schimmel, 259-286; William Chittick, Sufi Path of Knowledge, ix-xxii, 3-30 (on reserve)

 

 May 9: Final Take-home Exam