THEO 5010 THE GREAT BOOKS OF ISLAM

This course surveys some of the literary classics of the Islamic tradition, works that could be counted among the great books of Islam. The texts chosen belong to a strain of Islamic civilization known asadab: classics that offer a variety of perspectives on what it means to be cultivated, learned, virtuous, wise, and pious. The course examines the place ofadabin Islam as a whole and in relation to Islams religious, ethical, and political outlooks. In particular, the question of religious humanism will return throughout the semester: what is the significance of the humanistic venture in Islam for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and how does this compare to secular notions of humanism? Students will do a close reading of some of the great books of Islam from different centuries and genres, including historical writing, political treatises, belles-lettres, epic poetry, mysticism, autobiography, and the modern novel.