FALL
2007 HONORS COURSES
HONR 268J Religion and Progress:
Islamic Science, Politics, and Economics
Tuesday, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Dr. Imad A. Ahmad, Senior Lecturer in University Honors
In the modern West it is generally held that science
and religion are antagonists, that religion and State must be separated,
and that economic and spiritual matters are necessarily in conflict.
Theorists of the modern Islamic revival maintain that science and religion
are in harmony, that religion should not be divorced from politics,
and that religion ought to have as its object prosperity in this life
as well as the next. This course explores the role of science, politics,
and economics in Muslim history and in the modern Islamic revival.
We shall use the Muslim scripture, classical writings,
and modern writings as the basis for our discussion. We shall begin
with an examination of the sources of Islamic law: the Qur'an, the practice
of the early Muslims, legal scholarship, and consensus. In that light,
we shall then examine: the progress of science in the classical Islamic
era and the attitudes of modern Muslims towards science; the political
systems of the classical era and the objectives of the "Islamists"
movements today; economic development in the classical era and the economic
status of the Muslim world today. There will be sufficient time to acquaint
students with little familiarity with Islam with the subject, but the
majority of class time will be spent in active learning through discussion.
Student term papers shall also be subjects of discussion.
Students will select a period and place in Islamic history
for their paper and examine the subject areas of the course in that
period. There will be an hourly exam and a final. The grade will be
assigned on the basis of classroom participation (15%), hourly exam
(15%), term paper (35%), and a final exam (35%).
Tentative Reading List:
Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an
John Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path
Muhammad Haykal, The Life of Muhammad
Imad A. Ahmad, Signs in the Heavens
Pervez Hoodboy, Islam and Science
Marshall G.S. Hodgson, The Venture of Islam
Azzam Tamimi, Power Sharing Islam
Khurshid Ahmad, Islam: Its Meaning and Message
Wali ad-Din Ibn Khaldun, The Muqqadamah: An Introduction to History
CORE–Humanities [HO] Diversity [D]
