Islam in the past and today/Classes conducted in English 3600-SJW-IPT-OG

Islam is a global religion, in the eyes of many Westerners equated with the East that arouses curiosity, but also anxiety. The world is quickly shrinking and transforming.
Muslims become our neighbours. Muslim communities undergo numerous changes, but within the framework of certain principles set by Islam.
Classes will be an attempt to define a multidimensional concept of "Islam" and a sketch of the Muslim civilization’s history.
The course is a proposal for a journey in time and space - from the dawn of Islam to the present day, from the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the world where Muslims have settled. The lecturer will describe by word and images the most important qualities and values of the Muslim world.
During each class, participants will learn the basics of the Arabic language - the Arabic alphabet, common phrases, vocabulary and grammatical constructions. Terms strictly related to Islam will be introduced in Arabic.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Remote learning

Course coordinators

Magdalena Nycz-Waller

Learning outcomes

- Students know the basics of the Muslim religion (history of its birth, dogmas, pillars, currents, etc.) to the extent that allows them to follow with understanding the current information coming from the world of Islam;
- Students are able to notice and analyse the changes that have taken place in the world of Islam, and were caused by, among others, political considerations and aspects;
- Students know the Arabic alphabet and have an elementary knowledge of the Arabic language that allows them to write and read theological and legal terms present in Islam, and are able to use the basic phrases that are in common use among the inhabitants of the Arab world belonging to the Muslim community.

Assessment criteria

active participation in classes, exercises performed individually and in subgroups, short presentations performed optionally by Participants of classes, two max. 30-minute-tests, final test of 20 closed and open questions

Bibliography

Students will be provided with notes sent via USOS mail and made available on the Miro board. They are not obliged to independently read supplementary literature in the sense of extensive book publications. As part of preparation for classes or for homework, they will go through articles made available on an ongoing basis by the teacher.
The following publications may encourage self-expanding knowledge:
1. Ibrahim Amini, Prophethood and the Prophet of Islam, Al-Buraq, 2021.
2. Ibrahim Amini, An Introduction to Islam, Al-Buraq, 2021.
3. Steve Howard, Modern Muslims, Ohio University Press, 2016.
4. Mahmud Hussein, Understanding the Qur’an Today, Saqi Books, 2013.
5. Ebrahim Moosa, Jeffrey T. Kenney, Islam in the Modern World, Routledge 2013.
6. Hossein Nasr, The Heart of Islam, Harper Collins, 2004.

Term 2023Z:

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3600-SJW-IPT-OG in USOSweb