Sufism: Islamic Mysticism
In this course we will explore Sufism and other Islamic mystical traditions spanning four continents and fourteen centuries. We will investigate the Islamic theosophical traditions of the Arab and Persian worlds, concentrating on the mystical theology of Sarraj, Makki, Hujwiri, al-Ghazzali, and Suhrawardi and the prose and verse traditions tied to Ali b. Abi Talib, Jafar as-Sadiq, al-Hallaj, Rabi'a al-Basri, Attar, Ibn Arabi, and Rumi. We will then discuss the growth of Islamic mysticism over time and investigate the relationship between Sufism and poetics, colonialism, and post-colonial resistance movements. Gender, sexuality, music, globalization, and religious pluralism will be discussed throughout. Some previous study of Islam required. 3hrs. sem. PHL AAL (B. Madaninejad)