For complete course information, syllabi, and registration information,
please visit the Hartford Seminary web site.
Courses for Fall 2009
The Life of the Prophet Muhammad* (HI-536) ONLINE
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8
The Prophet Muhammad is believed by Muslims to be the final prophet of God and the model for their lives as individuals and communities. Through translated selections of original historical sources, the course will survey interpretations of the personality and achievement of the Prophet made by Muslim and non-Muslim scholars. Muslim emulation of the Prophet will be examined with reference to the Hadith literature and devotional prayers. Faculty to be determined
Islamic History I* (HI-624)
Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:50 p.m., beginning Sept. 8
This course explores the history of Islamic societies and civilization from its beginnings in seventh century Arabia until the fall of Granada in 1492. Attention will be given to the expansion process of the Dâr al-Islâm, the changing nature of the caliphate and the development of regional powers, as well as to socio-economic realities, ideological evolutions and significant cultural achievements. Students will read selections of important primary sources available in English translation. Yahya Michot, Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations
Introduction to Arabic Phonology and Script (LG-580)
Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:40 p.m., beginning Sept. 9
Students will master the writing system of standard Arabic, as well as the sounds of the language. A basic vocabulary of over 100 words will be learned, and at the end of the term students will be able to engage in short, simple conversations. Both Levantine and Egyptian pronunciation will be covered. Assumes no prior knowledge of Arabic. Steven Blackburn, Faculty Associate in Semitic Scriptures and LibrarianIntermediate Arabic, Part I (LG-650)
Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:45 p.m. to 6:55 p.m., beginning Sept. 9
This course is designed for participants to consolidate their knowledge of Arabic. Prerequisite: LG-581 or permission of the instructor. Steven Blackburn, Faculty Associate in Semitic Scriptures and Librarian
Major Themes of the Bible and the Qur’an* (SC-634)
Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 9:20 p.m., beginning Sept. 8
This course will study in depth the worldviews of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Qur’an. This will be done through an examination of common and divergent themes in the three Scriptures. More specifically, we shall study the three major themes of Revelation, Creation and Salvation. Within this framework, we shall pay special attention to such major themes as mercy, love and justice, atonement, sin and forgiveness, and the theology of creation, redemption and eschatology. Mahmoud Ayoub, Faculty Associate in Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations
Courses for January Intersession 2010 and
Winter/Spring 2010
Introduction to Islamic Law* (ET-640) ONLINE
Beginning the week of Jan. 25
This course will provide a critical overview of the history and practice of Islamic law. We begin by examining the origins of Islamic law, the development of the classical schools of jurisprudence and the nature of pre-modern legal institutions, especially the courts and madrasa education. In following classes, we will explore the substance of classical Islamic law, especially in the areas of family, finance and international relations. Next, we will discuss the impact of colonialism and modernity on Islamic legal discourses and institutions and finish with a discussion of the way in which Islamic law is observed in contemporary America. Ingrid Mattson, Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian Muslim Relations
Introduction to Arabic Morphology and Syntax (LG-581)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m. – 5:40 p.m., beginning Jan. 25
Vernacular Arabic will be the focus of this course, with an accent on all four linguistic areas of language learning: oral, aural, reading, and listening. Basic sentence and phrase structures will be highlighted while a vocabulary of several hundred words will be built. Assumes a prior knowledge of the Arabic phonology and script. Prerequisite: LG-580, or permission of the instructor. Steven Blackburn, Faculty Associate in Semitic Scriptures Intermediate Arabic, Part I (LG-651)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:45 p.m. - 6:55 p.m., beginning Jan. 25
This course is designed for participants to consolidate their knowledge of Arabic. Prerequisite: LG-581 or permission of the instructor. Steven Blackburn, Faculty Associate in Semitic Scriptures and Librarian
Readings in the Qur’an II (LG-662)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:15 p.m. - 4:25 p.m., beginning Jan. 25
Surah Yusuf, the longest continuous narrative in the Qur’anic revelation, will be studied from a grammatical point of view over the entire semester. Occasional reference will be made to parallel revelations of the Hebrew Bible, as well as to Muslim commentators. Prerequisites: LG-651 or its equivalent. Steven Blackburn, Faculty Associate in Semitic Scriptures
Readings in the Shi’a Tradition* (TH-652) NEW
Mondays, 7 p.m. – 9:20 p.m., beginning Jan. 25
This seminar will examine the Shi’ite tradition from within. We shall read and discuss primary-source materials in English translation including samples of Qur’an exegesis (tafsir), hadith tradition, philosophy, mysticism and theology. Additionally, we will examine some of the writings of Imams Khomeini and Ali Shari’ati, the two most important makers of modern Shi’ite thought and history. Mahmoud Ayoub, Faculty Associate in Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations
Classical Islamic Philosophy* (TH-684) NEW
Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. beginning Jan. 26
This course explores the evolution and main debates of Islamic philosophy (falsafa) from the great translation movement of ancient Greek texts under the ‘Abbâsid dynasty (8th-9th centuries) until the golden age of inter-disciplinary intellectual, scientific and spiritual debates under the Mamlûks of Egypt and the Mongols of Iran (13th-14th centuries). Besides the major falâsifa known to the medieval Latins (Kindî, Fârâbî, Avicenna, Ghazâlî, Averroes…), attention will also be given to several other thinkers, generally less famous in the West, but nevertheless important: The Ikhwân al-Safâ, Miskawayh, Ibn Tufayl, Râzî, Tûsî, Qûnâwî… A selection of representative texts will be read in English translation and commented on. A basic knowledge of Greek philosophy, Islam and the history of Muslim societies (7th-14th centuries) would be useful for this course. Yahya Michot, Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations
