Barbara R. von Schlegell > Islamic Mysticism Spring 2005

Barbara R. von Schlegell

Visiting Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Ursinus College
Fellow, Penn Middle East Center

Email:

Islamic Mysticism (Spring 2005)
Religious Studies 246/AMES 236

Office Hours: Monday 1:00 – 3:00 in 212 Logan Hall
Mailbox: 201 Logan Hall

Course Description

Sufism (Islamic mysticism) is notoriously difficult to define. Husayn al-Hallaj, executed in a state of ecstasy in Baghdad (922 CE), the Spanish mystic Ibn ‘Arabi (1240 CE), the sober legist Ibn Taymiyah (1328 CE), and the recent President of the Turkish Republic, all had Sufi affiliations. Scholars of both Islam and Judaism have assumed that mystics and religious legal authorities are in constant battle. Is there an "orthodox" esotericism? What distinguishes a Sufi Muslim from a non-Sufi Muslim? Why is Sufism perceived as a dangerous threat in certain countries today?

Readings in Sufism dealing with the nature of God and the hidden meanings of the Qur’an, dreams and miraculous powers, sacred biographies of men and women, and the spiritual significance of sex and death. Along with famous ecstatic figures such as al-Hallaj we consider the sober approaches to divine knowledge exemplified by al-Junayd and al-Ghazali. We are also concerned with the social history of Sufism and the Sufi orders up to and including the modern age. We look at the contest for popular authority and Islamic legitimacy between Sufis and anti-Sufi Muslims. How have Sufis responded to those who condemn their beliefs and practices?

Textbooks are available at Penn Book Center, 34th and Sansome, across from Hill Field
Telephone: 215-222-7600
Open M-F 10-6 and Sat 10-4

Reserves – Rosengarten Desk in Van Pelt
The textbooks listed below are on reserve.
Check "Course Reserves" on Franklin.

Evaluation

1. Participation. You will be asked to choose one of the sessions for which you will take a lead in the class discussion. Some weeks we may have two discussion leaders. You should do some outside reading on the subject or the individual author and give a short (maximum of 30 minutes) talk on the background to the topic and/or on the author’s life in its historical context. Two important resources: The Encyclopaedia of Islam (in VP Reference Room, Middle East Seminar Room and online through Franklin ) and Index Islamicus (online through Franklin "e-resources"). I will lecture occasionally but this is an upper-level seminar. That means we will be discussing each reading in depth together. Your presence, active participation in the class discussions, and your session of leading the class will be the basis for one-third of your grade for the course. If you have to miss a class, please contact me by email before the session.

2. Reading journal. Keep a journal of your readings. Include a brief summary of what you read and what you think of what you read. This is not to be graded on your writing style. It is a way of keeping track of your reading and of having, by the end of the course, a comprehensive overview that includes original texts and the secondary literature on Sufism. A page a week is sufficient. One-third of your grade. Due the last week of class. Be sure to include your name and the author/title of the reading you are writing about.

3. Paper. The last third of your grade for the course will be for your research paper, a minimum of 15 pages, due on the last day of final exams. The week of February 28 - March 4 (Week VIII) you are required to turn in, during class, a paragraph stating the question or problem you are addressing, with a bibliography of at least five resources (academic books or articles). If you wish to submit a first draft of the paper, it must be turned in by Friday, April 8 to my mailbox in 201 Logan Hall. Hard copies only. You may re-write it for a higher grade, taking into consideration my comments and your own revisions. The paper is due the last day of final exams. I will meet with each of you to discuss your topic during my office hours (Mon 1 – 3).

Lecture Schedule

Week I:
ORIENTATION
WHAT IS MYSTICISM?
"HIGH" RELIGION AND "POPULAR" RELIGION
INTRODUCTION TO SUFISM AND NON-SUFI ISLAM
THE GOALS OF SUFISM AND THE QUESTION OF UNION WITH GOD
FILM "WAYS OF KNOWLEDGE" ON SUFISM IN SUDAN

Week II:
INTRODUCTION (CONTINUED)
THE PLACE OF THE QUR’AN AND SUNNAH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
MUHAMMAD THE BELOVED
THE MI’RAJ (MYSTICAL ASCENSION OF MUHAMMAD)

Carl W. Ernst, The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, Chapters 1 and 2
Michael A. Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur'an, Mi'raj, Poetic and Theological Writings, pp. 242 – 250, Chapters 1 and 2

Week III:
METHODS AND INSTITUTIONS OF SUFISM
THE HISTORY OF SUFISM AND THE SUFI ORDERS
THE MASTER-DISCIPLE RELATIONSHIP

Ernst, The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6
Barbara R. von Schlegell, trans. Al-Qushayri Principles of Sufism, Chapter "Remembrance of God (Dhikr)

Week IV:
THE FIRST SUFIS (MEN)
DRUNKEN AND SOBER STYLES OF SPIRITUAL WAYFARING
MUHASIBI, SARRAJ, BISTAMI, HALLAJ, AND NIFFARI

Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism, Chapters 5 – 10 and Epilogue

Week V:
THE FIRST SUFIS (WOMEN)

Rkia Cornell, trans. A. R. As-Sulami, Early Sufi Women: Dhikr An-Niswa Al-Muta’abbitdat As-Sufiyyat
Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism, Chapter 4 - "Rabi’a: Her Words and Life in Attar’s Memorial of the Friends of God"

Week VI:
THE MANUALS OF SUFISM
STATES AND STATIONS OF TRAVELLING ON THE SUFI PATH (HAL AND MAQAM)

Al-Qushayri, Principles of Sufism: Al-Risalah
Sells, Early Islamic Mysticism, Chapter 3 "Qushayri: Interpreting Mystical Expressions from The Treatise (Al-Risalah)"

Week VII:
AL-GHAZALI – FROM PHILOSOPHY TO MYSTICISM

R.J. McCarthy, trans. Al-Ghazali, Al-Ghazali’s Path to Sufism: His Deliverance from Error, Introduction and the Munqidh min al-dalal (Deliverance from Error)
David Buchman, trans. Al-Ghazali, The Niche of Lights

Week VIII:
IBN ‘ARABI – PRESERVING THE OUTER (ZAHIR) WITH THE INNER (BATIN)
THE PROPHETS

R.W. Austin, trans. Ibn-Al-Arabi: The Bezels of Wisdom

Week IX:
IBN ‘ARABI
DIVINE GENDER AND HUMAN GENDER

Sachiko Murata, The Tao of Islam: A Sourcebook on Gender Relationships in Islamic
Thought

Week X:
THE FOUNDATIONS OF INDIAN MYSTICISM
THE CHISHTI SUFI ORDER

Bruce Lawrence, Nizam Ad-Din Awliya: Morals for the Heart

Week XI:
SUFI POETRY AND THE PERSIAN TRADITION

Elizabeth Gray, trans. The Green Sea of Heaven: Fifty Ghazals from the Diwan of Hafiz

Week XII:
SUFISM IN THE MODERN WORLD

Ernst, The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, Chapter 8
Selection from von Schlegell, Sufi Women of Damascus and the Islamic Revival in Syria (ms.)

Web reporting: Visit five sufi websites (suggestions below) and decide what the posting organization or individuals see as their relation to Five Pillar Islam and why they have chosen that approach.

Weeks XIII - IV:
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS OF PAPER TOPICS AND PRELIMINARY FIDNINGS

Current as of Summer 2004

Abjadiyyah Malay Martial Arts, Sufism and Sunni

Ahmed Baki's Sufism and Science Page

Allah-Sufism-Islam from author Ahmed Hulusi

Alt.Fan.Jalaludin Newsgroup

Aouliya Foundation (Qadiri-Chishti tariqa in Melbourne, Australia)

Australian Centre for Sufism

Based on the teaching of Hazrat Sultan Bahoo

Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship

Paul Cheneour's Sufi Music site

A Cherag's Library (links to sacred scripture from many traditions intended for use by the Cherags of the Church of All and of all churches founded by Hazrat Inayat Khan)

Chishti Qadhiri Order

Darqawiyya/Shahdiliyyah

Gharibnawaz (Indian Chisti Sufi Center)

Gohar Shahi

The Golden Sufi Center (Events and Publications)

Haqqani Foundation Homepage

Hazrat Nizamuddin Spiritual Foundation

Ibn Arabi Society

Il Giardino della Conoscenza

International Association of Sufism

ISHK

Jamil Islamic Center of California (Naqshbandi Haqqani Order)

Mevlevi Order of America

Murabitun Worldwide Movement

Muridiyya International (Sufi School of Shaykh Abdoulaye Dieye)

Sufi Musfaad Homepage

Naqshbandia Dargah of India/Pakistan (Luari Sharif)
Mirror Site to Naqshbandia Dargah Alia Luari Sharif

Nimatullahi Sufi Order (Khaniqah Nimatullahi) Contains the principles and practices of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order. Includes books on Sufism, the Sufi magazine, poetry and music.

Nasrullahi School of Sufi Studies (A Tavern for Soul Recognition and Spiritual Connection. Energy Healing and Transformational Psychology in the Classical Sufi Tradition. Sydney Homepage)

A Sufi Resource of Nuradeen

Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order

Petama Project (International Sufi Movement)

Qadiri Rifa'i Order

Qalandariya (Sheikh Baba Sultan)

Rifai-Kadiri-Arusi Tariqas

Rifa'i Marufi Order of America

Saraswati Society (Mevlevi Whirling in Great Britain)

Serving the Guest (An Online Sufi Cookbook)

Sidi Shaykh Muhammad al-Jamal ar-Rifa'i as-Shadhili's Teachings

South African Sufi Site

Sufi Order of the West