Sufi
Texts
Religious
Studies 545 (AMES 536)
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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. Many academic scholars of Islam (and Judaism as well)
assume that mystics and specialists in religious law are in constant
battle with each other. 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?
In this seminar we will read Islamic mystical texts dealing with
the concept of love in Sufism, the nature of God and the self, women
and gender, and the cosmic significance of the figure of Muhammad
for Sufis.
All
Arabic source readings will be handed out in class. With two exceptions,
the texts have been translated into English. Other articles and
selections listed below will also be handed out in class. Minimal
charge for photocopying to the Department of Religious Studies.
The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students. To register,
see Marie Hudson in the Department of Religious Studies office,
201 Logan Hall. No exams.
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Textbooks
Unless
otherwise stated, all textbooks are available at the new Penn Book
Center, 34th and Sansome Streets  Telephone
222-7600
- Michael
Sells Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur'an, Mi'raj, Poetic
and Theological Writings
-
Annemarie Schimmel Mystical Dimensions of Islam
- Carl
Ernst The Shambhala Guide to Sufism
The
textbooks listed above, as well as translations of the Qur'an and
several more detailed studies on Sufism, are on reserve under my
name. Enter "von Schlegell" on the Course Reserve page of Franklin
for titles. In the early weeks of the course I will lecture on Sufi
doctrine and history for the first portion of each class.
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Schedule
of Readings
- Complete
Carl Ernst's The Shambhala Guide to Sufism as an introduction
to Sufism and the methodology of Sufi Studies before the second
week of class.
-
Al-Qushayri, "al-Mahabbah" Chapter on Love from al-Risalah
al-Qushayriyyah
- Michael
Sells, EIM, Preface and Introduction 1-26; 57-74; 97-150
- Annemarie
Schimmel Mystical Dimensions of Islam, 3-148 (skim Chapters 1
and 2)
-
Reuven Snir, "Bab al-mahabbah (The Chapter on Love) in
al-Risala al-Qushayriyya: Rhetorical and Thematic Structure,"
Israel Oriental Studies 19 (1999)
- Al-Sulami,
Selections from Early Sufi Women
- Michael
Sells, EIM, Rabi'ah 151-170
- Rqya
Cornell, Introduction, Early Sufi Women Handout.
- Annemarie
Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam, 426-437
- Al-Burusawi,
Sharh Surat al-Inshirah (tafsir of Chapter 94 of
the Qur'an)
- Michael
Sells, EIM, Sufi tafsir 151-170 and the Mi'raj of
Muhammad 29-56
- Al-Hallaj,
"Tasin of the Lamp" Kitab al-Tawasin
-
Michael Sells, EIM, Hallaj and Iblis 266-280
- Annemarie
Schimmel, Selections from And Muhammad is His Prophet Handout.
- Ibn
'Arabi, Fass Muhammad "The Wisdom of Singularity in the
Word of Muhammad" from the Fusus al-hikam (The Bezels of
Wisdom)
- Ibn
'Arabi, Selections from the Futuhat al-Makkiyah Handout.
- Al-Qashani,
'Ibn 'Arabi's' tafsir of Surat al-Nisa' (Chapter
4 of the Qur'an) Handout.
- Sachiko
Murata, Selections from The Tao of Islam: Gender Imagery in
Islamic Mysticism Handout.
- Please
note: Michael Sells will visit and lead a session to discuss his
new translations of Ibn 'Arabi
- Al-Nabulusi,
Mas'alat al-fana' al-ladhi yahsul ba'd al-baqa' (The question
of the state of annihilation of the self that occurs after the
state of persistence in God). Private manuscript copy.
- Michael
Sells, EIM, al-Junayd 251-265
- Al-Kalabadhi,
Selection from al-Ta'arruf (The Doctrine of the Sufis)
Handout.
Requirements
1.
Participation. You will be asked to choose one of the authors we
are reading, perhaps one you will focus on in your paper, and to
present a brief (20 minute) biography of him to the seminar. For
this purpose, I recommend using the Encyclopaedia of Islam and
Index Islamicus (both available on CD-ROM in the Reference
Room of Van Pelt Library). I will lecture occasionally but the format
of this class is that of a seminar. We will not read and translate
word-for-word. Your overall comprehension and reflection on the
texts will be the basis for our discussions. Your presence and active
participation in the class will be the basis for one-half of your
grade for the course. If you must miss a class, please contact me
before the session by phone or e-mail.
2.
Paper. The other half of your grade for the course will be for your
research paper, a minimum of 15 pages, due on the first day of final
exams (December 15). By November 8, you are required to turn in
a paragraph stating the question or problem you are addressing,
with a short bibliography of at least five resources (books and/or
articles). If you wish to submit a first draft of the paper, it
must be turned in by November 22. You may re-write it for a higher
grade, taking into consideration my comments and your own revisions.
The final draft is due the first day of final exams. I will meet
with each of you to discuss your topic and to offer research suggestions
in the third week of class during my office hours or by appointment.
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