Classical Islam
Religion and Culture · 3 hrs Lecture
Offered: Fall Or Winter Or Spring
No prerequisites listed, you can take this course without prior coursework.
REL-2710 prerequisites
Where REL-2710 counts
Counts toward 3 more as one option among several, not as a course you must take:
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 50 of 208 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
This course focuses on the religious tradition of Islam from its inception through the medieval period. The message and the style of the Qur'an are examined, and Muhammad's life and experience as a prophet are traced. The fundamental beliefs and major practices of Islam are critically explored. The course also examines the emergence of religious, political and legal institutions in the early centuries of Islam. In addition, attention is given to theological, philosophical and mystical interpreters of Islamic ethos, with particular reference to specific scholarly interpretations from different regions of the Islamic world.
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.