Module: HIS6102-20 Islam Faith, Politics and History

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Professor Iftikhar Malik

Module Tutor Contact Details: I.Malik@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

The module offers a grounding in areas such as Islamic theology, life and the teachings of the Prophet, Islam’s similarities and differences with other Abrahamic traditions, holy scriptures, sects, the early caliphates, emergence of the empires and the Crusades, early modern history of Islam in Asia, Africa and Europe with an account of Muslim Diaspora in the West. The modules aims at introducing students with the beliefs, practices and sources of Islam along with its history since the seventh century until recent times.

2.Outline syllabus:

Following a basic introduction to the teaching and sources of Islam such as the Quran and Prophetic traditions, we will look at the world history during the seventh century and focus on Arabia which was to become the cradle of this faith. Other than the caliphates in the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, we will also study Sufism, the Crusades, Mongol invasions and the emergence of empires in India, Persia and the Near East. In addition, topics such as the status of gender rights, Shia-Sunni dissension, Islamic scholarship, and expansion in South-East Asia will allow us to study Muslim relationship with the West. European Colonisation of the Muslim world and the posthumous will help us locate the areas of conflict and consensus among Muslims both across the Muslim regions and in Diaspora.

3.Teaching and learning activities:

Lectures, seminar discussion, reading a wide variety of material along with the consultation of visual sources will help us gain a better understanding of Islamic faith and Muslim history since the classical era.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: An assigned essay (2000 words)

• % Weighting: 40

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: A Research Project (based on original archival/field research (3000 words)

• % Weighting: 60