WR-241: Islam

School
Liberal Arts
Division
Humanities
Department
Religious Studies
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
World Religions
Course Number
241
Course Title
Islam
Credit Hours
3.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
Eligible to take ENG courses at HFC.
Catalog Course Description

Introduces and explores the history, beliefs, practices, and experiences of Islam. Examines Islam starting from its origins discussing the life and times of the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, and the further development of Muslim beliefs, way of life, and traditions to the present.

Goals, Topics, and Objectives

Core Course Topics
  1. The origin and basic history of Islam
    • Summarize the general character of religion in pre-Islamic Arabia
    • Identify the relationship between Abraham's experiences and the development of monotheism
    • Analyze the life and times of Muhammad
    • Discuss the spread of Islam from Muhammad's day to modern times
  2. Central beliefs of Islam
    • Identify and discuss the central beliefs of Islam. Those may include, but are not limited to beliefs concerning:
      • God
      • Humans
      • Prophets and messengers
      • Angels and jinn
      • The Day of Judgment
  3. Muslim rituals and practices
    • Analyze and discuss The Five PIllars of Islam
    • Explain other rituals as appropriate to a given instructor's syllabus. Such rituals may include, but are not limited to:
      • Prayer at the mosque
      • Halal foods
      • Circumcision
      • Marriage ceremonies
      • Practices related to death
      • Eid al-Adha
      • Eid al-Fitr
  4. Major texts of Islam
    • Explain aspects of the Qur’an. Connect this information, as it fits specific course syllabi, with current events.
    • Discuss aspects of hadith. Connect this information, as it fits specific course syllabi, with current events.
    • Analyze additional literature, as appropriate to a given instructor's syllabus. Such literature may include, but is not necessarily limited to:
      • Tawrat
      • Zabur
      • Injil
  5. The two main branches of Islam
    • Summarize the conflict that erupted over choosing a successor to Muhammad and how that resulted in the emergence of today's two major branches of Islam: Sunni and Shia
    • Analyze similarities between Shia and Sunni
    • Analyze differences between Shia and Sunni
    • Identify, geographically, where major population of Shia and Sunni, respectively, are located worldwide
  6. Sufism: Islamic Mysticism
    • Discuss the term "mysticism"
    • Explain that mystical approaches to religious understanding exist in various extant religions
    • Summarize the rise, main personalities, primary ideas, and spread of Sufism
    • Analyze Sufi texts, be these prose or poetry, introducing students to the religious content and meaning of Sufi writings
  7. Muslims in North America
    • Describe the arrival of Muslims in North America into the early 1900s
    • Discuss the origin and primary personalities of the Black Muslims.
    • Recognize differences between Nation of Islam and the American Muslim Mission
    • Compare and contrast religious and cultural diversity among Muslims in North American today
  8. Islamic Revivalism
    • Identify and discuss Muslim responses to the spread of Euro-American ("Western") religious and cultural ideals. Subjects selected by the instructor for discussion may include, but are not limited to:
      • Wahabism
      • Qutbism
      • Salafism
      • Fatwas and contemporary jihad

Assessment and Requirements

Assessment of Academic Achievement

Each instructor will identify and implement appropriate methods to assess the achievement of the learning objectives of the course. These methods can include, but are not necessarily limited to multiple-choice, matching, and essay examinations, as well as out-of-class papers, Internet assignments, audio and/or video conferences, and projects.

Texts

Texts will be selected by instructors.

Outcomes

General Education Categories
  • Humanities and Fine Arts
MTA Categories
  • Category 5: Humanities and Fine Arts
Satisfies Wellness Requirement
No

Credit for Prior College-Level Learning

Options for Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Portfolio Review
Effective Term
Fall 2022