Early Islamic Political Thought (U04473)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-U04473

The early Islamic tradition (7th–12th centuries CE) is particularly rich in material that addresses political questions. This reflects the importance of such questions to many Muslims in the first community in West Arabia, in the Muslim empire of the caliphate, and in the ‘commonwealth’ of Islamic societies stretching from Spain to Central Asia that it left behind.

In this course we will read a number of important early Islamic political texts in English translation and discuss the question of how and why Muslims came up with their various responses to questions about: authority, obedience and rebellion; justice and order; status, hierarchy and communal identity; leadership and qualification for it. We will also read some of secondary scholarship in English on early Islamic political thought. No knowledge of any language other than English is required.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Pass in Islamic History 1 or equivalent with agreement of course convenor.

? Costs : Approximately £2 - photocopied course book of relevant texts.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Tutorial	Thursday	15:00	17:00	Central
Tutorial	Friday	15:00	17:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should:
1. Be familiar with the main currents of Islamic political thought in the formative and classical periods of Islam..
2. Have a good understanding of some of the most important secondary literature in English on early Islamic political thought.
3. Have a good understanding of current debates about early Islamic political thought.
4. Be familiar with some early Islamic texts in English translation.
5. Be equipped with the critical skills to evaluate the significance of any given early Islamic text for the history of political thought in Islam.