Description
In the first year, the course is designed to provide the students with a comprehensive knowledge of the early stages of Islamic Theology and Philosophy. The first half of the academic year focusing on theological thought followed up by Philosophical thought in the second. It surveys the earliest trends of Islamic Theology and Philosophy. The course aims at giving the student a firsthand knowledge of Islamic sources. The students will be able to study the major trends in Islamic thought and the political and social contexts of those trends. The course will provide the students with opportunity to engage and gain experience in research. The course will also provide students with an educational context that will enable them to critically evaluate the issues involved in the study of Islamic theology.
In the second year, the course is designed to give the student a broad knowledge of the modern trends in Islamic thought. It aims at charting the main reform movements which emerged in both the Sunni and Shi’ah schools in the 18th century onwards. It will provide the student with a comprehensive knowledge of the reform movements in late 19th and 20th centuries. The student will be able to study the major trends in Islamic thought in the 20th century, especially the debate among Muslim intellectuals regarding the role of Islam in the modern world. The course will cover most of the trends and currants in modern thought until 1979. The student will learn about the conflict between the Modernists and Traditionalists, and the effort to adapt, reject or reform Islam to the modern age.
Outcomes
It is hoped by the end of the course, the students:
- Will have a very good idea about the major themes in Islamic theology, the birth of Muslim Philosophy and intellectual traditions in modern day Islam.
- Will gain an understanding of, and familiarity with the academic discourse associated with themes of the area of study.
- Will be able to think critically and independently about the subject they have studied.
- Will be able to recognise and define the problems associated with the study of Islamic theology and philosophy.
- Will have gained grounding in methods of collecting and analysing data according to accepted methods of research.
- Will have completed their coursework, which would have been assessed and provided with written feedback in order that the student may take heed of the comments to improve on their next paper.
- Identify and analyse critical issues on Modern Islamic thought.
- Develop a critical insight into historical and contemporary factors giving rise to these issues.
- Assess the adequacy of responses advanced to address dilemmas in Muslim societies.
First Year covers:
- Fundamental Muslim belief: the Unity of Allah, Prophethood, the Day of Judgment, the Angels, and the Revealed Books.
- The emergence of Muslim Thought.
- The rise of the factions: The Khawarij, the Shi’a, the Murji’a, the Qadariyya, the Jabriyya, the Ahl-al-Hadith and the Sufis.
- The Hellenistic challenge.
- The Mu’tazila, the Hanabila and the Ash’ariyya.
- The Philosophers and the Sufis.
- Developments in Sufism and the growth of the Sufi orders.
- The era of Imitation.
Second Year covers:
- The reformist movements
- Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad b. Abd al-Wahhab.
- The impact of the modern West.
- The challenge of science and technology.
- The challenge of social development.
- Theology and the moral and social order.
- Contemporary theological currents and politico-religious movements.
Click here to go back to overview
Click here to see our entry requirements
Click here to view the course content
Download an application form for our MA in Islamic Studies programme
Back to programmes list
