Summer 2016/Pasadena
MR568
Johnston
MR568: SHARIAH AND HUMAN RIGHTS (4 Units: 160 hours). David L. Johnston.
DESCRIPTION: In a post-September 11 world, in which war is declared on terrorism and many speak of a clash of civilizations (Islam versus the West), Muslims are debating more seriously than ever their own vision of what global society should look like and their role in it. This sociopolitical and cultural debate is a profoundly theological one as well. On the basis of what Muslims see as revelation from God (Quran and Sunna), traditionalists, Islamists and progressives are exchanging sometimes heated arguments. This course is an introduction to the theological and legal background, range and anatomy of these current disputes, and is divided into three parts: (1) a brief introduction to Islam and Islamic law; (2) a focus on the human rights concept itself, its immediate sources in western culture and the history of Islamic human rights declarations; and (3) an examination of various Muslim approaches, from moderate Islamists to more progressive theorists and activists.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have (1) demonstrated a working knowledge of the historical, cultural, political and theological roots of current Muslim debates on human rights; (2) presented in class the result of their own small group discussion on one aspect of these issues; (3) expressed in class and in writing an appreciation of the complexity behind the theory and practice of human rights norms today for Muslim majority nations and Muslim minorities elsewhere; and (4) reflected on how this knowledge might impact their own ministry objectives and strategies.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets daily for 8-hour sessions as a one-week intensive for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lectures, discussions, small group work and presentations.
REQUIRED READING: 911 pages required.
An-Na‘im, Abdullahi Ahmed. Islam and the Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari’a. Harvard
University Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0674034563, Pub. Price $23.00 [98 pp. assigned].
Emon, Anver M., Mark Ellis, and Benjamin Glahn. Islamic Law and International Human Rights: Searching for Common Ground? Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0199641451, Pub. Price $42.50 [380 pp. assigned].
Mayer, Ann Elizabeth. Islam and Human Rights: Tradition and Politics, 5th ed. Westview Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0813344676, $40.00 [208 pp. assigned].
Ruthven, Malise. Islam: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0199642878, Pub. Price $11.95 [163 pp. assigned].
A series of articles and book chapters will be made available electronically.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Abou El Fadl, Khaled. Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari’ah in the Modern Age. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. ISBN: 978-0742552326, Pub. Price $50.00.
Ali, Kecia. Sexual Ethics and Islam: Feminist Reflections on Qur’an, Hadith, and Jurisprudence, Exp Rev ed. Oneworld, 2016. ISBN: 978-1780743813, Pub. Price $22.95.
An-Na’im, Abdullahi Ahmed. What Is an American Muslim? Embracing Faith and Citizenship. Oxford University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0199895694, Pub. Price $29.95.
Esposito, John L. Tamara Sonn, and John O. Voll, Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring. Oxford University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0195147988, Pub. Price $29.95.
Sachedina, Abdulaziz. Islam and the Challenge of Human Rights. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0195388428, Pub. Price $38.95.
Soroush, ‘Abdelkarim. Reason, Freedom, & Democracy in Islam: Essential Writings of ‘Abdolkarim Soroush, Mahmoud Sadri and Ahmad Sadri, eds. Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0195158205, Pub. Price $105.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
911 pp. of required reading [Learning outcomes #1 and 3] [60 hours].
Participation in class discussion based on required reading; part of this will be in small groups, which will then report to the class (30%). [Learning outcomes #2 and 3].
Group presentation for Thursday on the human rights situation in one part of the Muslim world. Each group member hands in a 5-6 pages (1250-1500 words) paper (20%). [Learning outcomes #2 and 3] [Group work: 2 hours; paper: 8 hours].
A 4,000 to 5,000-word research paper (40%). [Learning outcomes #1 and 3] [45 hours].
A 500-750 page paper on the implications of this course for missiology in general, and for the student’s own ministry objectives and strategies (10%). [Learning outcome #4] [5 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option in Islamic Studies emphasis.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.