Summer 2018/Fuller Online
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 be able to (1) demonstrate a working knowledge of the historical, cultural, political and theological roots of current Muslim debates on human rights; (2) express in the discussion board and in their papers an appreciation of the complexity behind the theory and practice of human rights norms today for Muslim majority nations and Muslim minorities elsewhere; and (3) reflect on how this knowledge might impact Christian mission to Muslims and/or their own ministry objectives and strategies.
COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.
REQUIRED READING: 974 pages required.
An-Na‘im, Abdullahi Ahmed. Islam and the Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari’a. Harvard
University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0674034563, Pub. Price $23.00 [44 pp. assigned].
Emon, Anver M., Mark Ellis, and Benjamin Glahn. Islamic Law and International Human Rights: Searching for Common Ground? Reprint Ed. Oxford University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0199641451, Pub. Price $42.50 [380 pp. assigned].
Mayer, Ann Elizabeth. Islam and Human Rights: Tradition and Politics, 5th ed. Routledge, 2012. ISBN: 978-0813344676, $44.95 [208 pp. assigned].
Ruthven, Malise. Islam: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0199642878, Pub. Price $11.95 [56 pp. assigned].
A series of articles and book chapters will be made available electronically [286 pp. assigned].
RECOMMENDED READING:
Abou El Fadl, Khaled. Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari’ah in the Modern Age. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. ISBN: 978-0742552326, Pub. Price $56.00.
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 $31.95.
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 $31.95.
Sachedina, Abdulaziz. Islam and the Challenge of Human Rights. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0195388428, Pub. Price $40.95.
Soroush, ‘Abdolkarim. Reason, Freedom, & Democracy in Islam: Essential Writings of ‘Abdolkarim Soroush, Mahmoud Sadri and Ahmad Sadri, eds. Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0195158205, Pub. Price $47.95.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet requirement in the 80 MAICS (2017). Serves as a course substitute for MB501.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.