Introduction to Islam (ENREL05)

A dossier of 8 units of teaching

Unit 1 - Islam: Religion, Culture, and Civilization

Islam represents one of the world’s major religious traditions, with approximately two billion adherents constituting roughly one quarter of the global population. Yet the term “Islam” itself encompasses multiple layers of meaning that extend far beyond religious practice alone. Understanding Islam requires careful attention to its various dimensions: as a faith system, as a cultural phenomenon, as a historical civilization, and as a lived experience that varies significantly across geographical and cultural contexts. This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to these multiple facets of Islam, offering students the conceptual tools necessary to engage meaningfully with Islamic key doctrines and practices, knowledge that will be further explored in later units.

Islam is simultaneously a specific religious tradition with defined beliefs and practices, and a diverse constellation of cultures spanning from Morocco to Indonesia, from the Balkans to sub-Saharan Africa. This diversity reflects both Islam’s historical spread across vast territories and its remarkable capacity to integrate with local cultures while maintaining core religious principles.

Unit 2 - Doctrines and Classical Theologies

This unit provides a comprehensive examination of Islamic faith and theology, exploring both the foundational beliefs that unite Muslims across the world and the diverse theological schools that have emerged throughout Islamic history. The structure of this unit follows the natural organization of Islamic theological discourse. We begin with the six articles of faith that constitute the core of Islamic belief, then examine the three main theological domains of divinity, prophecy, and eschatology. Subsequently, we explore the major theological schools that have shaped Islamic thought, from the rationalist Muʿtazilites to the traditionalist Hanbalites, and from Ashʿarite orthodoxy to mystical and philosophical approaches. Finally, we consider contemporary theological reforms and the challenges facing Islamic theology in the modern world.

Unit 3 - Modern Theologies and Paths of Reform

Islamic theology stands at a critical juncture in Modern times, navigating unprecedented challenges while drawing upon centuries of intellectual tradition. The contemporary era has fundamentally transformed the context within which Muslim scholars articulate their faith. Unlike previous centuries when Islamic societies often maintained cultural and institutional autonomy, modern Islamic theology emerges in dialogue with, and sometimes in opposition to, secular modernity, Western philosophical traditions, scientific advancement, and the pressures of globalization. This unit examines how Islamic theological thought has responded to these challenges, exploring both the historical context of reform movements and the diverse theological innovations that characterize contemporary Muslim intellectual life.

The study of modern and contemporary Islamic theology requires both historical sensitivity and philosophical rigor. We must understand not only what modern Muslim thinkers have argued, but why they have argued it, recognizing the genuine tensions between tradition and modernity that they seek to resolve. This unit proceeds from the conviction that Islamic theology remains a living intellectual tradition, continuously renewed through the engagement of each generation with both classical sources and contemporary reality.

Unit 4 - The Qurʾān: The Word of God

The Qurʾān stands as the sacred text of Islam, although Muslims do not typically use the term “sacred” to describe their scripture. The term Qurʾān, derived from the Arabic root Qurʾān, literally means reading or recitation, reflecting the oral nature of its revelation and the central importance of its recitation in Islamic tradition. Far more than a mere written text, the Qurʾān exists simultaneously as a living, spoken word, a sacred utterance meant to be proclaimed, heard, and internalized by believers throughout their spiritual lives.

The Qurʾān serves as the primary source of guidance for Muslim communities, establishing principles of faith, morality, and social conduct. Muslims understand the Qurʾān not merely as the words of the prophet Muhammad but as the direct and literal speech of God. This distinction is fundamental to Islamic theology: the Qurʾān is regarded as the Word of God (kalām Allāh) transmitted through Muḥammad Ibn ʿAbd Allāh (570–632), rather than being created or interpreted by him. The prophet’s role was that of a messenger (rasūl), whose primary task was to faithfully deliver the divine message to humanity. Later theological developments considered more human, cultural, and contextual factors.

The revelation of the Qurʾān occurred over approximately twenty-three years, beginning in the early seventh century when Muḥammad received the first revelations during the month of Ramadan. According to Islamic tradition, the Angel Gabriel visited Muḥammad in the cave of Ḥirā’ on Jabal al-Nūr near Mecca in 610, inaugurating a process of revelation that continued throughout the prophet’s life until his death in 632. This gradual, episodic revelation distinguished the Qurʾān from other sacred scriptures and was itself acknowledged and justified within the text (Q 17:106), emphasizing that God adapted His message to the circumstances, needs, and spiritual capacities of the Muslim community as it developed.

Unit 5 - Sunna: Prophetic Model and Tradition

Islam is fundamentally grounded in two primary textual sources: the Qurʾān, understood as the verbatim word of God, and the Sunna, which represents the normative practice and teachings of the Prophet Muḥammad. In Shīʿī tradition, authoritative guidance also includes the teachings and practices of the Imams.

This unit provides a comprehensive examination of the concepts, development, and functions of the Sunna. It begins by exploring the theological imperative of emulating the Prophet, as expressed in Q 33:21. The analysis then traces the meaning of sunna from its etymological roots to its crystallization as a technical Islamic term encompassing the Prophet’s words, actions, and tacit approvals.

The subsequent development of the Science of Ḥadīth (ʿIlm al-Ḥadīth) is examined, detailing the meticulous processes of authentication through scrutiny of chains of transmission (isnād) and textual content (matn). This unit surveys the canonical collections of both Sunni and Shia Islam, highlighting their historical formation and organizational principles. A central section analyzes the dynamic, complementary, yet hierarchical relationship between the Qurʾān and the Sunna, with particular attention to debates surrounding abrogation (naskh). The unit concludes by considering the historical trajectory of these traditions and their contemporary relevance, addressing modern scholarly challenges, hermeneutical debates, and their enduring role in shaping Muslim life and ethics. The Sunna represents the indispensable interpretation and application of divine principle, a living tradition whose preservation and study have been central to Islamic intellectual history.

Unit 6 - Rituals and Celebrations

Islam centers its entire theological and practical framework around the concept of worship. The Arabic term ʿibāda, which encompasses all forms of worship, represents far more than ritualistic observance; it embodies the very purpose of human existence according to Islamic teaching. This unit examines the multifaceted nature of Islamic cult, exploring both its theological foundations and practical manifestations in the daily lives of Muslims worldwide.

The Qurʾānic verse “I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me” (Q 51:56) establishes worship as the fundamental purpose of creation. This principle permeates every aspect of Islamic religious life, from the five pillars that structure Muslim practice to the daily rituals that mark the passage of time, the celebration of sacred occasions, and the significant transitions in the human lifecycle. Understanding Islamic worship requires examining not only the obligatory acts of devotion but also the broader spiritual, social, and communal dimensions that give meaning to Muslim religious identity.

Unit 7 - Sufism: Islamic Spirituality

Sufism, known in Arabic as taṣawwuf, represents the mystical dimension of Islam and one of its most profound spiritual traditions. While Islam is frequently perceived through the lens of its legal prescriptions (sharīʿa) and ritual practices, Sufism reveals a rich interior landscape centered on direct experience of the Divine. This unit explores the multifaceted nature of Islamic mysticism, examining the foundational concept of iḥsān, the development of Sufi orders and brotherhoods, and the practices and principles that guide seekers on the mystical path.

The Sufi path is characterized by spiritual practices such as dhikr (remembrance of God), meditation, and contemplation, all designed to purify the heart and draw the seeker closer to Divine Reality. Through the guidance of spiritual masters and the structure of Sufi brotherhoods (ṭuruq), practitioners traverse spiritual stations and experience mystical states on their journey toward union with God. Central to this tradition are the concepts of divine love, mystical knowledge (maʿrifa), and the ultimate goal of self-annihilation in God (fanāʾ) and subsistence in God (baqāʾ). Sufism represents not a departure from Islamic practice but rather its deepest fulfillment; the transformation of the human heart through constant awareness of the Divine Presence, ultimately seeking what the tradition calls wilāya, intimate friendship with God.

Unit 8 - Islamic Law: History and Modernity

Islamic law, known in Arabic as fiqh, constitutes a comprehensive system of normative principles and legal precepts that govern the religious, moral, and social dimensions of Muslim life. Unlike contemporary secular legal frameworks that primarily address criminal justice and contractual relations, Islamic jurisprudence encompasses a holistic approach to human conduct, integrating devotional obligations (ʿibādāt) with interpersonal transactions (muʿāmalāt), thereby establishing a unified ethical and legal framework.

This unit provides a systematic introduction to the historical development of Islamic jurisprudence, examining the emergence of distinctive methodological schools and their interpretive frameworks. It explores how Islamic legal thought evolved across fourteen centuries, from the formative period of direct prophetic guidance to the sophisticated juristic traditions that emerged in subsequent eras. Understanding this developmental trajectory is essential for comprehending both the diversity inherent within Islamic legal discourse and the contemporary imperative for thoughtful juridical renewal.

A fundamental principle must be emphasized at the outset: Islamic law does not represent a monolithic, static corpus of immutable regulations. Throughout its historical trajectory, diverse scholarly communities have articulated divergent understandings of Islamic normative teachings, generating multiple legal traditions characterized by distinct hermeneutical methodologies and substantive conclusions. This pluralism within Islamic jurisprudence, far from constituting a deficiency, demonstrates the tradition's remarkable capacity for intellectual adaptability and contextual responsiveness across varied geographical, cultural, and temporal settings.