Too often when Islam is encountered in the popular media, it’s associated with political movements, acts of violence, or the repression of women. What’s overlooked is recognition of Islam as a world religion, with its own highly developed traditions of theological and ethical reflection. This course will focus on Islam as a religious tradition, not a political ideology.

We will examine key elements of the Islamic tradition, such as the Qur’an, the prophet Muhammad, and shari’ah, the foundation of Islamic ethics and law, and consider how they have been interpreted by Muslims over time and in diverse cultural contexts, including the United States. We will also be attentive to interconnections among Christianity, Judaism and Islam.