Understanding Contemporary Islam

ANTH 5402 Topics in Ethnography Understanding Contemporary Islam ANTH 5402 FALL 2012 NAH 11 Lecture: Wednesday 4.30-6.15 Tutorial: Wednesday 6.30-7.15 Teacher: Minaz G. Master Course Description Contemporary understanding of Islam is strongly influenced by the media which often provides politically motivated biased perceptions that are based on the orthodox interpretations of Islam observed by some Muslim societies. The Muslim world seems to be in a crisis over the question of authority and representation; how Islam is represented, how it should be represented, who should represent it and what the consequences of this representation are. The canonization of the Quran further complicates the issue of authority. This course will encourage the students to understand how the core beliefs of Islam are translated into practices and institutions, thereby addressing some current political issues. We will be examining the social institutions and cultural expressions of the religious community through the anthropological studies of Islam as it is lived and practiced by believers both within Muslim societies and non-muslim societies. We will start our study of Islam by examining the historical developments of Islam in pre- Islamic Arabia and look at the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Then we will examine some aspects of Islamic civilization, culture and philosophy. Finally we will address the issues of the so-called politicization of religion in the context of globalizing modernity and violent conflict. One of the dominant theories maintains that Western and Islamic civilizations are destined to be in a state of permanent conflict with each other, through this course we will investigate the insights that anthropological analyses can offer to discussions centering the relations between Muslim societies and the West. Course Objectives Study and appreciate the contemporary cultural diversity, values and world views of Muslims living in diverse circumstances and spaces Introduce the contemporary struggles over religious authority and orthodoxy in some parts of the Muslim world To identify with the ideas and practices relating to gender, education and art To assist students in understanding and appreciating the complexity of the lives of Muslims in the contemporary world

Challenge and think critically about existing stereotypes about Muslims and Islam Think critically and constructively about the issues that are discussed Students are required by university policy to submit soft copies of all papers to VeriGuide. Check the website http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/ for information on how to submit papers through VeriGuide Readings for the course are reserved in the University Library and journal articles are available through the university e-resource. Course Grading Take-home midterm examination (30% of your grade) Due October 31 Take-home final examination: (15-pages) or final paper of 20 pages (50% of your grade) Due December 12 Class participation, particularly in tutorials and attendance (20% of your grade). September 12: What is Islam? Local and Global Perspectives Assigned readings: Malise, Ruthven. 2012. Islam, Muslims, and Islamism in Islam: a very short introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 1-19. Amir, Hussain. 2006. Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God. Kelowna: Copper House pp7-15, 19-30 Gabriele, Marranci. 2008. The Anthropology of Islam. Oxford. New York: Berg, pp.1-12. Lindholm, Charles. 2002. Kissing Cousins: Anthropologists on Islam, in: Hastings Donnan (ed.) Interpreting Islam. London: Sage Publications, pp. 110-30. Leif Manger. 1999. Muslim Diversity: Local Islam in Global Contexts in Leif Manger (ed.) Muslim Diversity: Local Islam in Global Contexts. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon, pp. 1-36. September 19: The Revelation, life of the Prophet and the Birth of Islam Film showing: The Message (1976) Assigned readings: M Waines, David. 2003. An Introduction to Islam (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-32.

Gätje, Helmut. 1996. Arabia Before Islam + Muhammad and His Teachings, in: Helmut Gätje. The Qur an and its Exegesis. Oxford: One World, pp. 1-13. Peters, FrancisE. 1994. The Life and Work of the Prophet, in: Francis E. Peters. A Reader on Classical Islam. Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 44-67. September 26: Beliefs and Rituals Gabriele, Marranci. 2008. Islam: Beliefs, History and Rituals in The Anthropology of Islam. Oxford. New York: Berg, pp. 13-30. Amir, Hussain. 2006. Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God. Kelowna: Copper House, pp 43-68. Malise, Ruthven. 2012. The Shari a and its Consequences in Islam: a very short introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 1-19. October 3: Islamic Art and Architecture Mozzati Luca, 2010. Islamic Art. Munich; New York: Prestel. Pp 22-59. (please browse through the illustrations) Grabar, Oleg. 1983. "Reflections on the Study of Islamic Art" in Muqarnas I: An Annual on Islamic Art and Architecture. Oleg Grabar (ed). New Haven: Yale University Press, 1-14. Ali, Wijdan. 1992. The Status of Islamic Art in the Twentieth Century in Muqarnas IX: An Annual on Islamic Art and Architecture. Oleg Grabar (ed). Leiden: E.J. Brill. Pp.1-3 October 10: From Islam to Muslims Assigned readings: Gabriele, Marranci. 2008. The Anthropology of Islam. Oxford. New York: Berg, pp.13-30. Amir, Hussain. 2006. Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God. Kelowna: Copper House, pp69-114. Leif Manger. 1999. On Becoming Muslim: The Construction of Identities among the Lafofa of the Sudan in Leif Manger (ed.) Muslim Diversity: Local Islam in Global Contexts. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon, pp, 224-243 October 17: Representing Islam before and after September 11

Bernard Lewis, (1993) "The Question of Orientalism" in Islam and the West, New York: Oxford University Press 99-118. Gabriele, Marranci. 2008. The Anthropology of Islam. Oxford. New York: Berg, pp53-70. Amir, Hussain. 2006. Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God. Kelowna: Copper House, pp115-140. October 24: Islam and the West at Loggerheads M Huntington, Samuel P. 1993. The Clash of Civilizations? Foreign Affairs, Summer. W Gusterson, Hugh. 2005. The Seven Deadly Sins of Samuel Huntington. In Besteman, Catherine and Gusterson, Hugh (eds) Why America s Top Pundits Are Wrong: Anthropologists Talk Bac, Berkeley: University of California Press (pp. 24-42) F Said, Edward. 2003. The Clash of Definitions. In Qureshi Emran and Sells Michael A (eds) The New Crusades: Constructing the Muslim Enemy, New York: Columbia University Press pp. 67-89 October 31: Muslims in Global Contexts M Silverstein, Paul A. 2000. Sporting Faith: Islam, Soccer and the French Nation-State Social Text, 18(4): 25-53 W Mamdani, Mahmoud. 2002. Good Muslim, Bad Muslim American Anthropologist, 194(3): 766-775 F Rouse, Carolyn and Janet Hoskins. 2004. Purity, Soul Food, and Sunni Islam Cultural Anthropology, 19(2): 226-249 Vertovec, Steven. 2002. Islamophobia and Muslim Recognition in Britain, in YvonneYazbeck Haddad (ed.). Muslims in the West: From Sojourners to Citizens. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 19-35. Jorgen Baek, Simonsen. 2002. Globalization in Reverse and the Challenge of Integration: Muslims in Denmark, in YvonneYazbeck Haddad (ed.). Muslims in the West: From Sojourners to Citizens. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 121-130.

November 7: Modernity and Islamic Traditions M Esposito, John L. 2005. Modern Interpretations of Islam in Islam: the straight path. Oxford: Oxford University Press Anne Sofie, Roald. 2002. From "People's Home" to "Multiculturalism": Muslims in Sweden, in YvonneYazbeck Haddad (ed.). Muslims in the West: From Sojourners to Citizens. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.101-120 Faegheh, Shirazi. 2010. Islam and Barbie: The Commodification of Hijabi Dolls in Islamic Perspective no.3 pp 11-27 Available Online http://iranianstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/islamic-perspective-journal-number- 3-2010.pdf ) OR W Meneley, Anne. 2007. Fashions and Fundamentalisms in fin-de-siècle Yemen: Chador Barbie and Islamic Socks. Cultural Anthropology 22:2:214-243 November 14: Gender and Veiling Gabriele, Marranci. 2008. The Anthropology of Islam. Oxford. New York: Berg, pp117-138. Abu Lughod, L. 2002. Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others. American Anthropologist 104(3): 783-789. Ahmed, L. 1992. The Discourse of the Veil, in Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 144-168. Macleod, A. E. 1991. Accommodating protest: working women, the new veiling, and change in Cairo. New York: Columbia University Press. Pp. 97-124. F Mahmood, Saba. 2001. Feminist Theory, Embodiment, and the Docile Agent: Some Reflections on the Egyptian Islamic Revival. Cultural Anthropology 16(2):202-236. November 21: Marriage, Divorce and Inheritance

Mir-Hosseini, Ziba. 2006. Muslim Women s Quest for Equality: Between Islamic Law and Feminism, Critical Inquiry, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 629-645. Mir-Hosseini, Ziba. 1994. Strategies of Selection: Differing Notions of Marriage in Iran and Morocco, in: Camillia El-Solh and Judy Mabro (eds.). Muslim Women s Choices: Religious Belief and Social Reality. Oxford: Berg, pp. 55-72. November 28: Deconstructing Stereotypes Neil, Postman and Steve, Powers. 2008. How to Watch TV News revised edition. New York: Penguin, Preface, Chapter 1. Gabriele, Marranci. 2008. The Anthropology of Islam. Oxford. New York: Berg, pp89-102. Starrett, Gregory. 1998. Learning About God, in: Putting Islam to Work. Education, Politics, and Religious Transformation in Egypt. Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 89-125. Donnan, Hastings and Martin Stokes. 2002. Interpreting Interpretations of Islam, in: Hastings Donnan (ed.). Interpreting Islam. London: Sage Publications, pp. 1-19. December 5: The Road Ahead M Waines, David. 2003. An Introduction to Islam (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.211-264 Amir, Hussain. 2006. Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God. Kelowna: Copper House, pp.177-218. Gabriele, Marranci. 2008. The Anthropology of Islam. Oxford. New York: Berg, pp.139-147.