Introduction to Islam WM/AP 647 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Fall 2013 Paul T. Martindale Mondays 6:30 to 9:30 PM Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the history, culture, traditions, beliefs and practices of Islam. The various historical manifestations of contemporary Islam will be explored including the rise of modern Islamic Fundamentalism. The text of the Qur an will be studied in chronological order and we will observe and discuss together the development of various doctrines that formed within the changing context of the early Islamic community in Mecca and Medina. The theology and culture of Islamic thought will be compared to that of Evangelical Christianity as a means of more effectively understanding both. This course will also integrate the professor s practical experience of working with Muslims in the hope of exploring ways the gospel can be most effectively communicated to members of the Islamic faith, the second largest and fastest growing religion in the world today. Course Objectives: As a result of this course students will: 1. Have a good working knowledge of the traditions, ideology, theology, beliefs, and practices of Muslims today. 2. Understand the religious, political, social, cultural, and theological development of Islam and its institutions. 3. Analyze and appreciate the historical context of the development of Jihad, shariah law, and the early believer community in Islam. 4. Examine the role of Mohammed in the development of Islam as a religion, political state, and community. 5. Understand the Islamic worldview and theological frame of reference from which the Muslim understands Christianity in order to more accurately evaluate how Christian doctrines have been distorted in their understanding and writing. 6. Evaluate Muslim objections against the Trinity, Deity of Christ, Crucifixion, and Atonement, and formulate appropriate responses. 7. Be stretched in their understanding and appreciation of the Bible, Christian doctrine, and the gospel message by developing a biblical understanding and response to Islam.
2 Required Textbooks: (1,428 pages of assigned reading) Armstrong, Karen. 2002. Islam a Short History, Modern Library/Random House, ISBN 0-8129- 6618-X. Pages 3-193. Firestone, Reuven. 1999. Jihad. The Origins of Holy War in Islam, Oxford U. Press, ISBN 78-0-19-515494-9. Pages 3-134. Lings, Martin. 2006. Muhammed. His life based on the Earliest Sources, Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT. ISBN 978-1-59477-153-8. Pages 1-362. Qutb, Sayyid. 2005. Milestones, Mother Mosque Foundation, ISBN 978-1450590648 Pages 2-111. Riddell, Peter G. and Peter Cotterell. 2003. Islam in Context. Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN 0-8010-2627-X. Pages 13-216. Ruthven, Malise. 2006. Islam in the World, 3 rd edition, Oxford U Press, ISBN 978-0-19-530503-6. Pages 1-430 Quran Readings: You will be given a list of selected readings for the course from the different time periods of Muhammed s ministry in Mecca and Medina. Choose ONE of the following three translations of the Quran for class discussions and readings. Abdel Haleem, 2010. The Quran. A New Translation, Oxford World s Classics, Oxford U Press, ISBN 978-0-19-953595-8. A very readable translation by a Muslim scholar. Arberry, A.J. 1996. The Koran Interpreted. Simon & Schuster. N.Y., N.Y. ISBN 978-0-684-82507-6. A readable translation by a western scholar that is perhaps the most accurate. Fakhry, Majid. 2004. An Interpretation of the Quran. English Translation of the Meanings. A Bilingual Edition, New York University Press. ISBN 0-8147-2724-7. This one is written by a Muslim scholar and is approved by Al-Azhar University which is similar to the Vatican for Orthodox Sunni Muslims. Also a readable translation. Selected Journal Articles: Decker, Frank. When Christian does not Translate. Mission Frontiers 27, no. 5 (Sept. Oct. 2005): 8-11. Garrison, David. Church Planting Movements vs. Insider Movements: Missiological Realities vs. Mythological Speculations. International Journal of Frontier Mission, 21, no. 4 (Winter 2004): 151-154. Massey, Joshua. God s Amazing Diversity in Drawing Muslims to Christ. International Journal of Frontier Missions 17, no. 1 (Spring 2000): 5-14.. Misunderstanding C-5: His Ways are not Our Orthodoxy. Evangelical Missions Quarterly 40, no. 3 (July 2004): 296-304. Parshall, Phil. 1998 Danger! New Directions in Contextualization. Evangelical Missions Quarterly 34, no. 4 (1998): 404-417. Tennent, Timothy. The Challenge of Churchless Christianity: An Evangelical Assessment, International Bulletin of Missionary Research 29, no. 4 (October 2005): 171-177.
3. Followers of Jesus (Isa) in Islamic Mosques: A Closer Examination of C-5 high spectrum Contextualization, International Journal of Frontier Missions 23, no. 3, (Fall, 2006): 101-115. Requirements of Course: 1. Research Paper A research paper on a topic of your choosing according to the following requirements: 1. It must be on a subject matter related to the course material. 2. The topic should be selected and a thesis statement must be submitted by Monday Oct 21 st at class time. This thesis statement should also list at least five sources. 3. The text of your paper should be 10 to 12 typed pages (double space, 12 pt. type) long, following acceptable standards of form and style. Include a title page, table of contents, footnotes, and a bibliography. 4. Your paper should include a one paragraph summary of your entire paper. 5. The paper is due on December 17 th. 2. Apologetic Response Each student must choose ONE of the following three choices: 1. Interview a Muslim and discuss your faith in Jesus Christ. What are the major objections that the Muslim has to Christianity or the Christian faith? What confusions about the Christian gospel did you detect in the conversation? Submit a report of your interview that answers these two questions. 2. Spend at least five hours witnessing to Muslims and write a report of your experience. Note: The above two projects can easily be fulfilled through a single trip to Harvard Square, an area mosque, a dialogue meeting, or the Turkish Cultural Center. There are thousands of Muslims who live, study and work within immediate driving distance of the Seminary. 3. Choose five key challenges that Islam poses against the Christian faith and write up a cogent, theologically informed, apologetic response to each of the five challenges. For example, a key challenge could be an issue like the so-called corruptible Bible or the challenge that Christians are not monotheists, etc The apologetic response is due on Dec 17 th. 3. Final Exam There will be a final exam covering the lectures and readings in this course. The Final Exam will occur on the last day of classes Monday, December 9 th. The format of the exam will include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. 4. Reading of Textbooks On the last day for written work, Dec. 17 th, your list of reading assignments completed will be due. 5. Attendance Perfect attendance is encouraged and will greatly enhance your ability to perform well on the exam and comprehend the daily readings. In consideration of the rest of the class, please turn off
4 all cell phones and refrain from doing emails and surfing the Internet during the instructional period. Grading Reading of textbooks 25% Research Paper 30% Apologetic Response 15% Final Exam 30% 100% The Grading Scale is as follows: A+: 100-97; A: 96-94; A-: 90-93; B+: 89-87; B: 86-84; B-: 83-80; C+: 79-77; C: 76-74; C-: 73-70; D+ : 69-67; D: 66-64; D-: 63-60 F: 59-0 Review of Key Dates: Oct 21 st Dec 9 th Dec 17 th Dec 17 th Dec 17 th Thesis statements due Final Exam Research Papers Due Apologetic Response Due Reading Report due Topics Covered: 1. Course Intro. Principles of Engagement with Muslims. Islam Demographics. 2. Main beliefs of Islam and 10 commandments for witnessing with Muslims. 3 Pre-Islamic Arabian context, Origins of Islam, Mohammed, the four rightly-guided Caliphs, and how Islam spread. 4. Ritual worship and sacred space in Islam, view of purity. 5. The Religious and Cultural Context of Mecca. 6. Characteristics of the Early Believer s Movement in Medina. 7. Jihad and ideology in Islam. 8. Fundamentalism in Egypt. 9. The Hajj. 10. Views of Mohammed, Islam, and Muslims as people. 11. Contemporary Trends in Islam. New Reformers Movement. 12. Causes of Muslim Resistance to the Gospel. 13. Allah, God, and the Bible. The Theology of Islam. 14. The Divine Law in Islam. Schools of Jurisprudence. 15. Sources of Islam and the Christian Background in Islam. 16. Contextualization Issues in Christian ministry to Muslims. Select Bibliography Abbas, Hassan.2004. Pakistan s Drift into Extremism. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe. Abdalati, Hammudah. 1996. Islam in Focus, American Trust Publications, Plainfield IN. ISBN 0-89259-135-8. Abdul-Haqq, Abdiyah Akbar. 1980. Sharing Your Faith with a Muslim, Bethany House
Publishers, Minneapolis. ISBN 0-87123-553-6. Pgs 1-191 Abdul, Muhammmad. 1966. The Theology of Unity (K. Cragg, trans.) New York, Humanities Press. Adeney, Miriam. 2002. Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslims Women. Downers Grove, IL: IVP. Arberry, A. J. 1935. The Doctrine of the Sufis. Cambridge University Press.. Sufism: An Account of the Mystics of Islam. New York, Harper. Athar, Shahid. 1994. Reflections of an American Muslim. Chicago: Kazi Pub.. Ayoub, M. Towards an Islamic Christology Muslim World, LXX, (1980): 91-121. Beck, Lois Grant. 1973. Women in the Muslim World, Cambridge, Harvard University Press. Bowman, John. The Debt of Islam to Monophysite Syrian Christianity Netherlands Theologisch Tijdschrift, XIX, (1964-65): 177-201. Cook, David. 2005. Understanding Jihad. Los Angeles: University of California Press. Coulson, Noel. 1964. A History of Islamic Law. Edinburgh University Press. Cragg, Kenneth. 1985. The Call of the Minaret. Maryknoll, Orbis Press.. 1986. The Christ and the Faiths. Westminster Press.. 1985. Jesus and the Muslim. London: George, Allen and Unwin. Danielou, J. 1976. The History of Early Christian Doctrine Before the Council of Nicea, vol. 1. London: DLT. Dretke, James P. 1979. A Christian Approach to Muslims. William Carey. Elder, E. E. The Crucifixion in the Qur an, Muslim World. XIII (1923):242-258. Esposito, John L. 1998. Islam the Straight Path, Oxford U. Press, ISBN 0-19-511234-2. Fadl, Khaled Abou El. 2002. The Place of Toleration in Islam. Boson: Beacon Press. Fry, George C. 1980. Islam: A Survey of the Muslim Faith. Baker. Gatje, H. 1976. The Qur an and its Exegesis: Selected Texts with Classical and Modern Interpretations (trans.and edited A. Welch) London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. Geertz, Clifford. 1968. Islam Observed. University of Chicago Press. Geisler, Norman L. and Saleeb, Abdul Saleeb. 1993. Answering Islam: The Crescent in the Light of the Cross. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. George, Timothy. 2002. Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Greeson, Kevin. 2004. Camel Training Manual. Bangalore, India: Wigtake Resources,. Guillaume, Alfred. 1987. Islam. New York, Penguin Press. Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck and Smith, Jane Idleman. 1993. Mission to America, Gainesville, University Press of Florida. Haddad, Yvonne and Wadi Haddad, eds., 1995. Christian-Muslim Encounters, Gainesville, University Press of Florida. Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck and John L. Esposito, eds. 1997. Muslims on the Americanization Path. Atlanta: Scholars Press. Haley, Alex. 1965. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine. Hitti, Philip K. 1970. The Arabs: A Short History. Washington D.C., Gateway editions. Hunter, Shireen T. 2004. Islam in Russia. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe. Jafri, S. H. M. 1979. The Origin and Development of Shi a Islam. London: Longman. 5
Kateregga, Badru D. and David W. Shenk. 1997. A Muslim and A Christian in Dialogue, Herald Press, Scottsdale, PA, ISBN 0-8361-9052-1 Katsh, A. I. 1962. Judaism and the Koran, New York, Perpetua. Levtzion, Nehemia, ed. 1993. Conversion to Islam. New York: Holmes and Meier Pub. Lewis, Bernard. 1993. Islam and the West. Oxford University Press.. 1993. The Arabs in History, Oxford U. Press, ISBN 978-0-19-280310-8. Marsh, C. R. 1975. Share Your Faith with a Muslim. Chicago: Moody. Martindale, Paul. 2013. Reaching Muslims in America with the Gospel. Understanding how the church can reach Muslims effectively, Lambert Academic Publishing. Millard, Mike. 2004. Jihad in Paradise. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe. Momen, M. 1985. An Introduction to Shi a Islam, Yale, University Press. Mottahedeh, R. 1985. The Mantle of the Prophet. New York, Pantheon. Muller, Roland. 2004. Honor and Shame: Unlocking the Door. Xlibris.com. Parinder, Geoffrey. 1995. Jesus in the Qur an. Oxford, One World. Parshall, P. 1985. Beyond the Mosque. Baker.. 1983. Bridges to Islam. Baker.. 1980. New Paths in Muslim Evangelism. Baker.. 1989. The Cross and the Crescent. Tyndale.. 1994. Understanding Muslim Teachings and Traditions. A guide for Christians, Baker Books, ISBN 0-8010-6418-X. Pages 11-224. Parsons, Martin. 2005. Unveiling God: Contextualizing Christology for Islamic Culture. Pasadena: William Carey Library. Peters, F. E. 1994. A Reader on Classical Islam. Princeton University Press. Robinson, Neal. 1991. Christ in Islam and Christianity. SUNY.. The Qur an as the Word of God. See, Linzey, A. and Wexler, P. Heaven and Earth: Essex Essays in Theology and Ethics, Worthing: Churchman, 1986 (pp. 38-54).. Creating Birds from Clay Muslim World, LXXIX/1, (1989): 1-13. Ruthven, Malise. 2006. Islam in the World, 3 rd edition, Oxford University Press. Saal, William J. 1993. Reaching Muslims for Christ. Moody Press. Saleeb, Abdul, Geisler, N. 1993. Answering Islam. Baker. Schimmel, Annemarie. 1992. Islam: An Introduction. NY State Univ. Press. Smith, Paul J., ed. 2004. Terrorism and Violence in Southeast Asia. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe. Speight, Marston R. 1990. God is One: The Way of Islam. New York: Friendship Press. Starr, S. Frederick. 2004. Xinjiang: China s Muslim Borderland. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe. Swidler, Leonard, ed. 1992. Muslims in Dialogue: The Evolution of a Dialogue. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press. Tennent, T. 2002. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. Trimingham, J. S. 1979. Christianity Among the Arabs in Pre-Islamic Times, London and New York, Longman. VanGorder, Christian A. 2003. No God but God: A Path to Muslim-Christian Dialogue on 6
7 God s Nature. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books. Watt, Montgomery. 1994. Companion to the Qur an. One World Pub.. 1953. Muhammad at Mecca. Oxford University Press.. 1956. Muhammad at Medina. Oxford University Press. Williams, J. Alden. 1984. The Word of Islam. University of Texas Press. Wolfson, H. A. The Muslim Attributes and the Christian Trinity. Harvard Theological Review, XLIX/1 (1956): 1-18. Zaehner, R. C. 1958. At Sundry Times: An Essay in Comparative Religions, London, Faber and Faber. Zebiri, Kate. 1997. Muslims and Christians Face to Face. Oxford: One World. There is a wonderful ten volume, Encyclopedia of Islam available on CD in the library.