Great Books of Islam

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Taking Islam as a humanistic venture is not to impose a “modern” framework on it but rather to pursue a central strand in the civilization of Islam itself – known as adab. What does adab mean? Over the centuries, Muslims of varied outlook have composed what could be called the great books of Islam, literary classics that offer a variety of perspectives on what it means to be a person with adab (i.e. cultivated, learned, erudite, magnanimous, wise, etc.). We will examine the place of adab in Islam as a whole and its relation to Islam’s religious, ethical, and political vision. We will proceed through a close reading of some of the great books in Islam from different centuries and across genres, including works of history, political treatises, belles-lettres, epic poetry, autobiographical reflections, and the novel. We will also consider the significance that the humanistic venture in Islam has for both Muslims and non-Muslims today.