Islamic Law and Institutions

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Given that Christians and Muslims have been in constant contact from Muhammad’s time to the present day, it comes as no surprise that interactions between the two faiths have centered on a wide range of issues from the theological to the social and political. The first part of this course is designed to introduce the students to the points of contention and intersection between the two faiths in the theological sphere. Topics will include scripture, eschatology, human nature/origins, the purpose and mechanisms of prophecy, and the various understandings of the nature of God. In the second part of the semester, students will be presented with various models for Muslim-Christian cohabitation that have existed throughout the centuries. What are the obligations and restrictions placed upon Christians, "people of the book," under the "protection" of the Islamic state? What were the motivations – religious and otherwise – behind the Crusades? The course will end with a comparative analysis of how each faith has dealt with issues of contemporary ethical relevance. How are minority rights treated within each faith? How do scholars from each tradition deal with contemporary issues concerning the value of life such as suicide, abortion, and euthanasia? In more general terms, how has each religion regulated the personal and political affairs of its adherents?