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THEO-184 Islam and Law
Fall only
The platform of every modern "Islamist" political party calls for the implementation of "the shari‘a". This term is invariably (and incorrectly) interpreted as an unchanging legal code dating back to 7th century Arabia. In reality, however, Islamic law is an organic and constantly evolving human project at ascertaining God’s will in a given historical and cultural context. This course offers a detailed and nuanced look at the Islamic legal methodology and its evolution over the last 1400 years. The first half of the semester is dedicated to "classical" Islamic jurisprudence, concentrating on the manner in which jurists used the Qur’an, the Sunna (the model of the prophet), and rationality to articulate a coherent legal system. In the second half of the course, the focus shifts to the ways in which Muslim jurists have responded to issues of contemporary importance/controversy, ranging from gender equity (in marriage, divorce, economic rights) to medical ethics (abortion, euthanasia, organ donation, female circumcision). The format of the class will vary from topic to topic but students should anticipate *extensive* participation through in-class debates.
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisites: None
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