Shi'a Islam: Religious Authority and Community Identity

Key information

Status
Module not running
Module code
158000147
FHEQ Level
5
Credits
30
Department
Department of Religions and Philosophies

Module overview

This advanced full-unit UG course, unique in all London universities, provides a in-depth survey of Shiʿi Islam. In the first half of the course the focus is laid on the origins, doctrinal developments and their respective historical manifestations of Shiʿi Islam, while the historical developments and contemporary outlook of Shiʿi Muslim communities in various geographical regions are at the centre of the second part of the course.
Since this course picks up on the relevant session in the 1st year UG course “Islam: Foundations” (158000189), it is strongly recommended that this was successfully attended beforehand.
This course is taught in seminar style, i.e. there will not be any formal division in lecture and tutorial, but a reading-based classroom discussion with the occasional elucidation by the course tutor.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

At the end of this course, a student should be able to:

  • evaluate the place of the Shiʿi groups within the broader context of Islamic history;
  • identify and explain the distinguishing features of Shiʿi doctrine(s);
  • assess the interdependence of religious and political ideas, both in general and in specific relation to the Shiʿi grand-narrative;
  • evaluate the relationship between personal charisma and religious authority, both in general and in relation to the Shiʿi grand-narrative;
  • apply general undergraduate skills, e.g. in writing, critical thinking and argument, necessary for the academic study of a religion within a Study-of-Religions framework.

Method of assessment

  • AS1 - Book Review (20%)
  • AS2 - Essay (30%)
  • AS3 - Book Review (20%)
  • AS4 - Essay (30%)

Suggested reading

  • 'Shi'i Islam: an Introduction' by Najam Haider (Cambridge, 2014)
  • Halm, Heinz (1991) Shiism Edinburgh

Acknowledgment : SOAS gratefully acknowledges the support of the Shi'ah Institute which funds this module.

Disclaimer

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