This course surveys some of the literary classics of the Islamic tradition, works that could be counted among the great books of Islam. The texts chosen belong to a strain of Islamic civilization known asadab: classics that offer a variety of perspectives on what it means to be cultivated, learned, virtuous, wise, and pious. The course examines the place ofadabin Islam as a whole and in relation to Islams religious, ethical, and political outlooks. In particular, the question of religious humanism will return throughout the semester: what is the significance of the humanistic venture in Islam for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and how does this compare to secular notions of humanism? Students will do a close reading of some of the great books of Islam from different centuries and genres, including historical writing, political treatises, belles-lettres, epic poetry, mysticism, autobiography, and the modern novel.
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