What is Sufism? A Guide to the history teachings and debates of Islamic spirituality
Why is there so much controversy around the teachings and practices of Sufism? And what role does Sufism continue to play in contemporary Muslim life?
This course, with Dr Mariam Sheibani, offers answers to these questions and more while exploring the origin of Sufism, and how it evolved and contributed to diverse societies throughout Islamic history.
Spanning eight modules, the course will explore the historical origins of Sufism in the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and how it evolved and contributed to diverse societies throughout Islamic history.
With a lot of ground to cover, we will chart the evolution of Islamic spirituality from:
- its beginnings, as personal ascetic devotion,
- to the establishment of Sufism as a distinct mode of piety expounded as a religious science,
- and finally, to the founding of spiritual orders (ṭarīqas) in which a large portion of medieval Muslim society participated.
Along the way, we will critically examine the debates concerning specific Sufi practices and doctrines.
The course will conclude with a discussion on how Sufism was impacted by colonialism and reform in the modern period. It will address Sufism’s enduring significance in the Muslim world and in Muslim minority communities in the West.
There are no prerequisites for this course. It is suitable for people of all backgrounds with a general familiarity with Islam. Registered users will be invited to an annual online workshop in which they can pose course related questions to the instructor.
Your Instructor
Dr. Mariam Sheibani is a scholar, educator, and researcher. She is an assistant professor of Islamic thought at Brandeis University and community educator who is passionate about engaging key issues facing Muslims and Muslim communities. Dr. Mariam offers new paradigms and frameworks for coherently integrating religious commitment with lived experience. She empowers people to think through critical issues, co-construct solutions to shared challenges, and offer practical tools for cultivating a God-centered and meaningful spiritual life. Drawing on over two decades of traditional training in the Islamic sciences, graduate training at the University of Chicago and Harvard University, and pedagogical expertise honed from at world-class universities and hundreds of community programs, Dr. Mariam delivers accessible, relevant, and research-based courses. Learn more at https://www.mariamsheibani.com
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