Mystical Literatures of Islam
Course Description
This course provides an overview of the literary expressions of Islamic mysticism through the study of poetry, philosophy, hagiographies, anecdotes, music, art and architecture. Topics include: unio mystica; symbol and structure; love and the erotic; body / gender; language and experience. In addition to primary texts on Sufism, we will explore a range of theoretical readings in the academic study of mysticism. The course chronologically follows the development of Islamic mysticism through the Arabian Peninsula, ‘Iraq and the Iranian Plateau, Central Asia, and South Asia, along with North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. Attention is also given to the intersection of mystical traditions with broader social and political networks.
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