Sufism 2015

This Fall term I will be teaching one of my favourite classes, ISLA 330 Islamic Mysticism: Sufism. At present this introductory Sufism class is full, but there is always the possibility that students will drop out or that the cap will be raised if there are students on the waitlist who want in.

'This class will introduce students to the theory, practice, and history of Sufism, often referred to as "mystical" Islam. We will consider the emergence and efflorescence of Sufi orders throughout the world, from the Middle East and Iran to South Asia, China, and South-East Asia, and from Africa to Europe, Britain, and Canada. Sufi poetry will be read as well as experienced in the form of qawwali and other musical genres. The underpinnings of metaphysics and ontology will be represented by theoretical works by Ibn 'Arabi, known as the "Greatest Master" (Shaikh al-Akbar). We will look at distinctive ways of reading the Quran, at divine love, infidelity, and the social deviancy of dervish orders. The perceived danger of Sufi beliefs and practices and the consequences of such antipathies will be discussed and debated, from the martyrdom of Hallaj for his scandalous announcement, "I am the Real," to the bombings of Sufi shrines by Islamist groups in the present.'

Intermediate Urdu 2015-2016

As the poster says…

"Building on Introductory Urdu, this course will improve students' ability to speak, read, understand and write the Urdu-Hindi language۔ Students have the option to write all assignments in the Hindi script; a full Hindi version of the textbook is available. Teaching involves in-class activities, conversation, and lessons, as well as homework exercises and tests. By the end of the course students will have a grasp of the full range of Urdu-Hindi grammar. Students will be familiarized with aspects of South Asian culture connected with the language, and will be exposed to Urdu-Hindi poetry and film. Students from outside of McGill are welcome to take this course through CREPUQ. Please email the professor for further information."

The image is from the Satyajit Ray film, Shatranj ke khilāṛī, an exquisite treatment of the fall of the state of Awadh at the hands of the British. Hopefully by the end of the course students will have learned enough Urdu to understand the dialogues.

Origins

In some form or another, South Asia and the Urdu language have been studied at McGill at least since 1952, the year of the founding of the Institute of Islamic Studies by Wilfred Cantwell Smith, who had formerly taught at Forman Christian College in Lahore (then part of British India). More than 60 years have now passed since the founding of the Institute. But it has been only three years since I came here—and yet I have already discovered that there is a great deal here to share in terms of archival documents, teaching resources, and Urdu/South Asia-related happenings at McGill.

Some part of this is already covered by the new blog highlighting the amazing N. M. Rashed Archive donated by Yasmin Hassan, highlights from which will be shared here as well. But I realized after looking through the papers of Prof. Abdul Qavi Zia, the Urdu lithographs and more recent books at the Islamic Studies Library, and some items in my own collection, that I would need a wider-ranging academic blog. Hence Tilism.