REL 87 — Islamic Spirituality
Quarter: Spring
Instructor(s): Farah El-Sharif
Date(s): Mar 31—May 19
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Mondays
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:20 pm (PT)
Tuition: $465
Refund Deadline: Apr 2
Unit(s): 1
Enrollment Limit: 40
Status: Registration opens Feb 24, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Spring
Day: Mondays
Duration: 8 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:20 pm (PT)
Date(s): Mar 31—May 19
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $465
Refund Deadline: Apr 2
Instructor(s): Farah El-Sharif
Enrollment Limit: 40
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Registration opens Feb 24, 8:30 am (PT)
Islamic spirituality conjures images of whirling dervishes and mystical poetry, but Sufism, the inner dimension of Islam, is far more complex. Muslim mystics were not only poets like Rumi but also scholars, jurists, and sometimes warriors. This course explores the rich tradition of Islamic spirituality by examining the writings and legacies of Muslim sages, offering a nuanced understanding of this spiritual tradition. Our journey will unfold in three phases. First, we will examine how European colonial perspectives helped shape modern Western views of Sufism. Next, through readings of Rumi, Rabi'a al-Adawiyya, and other luminaries, we will trace the timeless messages of love and inner harmony that underpin Sufi thought. Finally, we will explore the role of Sufis in resistance movements, revealing how spirituality and activism intersect. This course offers an inspiring journey through a tradition that merges poetic wisdom, meditation, and ethical resilience—ideal for those who are curious about or drawn to the spiritual heart of Islam.
FARAH EL-SHARIF
Visiting Scholar, Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, Stanford
Farah El-Sharif is a research scholar of Islamic intellectual history. She has lectured on Islam for the Religious Studies Department at Stanford and Stanford Global Studies. She is completing her first book on the writings of 19th century West Africa’s most famous warrior mystic. El-Sharif received two master’s degrees in Islamic studies from the Graduate Theological Union and Harvard, and she received a PhD from Harvard. She has written extensively on Islam, Sufism, and colonialism in the Muslim world. Textbooks for this course:
(Required) Carl W. Ernst Ph.D. , Sufism: An Introduction to the Mystical Tradition of Islam (ISBN 978-1590308844)