Under this rubric, graduate students with a concentration in
Islam will investigate the dominant modes of scriptural reasoning
prevalent among Muslims in order to make sense of, and apply the
Qur'an and the Tradition (the Sunnah) at four levels:
1. Encounter with the "Occasions of Revelation" (asbab al-nuzul)
literature on the Qur'an and the representative interpretive modes
(linguistic, lexical, historical, theological, philosophical and
mystical) adopted in the classical tradition of the Tafsir ("explication")
and Ta`wil ("getting to the original sense") of the Qur'an.
2. Encounter with the Tradition (the Sunnah), representing the
Prophet's paradigmatic conduct as an extension of the Qur'an in
unfolding the meanings and purport of the apparent (zahir) and
implied (batin) significations of the scriptural sources beyond
the Qur'an.
3. Encounter with the endeavors of modern Muslim thinkers to
appropriate and respond to the classical heritage in the context
of modern social-political life.
4. Encounter with recent efforts to introduce "postmodern" or
"postliberal" approaches to scriptural reasoning, in dialogue
with modern and classical approaches. This encounter includes
participation in dialogues among the three Abrahamic traditions
about their overlapping approaches to "scriptural reasoning."
Faculty and Distribution of coursework and examinations:
Students enrolled in Islamic SIP will also enroll in Islamic
Studies, which will be their primary area of study. Approximately
60% of these students' courses and comprehensive examinations
will be in Islamic Studies; approximately 40% will be in Scripture,
Interpretation and Practice (SIP). The general advisor for students
in Islamic SIP will be Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina, Director
of the Area of Islamic Studies. For their work in SIP, students
will also be advised by Peter Ochs, Director of the Area of SIP.
