Course Information

Semester	Course Unit Code	Course Unit Title	T+P+L	Credit	Number of ECTS Credits	Last Updated Date
6	IS 310	Sufism	3+0+0	3	5	02.11.2025

Course Details

Language of Instruction	Turkish
Level of Course Unit	Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program	BA Program in Islamic Studies (%30 English)
Type of Program	Formal Education
Type of Course Unit	Compulsory
Course Delivery Method	Online
Objectives of the Course	This course aims to provide graduate students with a comprehensive understanding of the historical evolution, doctrinal diversity, key figures, and cultural adaptations of Sufism. Through the critical analysis of primary texts and contemporary scholarship, students will develop an in-depth appreciation of Sufi literature and practice, both in their classical manifestations and modern reinterpretations. The course encourages students to engage critically and contextually with the intellectual, spiritual, and social dimensions of the Sufi tradition.
Course Content	The course is structured around four main thematic areas: - Historical Development of Sufism Origins in early Islamic asceticism (zuhd) Institutional and philosophical developments through the classical period The rise and function of Sufi orders (?uruq) - Key Figures and Texts Study of major Sufi thinkers such as al-Ghazali and Ibn ?Arabi, and others Close reading of selected primary texts and key commentaries - Sufi Practices and Institutions Analysis of dhikr, sama?, visitation of saints' tombs, spiritual hierarchy, and Sufi ethics Understanding the social and political roles of Sufi institutions -Modern Transformations and Global Contexts Sufism under colonial and post-colonial influences Emergence of Neo-Sufism and global Sufi networks Critical analysis of modern academic perspectives on Sufism
Course Methods and Techniques	The course employs a combination of the following teaching methods: Lectures: Instructor-led discussions introducing each week's topic and historical background. Student Presentations: Short Presentations: Three 5-minute presentations per student throughout the semester on the assigned daily reading (30% of final grade). Extended Presentation: One 15-minute presentation offering deeper analysis and contextualization of a chosen topic (20% of final grade). Class Discussions: Interactive dialogue based on readings, encouraging critical thinking and interpretive engagement. Final Exam: Comprehensive exam assessing students’ understanding of course content, themes, and critical skills (50% of final grade). Reading Assignments: A mix of primary sources and contemporary academic literature will be critically assessed each week.
Prerequisites and co-requisities	None
Course Coordinator	None
Name of Lecturers	Asist Prof.Dr. Naser Dumairieh https://akademik.ihu.edu.tr/tr/naser-dumairieh naser.dumairieh@ihu.edu.tr
Assistants	None
Work Placement(s)	No

Recommended or Required Reading

Resources

- The required texts will be provided through Canvas.
Ridgeon, Lloyd V. J (ed.) The Cambridge Companion to Sufism. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015.

Course Notes

Lecture notes and readings will be organized around weekly themes, and may include:
Selections from primary Sufi texts in translation (e.g., I?ya? ?Ulum al-Din, Fu?u? al-?ikam,)
Scholarly articles and chapters from leading academics in the field (e.g., Annemarie Schimmel, Carl Ernst, Alexander Knysh)
Historical documents reflecting the institutional role of Sufism
Case studies on Sufi communities in various regions (e.g., North Africa, South Asia, Turkey)
Students will be provided with weekly reading lists and guiding questions to structure class discussion and presentations.

Course Category

Social Sciences	%30
Field	%70

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria

In-Term Studies	Quantity	Percentage
Assignment	3	% 30
Project	1	% 20
Final examination	1	% 50
Total	5	% 100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration	Total Work Load
Course Duration	14	3	42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud	14	3	42
Assignments	3	3	9
Presentation	3	3	9
Project	1	4	4
Final examination	1	10	10
Total Work Load			Number of ECTS Credits 4 116

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

No	Learning Outcomes
1	Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the historical development of Sufism and its various doctrinal dimensions.
2	Evaluate primary sources critically, including key texts and commentaries, to assess the diversity of Sufi thought.
3	Analyze the socio-political contexts that shaped Sufi institutions and practices.
4	Articulate informed perspectives on the adaptation of Sufism in contemporary global contexts, including the West and post-colonial societies.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week	Topics	Study Materials	Materials
1	Sufism in Western Historiography	Atif Khalil and Shiraz Sheikh, “Sufism in Western Historiography: A Brief Overview,” Philosophy East and West, Vol. 66, n. 1, January 2016 (194-217).	Sufism in Western Historiography
2	Asceticism	Christopher Melchert, “The transition from asceticism to mysticism at the middle of the ninth century C.E,” Studia Islamica 83 (1996): 51–70.	Asceticism
3	Early Sufism	Ahmet T. Karamustafa, “The Sufis of Baghdad,” in Sufism: The formative period (1-26). + Reading from al-Risala al-Qushayriyya.	Early Sufism
4	Sufi Commentaries	Alexander Knysh, “Sufi Commentary: Formative and Later Periods,” in The Oxford Handbook of Qur'anic Studies. + Reading from Tafsir al-Sulami.	Sufi Commentaries
5	Al-Ghazali	Frank Griffel, “Al-Ghazali,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. + Reading from Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din and al-Munqidh min al-Dalal.	Al-Ghazali
6	Sufi orders	Annemarie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam, (228-258). + Reading from al-Suhrawardi’s Adab al-muridin.	Sufi orders
7	Sufi Institutions	Catherine Mayeur-Jaouen, “?ufi Shrines,” in Sufi Institutions (145-153).	Sufi Institutions
8	Philosophical Sufism: Ibn Arabi	Chittick, William. “Ibn Arabi and His School,” in Islamic Spirituality: Manifestations. Edited by S.H. Nasr. NY: Crossroad, 1991. 49–79. Jawad A. Qureshi. “Ibn ‘Arabi and the Akbar tradition,” in Routledge Handbook on Sufism. Edited by Ridgeon, Lloyd V. J., Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2021. 89-102.	Philosophical Sufism: Ibn Arabi
9	Neo-Sufism	R. S. O’Fahey and Bernd Radtke, “Neo-Sufism Reconsidered,” Der Islam vol. 70, no. 1, 1993, pp. 52-87.	Neo-Sufism
10	Sufism and Colonialism	Knut S. Vikør, “Sufism and Colonialism,” in The Cambridge Companion to Sufism (212-232).	Sufism and Colonialism
11	Sufism in the West	Ron Geaves, “Sufism in the West,” in The Cambridge Companion to Sufism (233-257).	Sufism in the West
12	Review and Discussion		Review and Discussion
13	Student Presentations		Student Presentations
14	Student Presentations		Student Presentations

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

	P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	P6	P7	P8	P9	P10
C1	3	5	4	4	2	3	2	3	1	3
C2	3	4	4	3	1	3	3	5	2	4
C3	2	4	4	5	2	4	3	3	1	4
C4	2	3	3	5	4	4	5	4	3	5

Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant

https://obs.ihu.edu.tr/oibs/bologna/progCourseDetails.aspx?curCourse=209506&lang=en