14256

WiSe 16/17: Mystical Teachings and Thought in Medieval Islam (S)

Prof. Sara Sviri

Kommentar

Islamic mysticism is conventionally known as Sufism, but early literary sources show that: a) the name Sufi, to begin with, was applied to ‘ascetics’ (zuhhād), who were not at all mystics; b) in Medieval Islam, alongside Sufism (taṣawwuf), there existed other, non-Sufi, mystical trends. Thus, the aim of this course is to outline the development and history of the schools, centers and brotherhoods of mystical Islam; to appreciate the difference between ‘mysticism’ and ‘asceticism’; to familiarize ourselves with the psychological and ethical teachings of the mystics; to explore important authors and distinguished figures; to analyze the main themes of the mystical teachings; to acquaint ourselves with the prevalent literary genres such as hagiography, Qur’anic commentary and poetry and with the special Sufi terminology. We shall also pay attention to mystical philosophy, which emerged under Neoplatonic influence, especially in al-Andalus. Lastly, we shall explore the links between Islamic and Judaic mystical trends as portrayed, for example, by the Jewish Egyptian Pietists, also known as the ‘House of Maimonides’. Schließen