The religion of Islam was founded roughly 1400 years ago in Arabia. Since that time, Islam has grown into the world's second largest religion with adherents found around the globe. Over the past years, knowledge of Islam, its history, culture and people has become vital role in political situation and recent events (Revolution, fundamentalism, suicide bombers, and women’s veil) that affect our daily lives. But are they truly representative? How do they fit into the history of contemporary Muslim society? An Introduction to Islamic Civilization and culture will provide a background and broadened perspective of these facets through readings classroom lectures, visual and audio media. We will discuss and apply the historical, geographical and ethnographical highlights within a modern cultural context.
This is not a course dedicated solely to the Modern Middle East. Instead we will be looking at the length and breadth of the Muslim world. In particular, we will focus on the role of social, cultural and intellectual institutions in the development of contemporary Muslim society. In addition, we will explore issues such as gender, class, race and inter-religious relations as a way to better understand the Islamic past and present. In briefly this course provides an introduction to Islamic culture and the Muslim World, the beliefs, including the social, political, and spiritual aspects.

評量方式 Grading
Students’ grades will be based on the following:
1. Attendance and class participation… 20 %
2. Mid-term exam…………………….. 30%
3. Term Paper…………………………. 50%

Instructional Methods
1. Presentations by the instructor, Multimedia presentations
2. Videos
3. Discussion.


課程大綱 Syllabus
第1週：伊斯蘭概論與前伊斯蘭時代
Course introduction & syllabus
Introduce Islamic world
Pre-Islamic Arabia: social and economic conditions, beliefs and customs
第2週：使者穆罕默德（Peace be upon him）的一生
A Brief biography
The start of the revelation
The migration to Madinah( Alhijrah)
The struggle and return to Makkah
His morals and ethics
第3週：四大正統哈里發時代
Abu Bakr: The main events of their caliphates, the challenges they faced, their achievements in maintaining and extending the rule of Islam
Omar: The main events of their caliphates, the challenges they faced, their achievements in maintaining and extending the rule of Islam
Othman: The main events of their caliphates, the challenges they faced, their achievements in maintaining and extending the rule of Islam
Ali: The main events of their caliphates, the challenges they faced, their achievements in maintaining and extending the rule of Islam
第4週：伊斯蘭的王朝與帝國
The Umayyad: the establishment of the dynasty, the main events of their rule, their decline and collapse.
The Abbasids: their seizure of the caliphate, the changes to administration of the state under their rule, their decline and weakness
The Great Seljuq Empire: the establishment of the dynasty, the main events of their rule, their decline and collapse.
The Ottoman Empire: the establishment of the dynasty, the main events of their rule, their decline and collapse.
第5週：伊斯蘭之文明與貢獻
Science, Technology, Medicine
Philosophy and Theology, Art
Literature and Architecture

第6週：伊斯蘭之信仰與實踐
伊斯蘭的五根支柱─穆斯林的五項義務
Declaration of Faith (Shahadah), 宣言
Prayer (Salat), 禮拜
Almsgiving (Zakat), 捐獻
Fasting (Sawm), 齋戒
Pilgrimage (Hajj), 朝聖
第7週：伊斯蘭的信仰─六大信條
信真主, 信天使, 信經典, 信使者（先知）
信後世, 信前定
第8週：伊斯蘭法之法源
簡介古蘭經, 簡介聖訓
　　　簡介古蘭經之奇蹟
公議, 類比
第9週 （Mid-term exam）
第10週：宗教節慶與婚喪禮俗
‘Id al-Fitr, Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting
‘Id al-Adha, Festival of Sacrifice is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
Marriage:
Funeral:
第11週：伊斯蘭婦女的地位
1) Social Position
2) Women Veil
3) Inheritance Rules
4) Marriage, Divorce and Polygamy
第12週：伊斯蘭的飲食文化
第13週 : 多元、全球化與伊斯蘭
The relation between Islam and other Monotheistic Religions Judaism and Christianity
The relation between Islam and Polytheist Religions Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism
第14週：伊斯蘭之寬容與和平觀
第15週 : 宗教對話
第16週：焦點議題
Jihad
Terrorism
第17週：現代的伊斯蘭復興運動
The Islamic Transnational Gulen Movement
第18週 :（Submitting the Term Paper）