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Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism
Degree:
Bachelor
Presentation Language: English
Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism
# Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism
## 1. About the Program
The Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism is designed to familiarize students with the fundamental concepts, principles, and major schools of Islamic philosophy, Islamic mysticism, and Islamic theology (Kalam). Through this program, students explore the intellectual and philosophical heritage of Islam and become acquainted with major philosophical and mystical perspectives, as well as fundamental theological issues and Qur’anic and Hadith studies.
In addition to specialized courses in philosophy, mysticism, and theology, the curriculum includes foundational and skills-based courses in areas such as Arabic language, Qur’anic sciences, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), principles of jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh), Islamic history, and related fields of Islamic studies. A range of elective courses also enables students to pursue areas of particular academic interest.
In Islamic philosophy, students study subjects such as epistemology, ontology, existence and essence, the primacy of existence, causality, philosophical theology, and different aspects of monotheism (Tawhid). Students are also introduced to major schools of Islamic philosophy, including Peripatetic Philosophy (Mashsha’), Illuminationist Philosophy (Ishraq), and Transcendent Philosophy (Hikmat al-Muta‘aliyah).
The Islamic mysticism component covers theoretical and practical mysticism, the history of mysticism and Sufism, and major mystical texts in Arabic and Persian. Alongside these subjects, the program addresses Islamic theology, contemporary theological issues, and the philosophy of religion.
## 1. About the Program
The Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism is designed to familiarize students with the fundamental concepts, principles, and major schools of Islamic philosophy, Islamic mysticism, and Islamic theology (Kalam). Through this program, students explore the intellectual and philosophical heritage of Islam and become acquainted with major philosophical and mystical perspectives, as well as fundamental theological issues and Qur’anic and Hadith studies.
In addition to specialized courses in philosophy, mysticism, and theology, the curriculum includes foundational and skills-based courses in areas such as Arabic language, Qur’anic sciences, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), principles of jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh), Islamic history, and related fields of Islamic studies. A range of elective courses also enables students to pursue areas of particular academic interest.
In Islamic philosophy, students study subjects such as epistemology, ontology, existence and essence, the primacy of existence, causality, philosophical theology, and different aspects of monotheism (Tawhid). Students are also introduced to major schools of Islamic philosophy, including Peripatetic Philosophy (Mashsha’), Illuminationist Philosophy (Ishraq), and Transcendent Philosophy (Hikmat al-Muta‘aliyah).
The Islamic mysticism component covers theoretical and practical mysticism, the history of mysticism and Sufism, and major mystical texts in Arabic and Persian. Alongside these subjects, the program addresses Islamic theology, contemporary theological issues, and the philosophy of religion.
Objectives of the course
## 2. Program ObjectivesThe program aims to:
* Familiarize students with the fundamental principles and major issues of Islamic philosophy.
* Introduce students to the major schools and intellectual traditions of Islamic philosophy, including Peripatetic Philosophy, Illuminationist Philosophy, and Transcendent Philosophy.
* Develop an understanding of the historical development of Islamic philosophy and the thought of major Muslim philosophers.
* Introduce students to the history of Western philosophy and its major philosophical movements.
* Familiarize students with the fundamental concepts and issues of Islamic theology (Kalam).
* Examine subjects such as divine unity, divine attributes and acts, divine justice, divine decree and predestination, and the relationship between divine knowledge and human free will.
* Introduce students to the foundations and major themes of Islamic mysticism, including theoretical and practical mysticism.
* Familiarize students with the history of mysticism and Sufism and important mystical texts in Arabic and Persian.
* Develop students’ ability to read and understand philosophical, theological, and mystical texts.
* Introduce students to epistemology, ontology, and major questions concerning knowledge and reality.
* Familiarize students with Qur’anic sciences, Qur’anic exegesis, and Qur’anic and narrational teachings.
* Introduce students to important Hadith sources in both Shi‘a and Sunni traditions and selected Hadith texts.
* Develop Arabic language skills, particularly in morphology, syntax, and the comprehension of classical texts.
* Familiarize students with the foundations of Islamic jurisprudence, Usul al-Fiqh, and practical Islamic rulings.
* Introduce students to research methods in the humanities and Islamic studies.
Subjects offered
## 3. Main Subjects (Curriculum)### A. Islamic Philosophy
* Epistemology and fundamental questions concerning knowledge.
* Ontology and the concepts of existence and essence.
* The primacy of existence and related philosophical issues.
* Causality and the relationship between cause and effect.
* Philosophical theology, knowledge of God, and monotheism (Tawhid).
* History of Islamic philosophy.
* Peripatetic Philosophy (Mashsha’).
* Illuminationist Philosophy (Ishraq).
* Transcendent Philosophy (Hikmat al-Muta‘aliyah).
* Introduction to the thought of major Muslim philosophers, including al-Kindi, al-Farabi, Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Suhrawardi, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, Mir Damad, Mulla Sadra, Mulla Hadi Sabzawari, and Allamah Tabataba’i.
### B. Western Philosophy
* Introduction to the history of Western philosophy.
* Modern Western philosophy.
* Rationalism and the philosophy of René Descartes.
* Empiricism.
* German Idealism and the thought of Immanuel Kant and post-Kantian philosophers.
* Materialism and dialectical materialism.
* Positivism.
* Analytic philosophy.
* Pragmatism.
### C. Islamic Theology (Kalam)
* Fundamental issues in Islamic theology.
* Divine speech.
* Divine wisdom.
* Divine justice.
* Divine good and evil (Hasan and Qubh) in relation to divine acts.
* Divine decree and predestination (Qada and Qadar).
* Determinism (Jabr), delegation (Tafwid), and the doctrine of the “middle position” (Amr bayn al-Amrayn).
* Divine foreknowledge and human free will.
* Contemporary theological issues.
* Philosophy of religion.
### D. Islamic Mysticism
* Foundations of Islamic mysticism.
* Islamic Mysticism I and II.
* Practical mysticism.
* Theoretical mysticism.
* History of mysticism and Sufism.
* Introduction to mystical texts in Arabic and Persian.
* Study and introduction to major mystical works and related commentaries.
### E. Qur’an and Hadith
* Introduction to Qur’anic sciences.
* Sequential Qur’anic exegesis (Tafsir).
* Qur’anic and narrational teachings.
* Introduction to major Hadith sources in Shi‘a and Sunni traditions.
* Introduction to the Four Books (al-Kutub al-Arba‘a).
* Introduction to Nahj al-Balagha and al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya.
* Introduction to important Hadith collections and sources.
* Reading and analysis of selected narrational texts.
### F. Foundational and Skills-Based Subjects
* Arabic morphology (Sarf) and syntax (Nahw).
* Islamic history.
* Contemporary political thought.
* Practical Islamic rulings.
* Introduction to Arabic rhetoric (Balagha).
* Fundamentals of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh).
* Introduction to Usul al-Fiqh.
* Advanced Qur’anic reading.
* Sequential Qur’anic exegesis.
* Specialized language skills.
* Skills related to reading and understanding academic and religious texts.
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## 4. Elective Courses
Students may select **10 credit units** from the available elective courses, in coordination with the relevant academic department.
| No. | Course Title | Credits |
| --- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------: |
| 1 | History of Western Philosophy | 2 |
| 2 | Text Comprehension | 2 |
| 3 | Introduction to Hadith Sources and Text Reading | 2 |
| 4 | Philosophy of Ethics | 2 |
| 5 | Debate and Argumentation | 2 |
| 6 | Qur’anic and Narrational Teachings II | 2 |
| 7 | Epistemology | 2 |
| 8 | Regional Needs | 2 |
| 9 | Seminar | 2 |
| 10 | Thematic Memorization of the Qur’an | 2 |
### Brief Description of Elective Courses
* **History of Western Philosophy:** Study of the historical development of Western philosophy and its major philosophical movements, from modern philosophy to analytic philosophy and pragmatism.
* **Text Comprehension:** Development of skills for understanding and analyzing texts, particularly philosophical and mystical texts.
* **Introduction to Hadith Sources and Text Reading:** Introduction to major Hadith sources in Shi‘a and Sunni traditions and practice in reading and understanding narrational texts.
* **Philosophy of Ethics:** Introduction to philosophical approaches to ethics and major ethical theories.
* **Debate and Argumentation:** Introduction to the principles of reasoning, dialectical argument, and fallacies, with emphasis on their application in discussion and debate.
* **Qur’anic and Narrational Teachings II:** Examination of selected theological and doctrinal themes concerning the human being in the Qur’an and Hadith.
* **Epistemology:** Study of the concept and significance of knowledge, types of knowledge, the possibility of knowledge, skepticism, sources of knowledge, and the epistemic value of knowledge.
* **Regional Needs:** Examination of subjects and issues relevant to regional needs.
* **Seminar:** Introduction to research methodology, information gathering and processing, bibliography and source identification, stages of research, research ethics, and academic writing, including articles and research reports.
* **Thematic Memorization of the Qur’an:** Thematic memorization and classification of Qur’anic verses related to doctrinal subjects, including epistemology, theology, prophethood, Imamate, resurrection, faith and disbelief, and anthropological themes.
Course details
| Course Name | Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism |
|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor |
| Presentation Language | English |
| Course certificate | Provided upon completion |
| Course duration (terms) | 8 |