Who was the Prophet Muhammad, and how did Islam rise from an illicit movement in Mecca into a world religion? This course surveys the expansion of Islam into North Africa, Iran, and South Asia until 1000 CE by exploring its rich literature: Arabic poetry, the Quran, Muhammad’s biography, and Sindhi hymns of the Prophet, read alongside Christian and Jewish responses to Islam. We study how Muslims understood revelation, authority, and community – and why Islam divided into Sunni and Shi`i traditions. Readings also explore Islamic philosophy, architecture, and mysticism (Sufism), revealing how Islam reshaped global history. No background req.
