A Guide to the History, Teachings and Debates of Islamic Spirituality

What is Sufism? How did Sufism originate, how did it evolve, and what role did it play in diverse societies throughout Islamic history? Why is there so much controversy around Sufism’s teachings and practices? What role does Sufism continue to play in contemporary Muslim life?

In this course Dr. Sheibani offers answers to these important questions. The course will explore the historical origins and development of Sufism. It will chart the evolution of Islamic spirituality from its beginnings as personal ascetic devotion to the establishment of Sufism as a distinct mode of piety expounded as a religious science, to the founding of spiritual orders (ṭarīqas) in which a large portion of medieval Muslim society participated.

Along the way, the course will critically examine the debates concerning specific Sufi practices and doctrines. The course ends with a discussion of how Sufism was impacted by colonialism and reform in the modern period and its enduring significance in the Muslim world and in Muslim minority communities in the West.