Develop a deep understanding of the Islamic civilisation.
This course will journey through Islamic history from the beginnings of Islam to the modern period, exploring the key ideas, movements and thinkers that shaped it. Rather than merely covering facts and dates, the course will focus on developing a deep understanding of Islamic civilisation as a whole. Key concepts and ideas that developed in Islamic civilisation will be studied, with a particular focus on the Islamic sciences. Attendees will also explore the diverse groups and ideas that have existed over time until the present day, and how these can be navigated in the modern context.
Connect the gap between traditional and modern perspectives.
The course will also look at how a contemporary Islamic worldview can be developed today and what it might look like, bringing together traditional pre-modern and contemporary perspectives. The course will also consider how the Islamic tradition can be drawn upon to answer the key questions of our time, whether for Muslims or for humanity at large.
The course aims to instill an appreciation for the beauty and depth of the Islamic tradition, and an understanding of how it can make sense in today’s world. Time will be allocated for questions and discussions to draw out key issues. The course will be hybrid, running onsite in Sydney as well as online for those unable to attend in person.
The course will be delivered in two parts. The first part will begin with the Prophet until Imam Ghazali in the 11th century, while the second part will take us through to the modern period.
Questions we will explore:
- Why are there often many different views on any given issue? Why are there so many diverse groups? How can we understand and navigate this kind of diversity?
- What were the key ideas and movements in Islamic history which shaped the Islamic tradition? Who were the key thinkers in Islamic history?
- How and why did the various Islamic disciplines (ulum) such as fiqh and kalam develop, and what might be their role today?
- What are the political and economic traditions of Islam, and how did they develop? How might they be relevant today?
- How might we develop a contemporary Islamic worldview, based on the tradition, which makes sense in the modern world?
Week 1: Religion & Civilisation: The Birth of the Muhammadan Ummah (Mon 15 Nov)
Week 2: The Umayyad Dynasty: Experimentations (Mon 22 Nov)
Week 3: The Abbasid “Dawa & Dawla”: Authority & Power (Mon 29 Nov)
Week 4: Traditions of Learning and Scholarship: The Shari’ Sciences (Mon 6 Dec)
Week 5: Traditions of Learning and Scholarship: Fiqh & Kalam (Mon 13 Dec)
Week 6: Synthesis & Dialogue in the Intellectual Traditions: The Ghazalian Moment (Mon 20 Dec)
FAQ
Q) Should I attend in-person or online?
It is completely up to you. You can choose to attend online or in-person, and you can change your mind as many times as you like throughout the course. However, please note that we can
only guarantee the first 50 enrolments for in-person due to COVID restrictions.
Q) What is Crowdcast?
Crowdcast is the platform which will be used to access the livestream and recordings. Its features enhance the learning experience, allowing online attendees a quality learning experience and student interaction. Recordings will also be archived here for life, with useful features as such as adjustable playback speed. To learn more about Crowdcast, see
this.
Q) I live in another country or state. Can I join this course?
Absolutely. Knowledge without borders, isn’t that what they say? You are more than welcome to join us online from other parts of the world. We are utilising a premium livestreaming solution (Crowdcast) so you will have a seamless experience
insha Allah. We are committed to ensuring
both online and onsite attendees have a quality learning experience, including interaction with the teacher. See the previous question for more information on Crowdcast.
Q) Do I need to download a software to attend online? How will I receive the link for each class?
No. You can watch on your web browser or even on your phone. There is only one link you will ever need throughout this course:
https://www.crowdcast.io/e/islamciv. Through this link you can register, join the online livestreams and watch recordings of each class whenever you want.
Q) If I want to attend in-person, are there any COVID restrictions I need to be mindful of?
For the first 3 weeks, you will need to: (1) wear a mask , (2) be fully vaccinated and (3) bring proof of your vaccination status with you on the day. After 1 December 2021, this will likely no longer be required. Additionally, if you intend to attend in-person then please register ASAP because we are
only accepting the first 50 in-person enrolments due to COVID restrictions.
Q) Do I need to register differently if I want to attend in-person?
No, the registration process for online and in-person is the same. Just register by clicking the button below and rock up. On the day we will be able to check if you have registered or not.
Q) If I want to attend in-person, can I pay at the door?
Yes, you may, however, registration at the door will be $60. We prefer registrations beforehand for administrative reasons, particularly in light of COVID restrictions.
Q) What happens if I can’t attend a class?
That’s fine. You can watch a replay on
Crowdcast and hopefully ask any questions in the next week. Note: you can watch the replays even if you did attend class; it doesn’t matter.
Q) I would really like to attend the course but cannot afford the price. Is there any financial assistance?
Please get in touch with us and explain your situation by emailing admin@mya.org.au. We don’t want to let money get in the way of people who wish to learn.
After registration, attendees can choose to join classes online, or in-person, or a mix of both throughout the course.
Note: Due to COVID restrictions we can only allow 50 people to attend in-person. If you wish to join us in-person at any stage throughout the course, be sure to register ASAP so that we can lock you in.
Dr Samir Mahmoud
A course tracing the development of Islamic civilisation requires understanding of many fields such as history, philosophy, sociology, alongside traditional Islamic disciplines such as fiqh, kalam and hadith. We are honoured to have someone who not only has extensive training in these areas and more, but can bring it all together in an engaging and accessible manner.
Dr Samir Mahmoud is currently a Lecturer at the Cambridge Muslim College on the BA in Islamic Studies and the Diploma in Islamic Psychology. He is also the academic director of Usul Academy, a new institution that teaches traditional Islamic disciplines alongside contemporary social sciences, aiming to contextualise the former and apply them to the major issues of our age. He has taught numerous online courses and programs, including a course on the inner meanings and mysteries of prayer and an exegesis on Surah Kahf.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Anthropology & Politics with a focus on multicultural theory and comparative religion, and an MA in Architectural History, Theory & Urban Design with a focus on the traditional townscape from the University of New South Wales. He also holds a MPhil in Theology & Religious Studies (Islamic Studies) with a focus on comparative philosophy and aesthetics. He has also completed a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Dr. Timothy Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad). Alongside his academic studies, he has pursued knowledge of the Islamic sciences under traditional scholars, particularly in Tripoli, Lebanon.
To read more on Dr Samir, click
here.
