You must answer all the questions listed in the discussion prompts below. You will not obtain more than a “1” score if you do not answer all the questions.
Your answer to each question should be around 100 words or 1 paragraph long. Be sure to draw on and refer to specific examples from the readings and/or videos to support your points and arguments. When doing so, indicate which page or where you got the example/quote/sentence from in the text using parentheses. For example, (p. 187).
Answers that are overly short and shoddily written without reference to the text will not be awarded a high score.
Please indicate the question number before writing your answer so your classmates and I know which question your answer is directed to.
Here are the discussion prompts for Week 7:
While last week’s primary sources used a lot of Qur’anic verses and hadiths to justify their positions, this week’s sources will read quite differently. Instead of solely relying on Qur’an and hadith, the authors this week use the arts of debate and disputation to establish their points. Therefore, they might not be as easy to understand. Try not to get bogged down by the names and events mentioned in the texts (though you might recognize some of the events, like Abu Bakr’s election, his appointment of Umar, and Harun al-Rashid’s naming of his two sons as successors). Instead, try your best to get the gist of their arguments. Good luck!
1. The Ordinances of Government (al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyya) was written by the 11th-century Shafi’i jurist al-Mawardi (972-1058). It is the first Sunni treatise on government to be written using the language of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). In terms of content, it details various branches of government in Muslim society, including the caliphate (here called the “imamate” or “supreme leadership”), governors, viziers, prayer leaders, tax collectors, etc. The first chapter of the book is on the caliph (here referred to as the “imam” or the “sovereign”) and it provides arguments for its necessity, qualifications, and how a caliph is to be appointed.
Pay close attention to how al-Mawardi discusses the appointment of the caliph/imam/sovereign (feel free to use any of these terms in your post). What are the different positions he lists concerning the election of a caliph? You should identify al-Mawardi’s position, but you should also mention other positions he lists as well. For these other positions, take note of sentences that begin with “Some have argued that…”, “Another group have argued that…”, “Scholars of [a certain city] have argued…”, etc.
2. The Eleventh Chapter (Al-Bab al-Hadi ‘Ashar) is part of a book of theology written by the Shi’ite theologian al-Allama al-Hilli (1250-1325; you can refer to him as “al-Hilli”). It covers various theological subjects such as God’s qualities, God’s justice, prophecy, and the afterlife. The topic of the Shi’ite imamate is also covered in the book’s second-to-last chapter.
What is al-Hilli’s justification for the Shi’ite imam to be immune to sin (ma’sum)? Explain in your own words.
- 1 point: response does not demonstrate an adequate understanding of the material.
- 2 points: response demonstrates adequate understanding of the material.
- 3 points: response demonstrates adequate understanding of the material and an attempt to engage with it in a critical and synthetical manner.
Failure to submit this assignment will result in a “0� for this reading response.