Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
Department of Religion
8/2011 – Present
Visiting Assistant Professor
Islamic Studies
- Developing and teaching courses in Islamic Studies
Courses Taught
- Women in Religious Traditions: Islam is intended to provide students with a deeper understanding of the position of women in Islam through an examination of the teachings of the Qur'an, looking at both traditional interpretation and contemporary reinterpretation.
- Experiencing Islam conceives of Islam as a cumulative tradition beginning with the event of the Qur’an and the paradigmatic example of Prophet Muhammad. The unfolding of this religious tradition is traced through the formation of Shi’i and Sunni schools of Islamic thought, and the schools of law. The course concludes with an overview of the multi-faceted responses of Muslims to contemporary challenges.
- Contemporary Issues and Values is about issues and values in religion; but more importantly, it is about how to think critically To that end, this course is designed to challenge you to think in different ways about myriad topics. Many issues confronting us today raise profound value questions. Some issues have roots in the past; others have emerged in our times. Resources to address these issues are likewise both ancient and contemporary. This course explores dimensions of several moral concerns, many of which challenge democratic values, social justice norms, and human rights. Issues addressed may include genocide, terrorism, war, and torture; environmental injustices; gender and sexualities; race issues; immigration and refugee dilemmas; reproductive issues; sexual violence; concerns about the “other” and valuations of difference.. In learning about these topics students examine religious and philosophical texts, ideas, and values which suggest resolutions.
- Introduction to the Quran is designed to introduce students to the various ways in which the Qur’an has been received in history and continues to be received today. Students examine the theological, legal, literary, historical, mystical, and modern approaches to the Qur’an in an attempt to understand holistically various methods of exegesis and their ramifications. Throughout, the class engages in the debates that have historically surrounded the Qur’an and explore methods of interpretation both classical and modern, especially those of fundamentalists, reformists, and feminists.
- Life of Muhammad is a historical study of the life of Muhammad, from his birth in 570 CE to his death in 632 (?) CE. The course will include: (1) an in-depth introduction to the genres of hadith and sira literature; the major works in these genres, the history of their compilation and an evaluation of various authors and their works, from the perspectives of both Islamic and Western scholarship; (2) a biographical study of the life of Muhammad and his position in Muslim thought as the ideal exemplar; (3) an examination of the lives of the women around Muhammad.
Florida International University
Miami, FL
Department of Religious Studies
8/2004-5/2011
Assistant Professor
Islamic Studies
- Developing and teaching courses in Arabic & Islamic Studies
- Advising the Department Chair and Faculty on progam development in Islamic Studies
- Supervising and mentoring graduate students
- Supervising and mentor Teaching Assistants
- Observing and evaluating Adjuncts and Teaching Assistance
Courses taught:
- Religion Interpretation & Analysis is an introduction both to the phenomena we collectively call “religion” and to the study of religious phenomena through their analysis and interpretation. This is not a class on world religions, but students will learn to apply the various theories to Islam and at least one other world religion.
- Islamic Faith & Society introduces students to the historical development and ideological foundations of Islam and to the basic beliefs and practices of Muslims from the time of Muhammad to the present (offered for undergraduates).
- Interpreting the Qur’an: Gender & Jihad introduces students to the history, interpretation and translation of the Quran through a close examination of passages relating to issues of gender and jihad (offered for graduates and undergraduates).
- Muslim Ideas of War, a Perspective for National Security acquaints students with the history and development of Islamic laws of war and Muslim concepts of just and unjust war in order to provide a framework in which to better understand and address contemporary events (offered for graduates and undergraduates).
- Women in Islam provides students with a deeper understanding of the position of women in Islam through an examination of the teachings of the Qur'an, looking at both traditional interpretation and the contemporary reinterpretation. The primary texts for the course are the Qur'an and current writings by Muslim women (offered for undergraduates).
- Hadith: Voice of the Prophet familiarizes students with the position and history of Prophetic Traditions (Hadith) in Islam and with classical Islamic and Western Hadith studies (offered for graduates and undergraduates).
- Classical Arabic covers the grammar and vocabulary necessary for developing the ability to read classical texts (offered for graduates).