The Islamic Traditions What is Islam? Is it a religion, a way of life, a civilization, or a political ideology? Was Muhammad a political leader, a warrior, or an ascetic? What is the Qur’an? How did it develop as a sacred text and how does it compare to the Bible? This course is designed to provide a platform for us to explore such questions by focusing on historical, social, and intellectual developments in the wide swath of land known as the Muslim world. Special attention will be given to early developments of the Islamic community as well as the later response of different Muslim communities to modernity.

Methods in the Study of Religion How do we think about religion? Is there a common way to talk about religion across cultural divides or should we simply concur that religion is like art, where “We can’t define it, but we know it when we see it? This course will take us through the basic twentieth and twenty-first century theories in the study of religion as “ways of perceiving” this most elusive of phenomena: anthropology, psychology, history, text, politics, philosophy, theology, experience. All of these ways of perceiving religion play a crucial role in the history of the field. We will end by thinking through recent issues in the study of religion–religion and politics, gender and sexuality, comparative and interfaith studies, and the authority of religious identity. Students will be asked to outline a single, compelling case study in religion, and each week they will apply the theorists we read to the details of their case.  In applying theories about religion to real-life situations, students will become skillful practitioners of the art of interpreting religion. They will also develop their own approaches to the study of religion and be able to articulate that approach to a wider audience.

Modern Islamic Thought In this course we will explore how some of the most influential Muslim intellectuals and scholars, ranging from the traditional religious scholars to modernist secularist thinkers and hailing from various parts of the Islamic world from South Asia to North Africa – figures such as Jamal al-din al-Afghani, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Fatima Mernissi, Sayyid Qutb, Wael Hallaq, Ruhollah Khomeini, and Amina Wadud just to name a few - have responded to the challenge of modernity during the past two centuries. Some of the themes we will focus on in class are the relationship between Islam and science, Islam and the state, Islam and gender, among others. We will read primary and secondary sources in chronological order, starting from the late nineteenth century.

What is Religion? What is the origin of religion? How can we begin to understand the forceful and continuous presence of religion in human history? What do we make of individuals who claim to hear God or interact with the supernatural? Is there any way to understand the people at Jonestown who drank the Kool-Aid or the individuals who brought down the Twin Towers at 9/11 besides dismissing them as crazy and/or brainwashed? In this course we will use select analytical frameworks offered by religious studies to explore these questions, and more. We will pay special attention to the construction of the category of religion and how modern attitudes and assumptions about it have shaped acceptable and unacceptable forms of religious behavior and belief.

Religion and Politics in Iran The Islamic revolution of 1979, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, propelled Iran to the position of the arch-nemesis of the United States in the region. As a result of hostile media coverage, there are many misconceptions that pervade our understanding of post-revolutionary Iranian society. In this course we will try to offer a more nuanced understanding by looking deeper into the history of Iran beginning from the era of the early Islamic conquests. A focus of the course will be examining the intersection of religion, culture, and politics in the early modern, modern, and finally, contemporary Iranian society.

Islam in Contemporary Morocco In this course, we will first learn about the early history of Islam and its expansion into North Africa and then will move on to discuss the challenge of modernity and the onslaught of colonialism as experienced in the region. This will be followed by a 10-day travel to Morocco. Our goal will be to understand the complexity of the lived experience of Islam in Morocco. To do so, we will focus on a few salient issues such as gender dynamics, varying interpretations of Islam, and ethnic diversity/conflict, and the impact of Islam on contemporary political structure. We will engage with eminent Muslim intellectuals, exchange views with local students, meet with activists from minoritized backgrounds, and visit heritage sites. Students must apply for this course, the deadline for application is September 10th, 2024.

Sufism: The Mystical Tradition of Islam In this seminar, we will start our adventure in the Sufi world by focusing on the historical and religious contexts in which the mystical tradition of Islam developed during the early Islamic centuries. We will then turn to the so-called classical period focusing on the institutionalization of Sufism, major themes of the classical Sufi literature; fundamental teachings and practices of Sufis; and important figures like Rumi, Ibn Arabi, and Hafez. Finally, we will move to the modern period to discuss the ways in which the Sufi tradition has been re-interpreted, contested, or transformed  throughout the Muslim world in response to the challenges of modernity. In all this, our main concern will be to develop an understanding of the mystical perspective that has influenced the outlook of much of the world's diverse Muslim population. Requires familiarity with the Islamic tradition.

Reading Islamic Sacred Texts In this course we will read selections from texts considered “sacred” by a variety of Muslim communities. Emphasis will be on in depth and slow reading of the texts and understanding how and why they have come to be held at such high esteem by relevant Muslim communities. Through our discussions about these texts, we will try to re-examine the dominant notions of what constitutes a “religion,” particularly what constitutes “Islam.” Readings will include selections from the Qur’an and the biography of Prophet Muhammad, sayings/biography of Muslim saints and mystical poetry, theological and philosophical treatises, and more.

Islam in America In this course we will briefly consider the historical origins of Islam, its development, and essential teachings. Then we will shift our focus to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the earliest Muslims who set foot on American soil as slaves. We will then examine the fascinating role the African American community played in the spread of Islam during the twentieth century. Finally, we will examine issues of immigration, identity, gender, ethnicity, generational divide, discussing the constantly changing nature of how Islam is imagined in America both by the general public and Muslim Americans.

Ata Anzali

Reviews and ratings for Ata Anzali at Middlebury College.Ata Anzali teaches The Islamic Traditions, Seminar: Study of Religion, Modern Islamic Thought and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Ata Anzali good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

A very engaging course, though readings are dense and plentiful. Easy to take as diligent student, no matter the major. Easy to look forward to classes and get through them. The professor is very funny and very smart, as well as helpful in office hours!

This is an excellent course for Religion majors/minors and anyone with a serious academic interest in the Middle East. This was a seminar, so we met once a week for 3 hours or so. Prof. Anzali understood how tiring this timeframe was, so he was quick to adapt the structure of our discussions. For example, he took us to the tea house for the second half one day. This was his first time teaching this course, so there were a few tricky parts last Spring. He would rely on students to lead discussions each day, which often led to a lack of structure in our conversations. We were given a large amount of (super interesting) readings and required to write a short reflection each week. This helped us hone in on some of the specifics from the reading material. Overall, I would suggest you take this class if you are on the fence about it. 

Simply put, this course was a LOT of reading and writing. Compared to other FYSEs, this course was significantly more difficult. The grading was really easy since he only (seriously) graded 2-3 assignments and he gave us several drafts for each assignment, but you DID have to do all the assigned work to receive your participation grade.