0001014 - Islamic Cultures in the Mediterranean Region

LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide an in-depth and structured understanding of the phenomenon of Sufism, one of the principal mystical and spiritual currents within Islam. Sufism is recognized as orthodox by the main Sunni legal schools, yet it has also been subject to criticism and tension within modern Islamic societies.

Through a historical-critical approach and the analysis of both primary and secondary sources, the course seeks to equip students with the intellectual tools necessary to understand the origins, doctrinal and institutional development, practices, and transformations of Sufism over time. Particular attention will be paid to its historical and contemporary manifestations in the Mediterranean European context, with a specific focus on the Italian case.

By the end of the course, students will be expected to:

• Describe the main historical phases and the processes of canonization and institutionalization of Sufism.
• Analyze the role and impact of Sufism in premodern and modern Islamic societies.
• Contextualize the presence of Sufism in the European and Mediterranean context, identifying key figures and cultural dynamics.
• Critically assess the intellectual and political debates concerning Sufism in the contemporary world.

APPLICED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Students will be expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the syllabus. In particular, they must show that they have acquired both the key concepts and doctrines of Sufism and the dynamics of its historical development and social affirmation, with special reference to the presence and characteristics of the phenomenon in the Mediterranean and Italian contexts. They must also demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of these elements as essential tools for reading, understanding, interpreting, contextualizing, and critically analyzing the history of Muslims and Islamic societies across various historical periods and geographic settings, from the premodern to the contemporary era. Students will be encouraged to develop independent research skills and the ability to critically analyze relevant sources, with a view to possible advanced research projects, including on original topics for which secondary literature is lacking.

ADDITIONAL INDENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Independent judgment:

Students will be expected to demonstrate solid critical thinking skills in relation to the course topics, showing the ability to compare different approaches and interpretations, both within the Islamic tradition and in contemporary academic debate.

Communication skills:

Students must be able to present the knowledge acquired during the course clearly and fluently, using appropriate language and discipline-specific terminology. In addition, they are expected to demonstrate a strong capacity for personal expression.

Students studying Arabic must be able to pronounce all Arabic terms introduced in class correctly. Students studying Arabic, Persian, or Turkish must demonstrate the ability to write and transliterate correctly all technical terms covered during the course.

Learning skills:

The knowledge and methodology offered in the course will provide students with the essential tools to continue studying Sufism independently, both in general and in its specific aspects. Equipped with the necessary prerequisites, they will be able to expand their learning through engagement with the relevant academic literature, as well as through other avenues such as participation in seminars, conferences, symposia, and workshops on the topics addressed in the course.