School of Islamic and Occidental Studies

Graduate Program for the Degree of Master of Islamic Mysticism

Program Overview

Definition:

The Master’s program in Islamic Mysticism (IM or the Program for short) of SIOS is a specialist program that gives students a good foundation in theoretical Islamic Mysticism (ʿirfān), while also enabling them to use its truths and principles to derive new insights and develop a discernment that would help them understand and respond to the challenges that are faced by those who are seeking the Truth in the modern world.

Goals and Policies:

• Familiarize students with the fundamentals of theoretical mysticism (or ʿirfān) by a perusal of works such as Tamhīd al-Qawāʿid of Ibn Turkah, Miṣbāḥ al-Uns of Fanārī, and Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam of Ibn ʿArabī (commentary by Qayṣarī).
• Initiate students into the living spiritual and mystical tradition of the Hawza.
• Acknowledge students who exhibit exceptional ability and aptitude for advanced Hawza studies and who are fully committed to living and exemplifying the knowledge acquired.
• Introduce students to practical ethics and the basics of spiritual wayfaring.
• Facilitate access to the intellectual and traditional heritage of the Hawza and enable students to analyse and critique the modern world in which they live.

Duration and Structure of the Program:

• The Program will be conducted over two and a half years (or 5 terms or semesters).
• The last three terms will have a greater research component and the students will be expected to write research papers as a part of their course work.
• A number of the modules of the Program will be seminar-based. In these modules, the seminar instructor or guide will present the general outlines and texts of the subject-in-hand in a few sessions,and thereupon the students will be required to conduct their own readings and research, and present their findings in the form of written essays, or presentations.
• One seminar every term will be held on important and relevant subjects pertaining to Islam in the modern world.
  • Topics may include: women in Islam, human rights, religious pluralism, freedom of thought/religion, media, technology, progress, humanities (psychology, sociology, anthropology…)
• Access to a physical and virtual library with Arabic, Farsi, and English texts will be provided to facilitate research.
• Field trips will be organised for the students, sometimes with their families, to learn via real-life experiences and interactions during their journeys.
• An optional module in Arabic and Farsi calligraphy will be offered.
• After the end of the Program, special courses or seminars for vocational training will be offered.
• A gym will be made available with access to a trainer for workouts and physical fitness