This course will not only be an introduction to the Qur'an, the Muslim faith, and the fabric of Islamic societies, starting with the life of Muhammad, but we will explore Islamic cultures around the world as incredibly varied living traditions. We will study Islamic political and intellectual history from the liberal end of the spectrum through the ultraconservative Islamist (and militant) end of the spectrum, and examine Islamic practices, both early and contemporary, and will also work in our classroom and in area mosques to get to know Muslims themselves, through examining Islamic spirituality, art, culture and family life. (1) Lecture: 3hrs/wk.