This course is an introduction to Islam as a prophetic religious tradition.  It explores the different ways in which Muslims have interpreted and put into practice the prophetic message of Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah through historical and phenomenological analyses of varying theological, philosophical, legal, political, mystical and literary writings.  These analyses aim for course participants to develop a framework for explaining the sources and symbols through which historically specific experiences and understandings have been signified as Islamic.  The course focuses in particular on the classical and modern periods of Islamic history.