The primary beliefs of Islam and their implications for the Muslim worldview. The Abrahamic faiths and the chain of prophethood. Revelation, death and the after life. Aspects from the life of Muhammad the prophet, and his impact on Muslim thought and culture. Muslim ritual practices such as prayer (salat), fasting (sawm) and the pilgrimage (hajj). The dynamics of faith on the rites of passage and religious celebrations.

The lay of the land in terms of denominations and sectarian trends. The origins of, and the key differences between, the Shia and Sunni schools. The background and emergence of legal methodology within religious schools and the development of the four major schools of Sunni thought or fiqh. The impact of institutionalised religious authority and its counter-culture. Modernism, Salafism, Wahabism, Sufism and Reformism - how and where they originated. An overview of their distinguishing features and the impact of globalisation and migration.

Early settlers and pre-war communities. Post war migration and challenges of integration. The influence of domestic and global politics on identity formation and the evolution of a British Muslim discourse. Discussion around representation, organisation and leadership. The impact of 9/11 & 7/7 on Muslim communities and the major challenges, including Islamophobia, disadvantage, narratives of victimhood and how loyalties to umma and nation are negotiated.

An estimation of the make up of Muslim Britain, assessing demographic profiles and the spread and dominance of schools of thought and sects. The impact of post war migration on settlement patterns and diversity. What makes up Muslim Britain and who controls its estimated 1,500 mosques? The key trends of thought and identifying the rising trends.

An introduction to the objectives of Islamic Law. The sources of law. Fiqh and Sharia - distinctions and confusions. Categories of actions and legal maxims. Temporal law, progression and permanence - the debates around the implementation of Sharia in the contemporary world. Democracy, Muslim minorities, and new territories. The language of Sharia in political discourse.

The reformist and revivalist movements in both Shi‘i and Sunni traditions, their origins and major effects on Muslim thought in the 20th century. Historical figures and the processes of revival. The early modern influences and contemporary intellectuals. The transportation of revivalist thought and methodologies into Western Islamic institutions and thought.

A background to some of the current discussion around extremism and terrorism in the name of Islam. Old and new concepts of takfir (excommunication) and the growth of a discourse that justifies violent conflict. The roots of Muslim anger and the narrative of modern Jihadism, placing this in the broader context of a drift towards victimhood. The impact of globalisation on the debate and how the internet is increasingly used as a vehicle for disseminating extremist ideas.

Talk of ‘Islamism’ has been emergent in social and political discourse. Where did this emerge and what is it? How does it relate to the spiritual and ritual dimensions of faith? How do we understand it in relation to talk of the Sharia, or to rallying calls for a ‘global’ Caliphate state? What does such thought mean for the cause of integration, democratic participation and citizenship? This component explores such questions in a British context.

Origins of the divide and its early history. The organisation of religious source material and the development of religious legal systems. Sectarian off shoots and mapping Sunni-Shia demographics. The Iranian revolution and its relationship with the Sunni world. The Institutions of learning. Celebrations, inter-marriage and cultural practices. The rise of violence against the ‘other’ justified in the name of religion.

Assessing the use of the body as a weapon and its crossover and contention with Islamic teachings. Islamic teachings on the acts of suicide, jihad and martyrdom. Contemporary thought on suicide bombing and scholarly views. The impact of the internet and the rise in ‘do-it-yourself’ suicide campaigns.

Over 50% of all British Muslims are under 25 and are exploring a youth culture alien to their parents. The glare of the spotlight on them - under the War on Terror - is intense. National anxieties about identity and belonging and rising Islamophobia, whether real or perceived, all feed into the questions and confusions affecting a great many young Muslim Britons. The socio-economic profiles and rising prison populations can paint a grim picture, but not a complete one. The emergence of class division, political leanings and wide degree of differences in social integration.

Few things cause as much consternation, and intrigue, as the subject area of gender roles in Muslim cultures. Learn about the broader context of Islamic teachings on gender roles. Women in Muhammad’s day: social norms, legal provisions and participation. The mosque and female religious practice. Polygamy, divorce and inheritance laws. The impact of European enlightenment and feminism; colonisation and migration to Europe. Misogyny and the rise of false hadith, and their impact on women. Dress and the politicisation of the headscarf (‘hijab’). The western experience and the human rights discourse. The rise of an Islamic feminist discourse.

Over 1,000 years of contact, dialogue and influence within a session. The component explores key aspect of our national heritage that are often forgotten or overlooked, including contributions to language, education, arts, science and the development of law.

This component looks at the needs for schooling and assesses growing trends in the area. The emergence of faith schools and their battle for state recognition. The rise of home schooling and its factors. Questions of integration and social cohesion at tension with the right to choose and the growing realisation of rights amongst second and third generation British Muslims. Poor attainment levels of Muslim boys, the higher attainment by girls, and their social implications. The after-school madrassa system and parental demands. British Muslims in the teaching profession and as school governors.

With its familiar dome and tall minaret, the mosque (or more properly the masjid) symbolizes, for many, the permanent ‘settlement’ of Muslims. What do we learn from the earliest mosque and how much has changed? What features make a mosque and what relationship does it have with British Muslim communities? How many mosques are there in Great Britain: how are they organised, run and funded? What is taught in mosques and can they be barriers to integration and social cohesion? How do mosques cope with changing demands? Are mosques open to women? What role does the Imam perform? The different titles and roles of figures of religious authority.

Muhammad claimed to be the prophet of God in the 7th century, simultaneously laying claim to new and ancient scriptures. Loved by a billion people across the world, Muhammad’s life is often meticulously followed. What can we learn about Islam from the most pivotal character in the Islamic tradition and what is the significance of his life, teachings and authority? What relevance do his teachings (the Sunna) have to Muslims today?

A journey into the presence and settlement of Muslims before the post-war migrations. A look at early converts to Islam and their religious activism. The component will cover early mosques and religious needs and ceremonies, paying particular attention to the communities in Woking and Liverpool in the late 19th Century.

Festivals, celebrations and marriage; cultural expressions and features of commonality and conflict. An understanding of the religious calendar of Muslims and of the events marked,

The concept of marriage. Forced marriage - practices, justifications and stimuli. Historical, tribal and religious justifications. Divorce and custody issues. DIY marriage and the growth of Islamic tribunals and courts. Adoption and fostering in Islamic law and the rights of biological parents.