Essay Questions for Thinking through Sources 9

1. Defining differences within Islam: In what different ways do the various voices of Islam represented in these sources understand and express the common religious tradition of which they are all a part? What grounds for debate or controversy can you identify within or among them?
2. Defining a good society: On what elements of a good society might Muslims agree? How might they differ?
3. Considering gender and Islam: How do these sources represent the roles of men and women in Islamic society? Pay particular attention to differences in emphasis.
4. Seeking additional sources: Notice that all of these sources derive from literate elites, and each of them suggests or prescribes appropriate behavior. What additional documents would you need if you were to assess the impact of these prescriptions on the lives of ordinary people? What specific questions might you want to pose to such documents?