Monograph by Elias G Saba
"Harmonizing Similarities" is a study of the legal distinctions (al-furūq alfiqhiyya) literature ... more "Harmonizing Similarities" is a study of the legal distinctions (al-furūq alfiqhiyya) literature and its role in the development of the Islamic legal heritage. This book reconsiders how the public performance of Islamic law helped shape legal literature. It identifies the origins of this tradition in contemporaneous lexicographic and medical literature, both of which demonstrated the productive potential of drawing distinctions.
Book Reviews by Elias G Saba
Religious Studies Review, 2019
Religious Studies Review, 2017
Dissertation by Elias G Saba
This dissertation is a study of the “legal distinctions” (al-furūq al-fiqhiyya) literature and it... more This dissertation is a study of the “legal distinctions” (al-furūq al-fiqhiyya) literature and its role in the development of Islamic legal thinking. It reconsiders how linguistics, law, and public performance intersect with knowledge production to develop new packaging of legal information. This study identifies the origins of this tradition in linguistic and medical literature which demonstrated the possibilities of ‘distinctions’ reasoning. The linguistic furūq literature is largely a theological endeavor aimed as denying the existence of synonymy in Arabic while the medical literature was interested in diagnosing illnesses. After establishing the trends that led to the writing of this genre, I demonstrate the implications of the legal furūq and how changes to this genre reflect shifts in the social consumption of Islamic legal knowledge. The earliest interest in legal distinctions grew out of the performance of knowledge in formalized legal disputation (jadal). Disputation was an important activity for creating and defining tools of legal knowledge and distinction played an important part therein. From here, the genre of legal distinctions adapted to incorporate elements of play and entertainment through interplay with the genre of legal riddles (al-alghāz al-fiqhiyya). As play, books of legal distinctions functioned as supplements to performance in literary salons, study circles, and court performances (majlis); these books also served as mimetic objects, allowing the reader to participate in the majlis virtually through reading. This study demonstrates the analytical strength of genre as a tool for understanding the history Islamic law and the social and intellectual practices that helped shape its development.
Syllabuses by Elias G Saba
This is a seminar course. It is imperative that each student carefully reads all of the assigned ... more This is a seminar course. It is imperative that each student carefully reads all of the assigned readings on time and comes to class ready to participate in class discussion. Class preparedness and participation is a major factor in the final grade and unexcused absences will count against this final grade. You may not pass this class if you miss more than 35% of the class sessions. The course is based entirely around our class sessions.
Office Hours: W: 2:00pm-3:30pm; F: 10:00am-11:45am; or by appointment in Steiner 201 Twitter: @Tr... more Office Hours: W: 2:00pm-3:30pm; F: 10:00am-11:45am; or by appointment in Steiner 201 Twitter: @TraditionsIslam Rel 220-01: Traditions of Islam Course Description
Office: HSSC N2152 Office Hours: T 10:00am-11:30am; W 1:30pm-2:50pm; or by appointment Rel 103-01... more Office: HSSC N2152 Office Hours: T 10:00am-11:30am; W 1:30pm-2:50pm; or by appointment Rel 103-01: Studying Religion: The Middle East Course Description:
Book Chapters by Elias G Saba
The Routledge Handbook of Arabic Translation, 2019
Uploads
Monograph by Elias G Saba
Book Reviews by Elias G Saba
Dissertation by Elias G Saba
Syllabuses by Elias G Saba
Book Chapters by Elias G Saba