Wael Hallaq

This is a great course for understanding key cultural concepts in China, Japan, and South Korea and seeing how those concepts shape modern-day East Asia. Even if you aren't majoring/minoring in East Asian Studies, this is still a good class to take, especially in the context of having to take Western-based courses like Lit Hum; it gives you another perspective on what has shaped the important literary canons. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Spring 2025 Course: AHUMUN1400_001_2025_1-COLLOQUIUMONMAJORTEXTS : AHUMUN1400_001_2025_1 - COLLOQUIUM ON MAJOR TEXTS Instructor: Seong Kim

Workload was heavier due to pretty long readings but definitely worth it. If time is truly of constraint, I'd say focus more of your effort and synthesizing what Professor Hallaq presents in class.

We have dense readings. And every week a few students are assigned to write a critique of a specific reading. One student will respond to those critiques. My class had like 15 people so each person had to do this like three times during the semester. But that does not mean on weeks you are not assigned to write a response you don't have to read -- he will randomly call on two students to provide two VERY QUALITY analytical questions about the readings. When he asks, he's very strict about this but tbh some weeks he never asked two students to bring up questions. Either way I would not take my chances and just do the readings and come up with questions rather than having nothing to say in case he calls on me.

I would definitely not recommend this to anyone. I am very disappointed with this semester, it was such a missed opportunity at learning. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2022 Course: MDESGR5000_001_2022_3-THEORYANDMETHODSI : MDESGR5000_001_2022_3 - THEORY AND METHODS I Instructor: Mahmood Mamdani

NA 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2023 Course: AHUMUN1400_001_2023_3-COLLOQUIUMONMAJORTEXTS : AHUMUN1400_001_2023_3 - COLLOQUIUM ON MAJOR TEXTS Instructor: Seong Kim

The best course I've ever been fortunate enough to take in 4 years of undergrad at Columbia. Professor Hallaq pulls together his deep knowledge in religion, history, anthropology, and political theory to craft a truly transformative anthology + commentary on modernity. And he is sometimes unexpectedly funny! The two-hour sessions flew by.

Professor Hallaq is super intense, but with the best intentions in mind. He cares deeply about his students and wants nothing but for us to learn how to be good human beings in the world. The class is of course about Islamic law, but it is so much more. It's more philosophical and a discussion of how society in general has just deteriorated as a result of westernization and capitalism and how Islam and non-western societies have suffered tremendously as a result. I walked out of class feeling so incredibly upset because of the state of the world but also completely enlightened. It's hard to describe. The class itself is basically just him lecturing at us, but it's honestly the best thing in the world because he is SO smart and can go on and on about anything. Please take this class it will change your whole worldview.

I would recommend if its a required class. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Spring 2021 Course: AHUMUN1400_001_2021_1-COLLOQUIUMONMAJORTEXTS : AHUMUN1400_001_2021_1 - COLLOQUIUM ON MAJOR TEXTS Instructor: Seong Kim

-Lots of reading, but managed to get by with thorough summaries rather than the actual texts for many weeks. -2 essays, 20% each -2 4min presentations on the texts read that week

Hallaq is undoubtedly a pioneer in his field, and he makes this known in his seminars and classes. While he is a very knowledgeable person, he is very intimidating and this is certainly off-putting, especially when it comes to participation in the class. He treats the course like law school, and cold calls on students for summaries of the texts, so make sure to read them!!! Regardless, you come out of the class with a very different view of what Islamic law entails.