This course surveys seminal works of literature in Islamic cultures from the Middle East to South Asia. Through close analysis of primary texts in English translations and relevant historical and cultural contexts, students will gain an understanding of Islamic intellectual tradition across various literary genres and its influence on Western literature. Some of the key works that will be covered include early Arabic poetry and the Qur’an, One Thousand and One Nights, Sufi mystical poetry of Rumi and Hafiz, and the Conference of the Birds. The course will also examine the works of Al-Ma’arri, Ibn Tufayl, and Ibn Khaldun to demonstrate how Islamic literature engaged with philosophy, theology, and politics. By exploring translations of these classic works, students will explore themes such as love, death, loneliness, gender, friendship and betrayal, sexuality, imperfection, and animals.