Assignment: Muhammad: Life and Legacy

ESSAY

If the wives of the Prophet are taken to be as examples of what ideal womanhood is in Islam, describe what this ideal would be. Consider the reported personalities of the wives of the Prophet, the nature of their relationship(s) with the Prophet, and their lifestyles within the early Muslim community. How might the example of the wives of the Prophet be read differently in different historical contexts?

Content requirements for the essays

• the essay must answer the assigned question; the introductory paragraph should summarize your basic answer to the question, and the body of the essay should then elaborate on the points mentioned in the introduction

• the essay question must be answered exclusively on the basis of the assigned reading

• the essay should demonstrate that you have read the readings thoroughly and thoughtfully

• the essay should reflect your own analysis of the reading as it relates to the essay question

Form requirements for the essay

• 5 pages

• double-spaced; 12 point font; maximum 1.25 margins

• all citations should be from the readings, and for either direct quotes or indirect references on can simply cite the readings as follows: (Bint al-Shati', p. 25) or (Stowasser, p. 92). No works cited page or bibliography is required.

• direct quotes from the readings should be kept to a minimum and should be used only in order to present an analysis of the passage. The student should never quote from the text something that can be paraphrased in the student's own words.