Professor Amy Singer
Office: Gilman Building, Room 453b
Office hours, Academic year 2004-2005:
Monday, 14:00-15:00
Current research:
I am writing a book on charity in Islamic
societies, which is intended as an introduction to the subject. It includes
discussions of the religious basis and textual discussions of charity,
particularly as they appear in the Qur’an and the hadith, the sayings of the
Prophet Muhammad, together with historical examples of how these ideas were
translated into practice at various times and places. The book is intended as an
introduction to the subject both for people interested in Middle Eastern and
Islamic history, and for those interested in the study of charity and
philanthropy who wish to broaden their understanding of their different
expressions in human societies.
Alongside this general project I am
researching the phenomenon of Ottoman public soup kitchens (imaret).
Sample courses: History of the Ottoman
Empire, Modern Turkey, Charity and Social Welfare in Islamic Societies.