Online Summer School on Shiʿi Studies
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Online Summer School on Shiʿi Studies Ahl-ul-Bayt University, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, and Hekmat Institute will hold an online summer school. Online Summer School on Shiʿi Studies, taught by international scholars About Shi’i Islam Like all other major religions, Islam has been divided into several schools and denominations. The two main branches in Islam are Sunnism and Shi’ism. Sunni Muslims endorsed the historical caliphate, while Shi’i Muslims, supporters of ‘Ali, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet and the fourth caliph, articulated their own distinctive doctrines. The Sunni-Shi’i schism is often framed as a dispute over the identity of the successor to Muhammad, whereas in reality, Sunni and Shi’i Muslims also differ on a number of seminal theological doctrines concerning the nature of God and legitimate political and religious authority. Shi’I Islam as the second largest group in the Muslim world and as the largest religious community in several countries including Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon has gained the attention of scholars of religion and researches more than anytime in the history. The Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 and its huge national and international geopolitical outcomes was an important factor that caused many to realize the importance of having a deeper understanding of the religious undercurrents in the Middle East in particular and in the world in general. Also, Shi’I Islam is known today as a distinctive and vibrant community of Muslims with a remarkable capacity for reinvention and adaptation, grounded in a unique theological interpretation of Islam. About the Course The International Intensive Academic Course on Shi’I Studies by Hikmat International Institute will cover the history, key doctrines, branches, rituals and practices, spiritual teachings as well as political thought of Shi’I Islam. It will mainly focus on the Twelver Shi’I tradition, to which the majority of the Shia belong today. This is a university-level course and is designed mainly for students and academics who wish to enhance their understanding of Shi’I Islam. This is the most comprehensive course you can find online about Shi’I Islam as there will be 18 sessions to cover a wide variety of different aspects of this important faith tradition. Instructors are among the best academics in these fields. Each session will be 2 to 3 hours based on the plan of the instructor to be made up of activities and delivery as they see fit. Target group Professors, researchers and university students in the field of religious studies, Islamic studies, political studies, history, regional studies and anyone else who is interested in the topic with a good command of English! Below you can find the names the topics that will be covered during the program: • The origin and the development of the Shiʿi • Safavid Shiʿi tradition Islam • Shiʿi religious resources, ijtihad, and • The moral teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt fatwa • Sources of Shiʿi thought • Contemporary Shiʿi Islam • Shiʿi worship • Shiʿi seminaries: Qom and Najaf • Spirituality and mysticism in Shiʿi Islam • Women in Shiʿi Islam • Intellectual traditions in Shiʿi Islam • Interfaith Dialogue Important Dates Registration Start April 10, 2021 Early Bird Discount June 10, 2021 Registration Deadline June 25 Course Start July 12, 2021 Course End July 31, 2021 Course Fee Regular Price: $799 Early bird price: $199 (reserved for participants who register before June 10, 2021) Use promotional code EARLY to get the early bird price General info Subject Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Studies Language of instruction English Length 3 weeks Contact hours 54 Certificate Academic Location: Zoom online platform Time: July 12 to July 31, 2021 The summer school is in English For more information, please Email: [email protected] Some of the notable instructors of this course include: • Dr. Najm Haidar • Seyed Hadi Qazvini Professor of Religion, Columbia University Adjunct Faculty at Bayan Claremont • Rasool Naqavi • Dr. Lizzloot Abid Georgetown University Lecturer at University of Vienna, Department of Near Eastern Studies • Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali • Dr. Mohammad Lengenhausen Lecturer at the Islamic Seminary of Qom Professor of Philosophy, Imam Khomeini • Dr. Vienna Khatia Education and Research Institute PhD on ‘History and Philosophy of Shi’i devotional literature’, McMaster University • Dr. Alessandro Cancian Senior Research Associate, The Institute of Ismaili Studies • Dr. Sajjad Razavi Associate Professor of Islamic Intellectual History and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter Exeter • Dr. Rola Abisab Professor of Islamic History, McGill University • Morteza Rezazadeh Lecturer at the Islamic Seminary of Qom • Dr. Seyed Sadegh Haghighat Professor of Political Sciences, Mofid University • Dr. Mohammad Samiei Associate Professor at Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran • Dr. Liakat Takim Professor of Religion, McMaster University .