Al-Mahdi Institute Podcasts

In this presentation, Mishaal Javed and Miguel Farias present original qualitative research into how practitioners of salat and dhikr experience heart-centred insight and clarity. Comparing Islamic devotional practice with mindfulness meditation, and situating their findings alongside neuroimaging research, they show how classical concepts like ḥuḍūr al-qalb and yaqeen map onto lived, reported experiences of spiritual discernment today.

In this presentation, Syed AmirHossein Asghari develops a Sufi account of fiṭra — humanity's innate God-orientation — as a genuine mode of non-conceptual, presential knowledge. Drawing on Qur'anic verses and later thinkers like Mullā Ṣadrā and ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī, he connects this classical framework to modern debates on consciousness, near-death experience, and the limits of physicalism.

In this presentation, Liana Saif interrogates the now-automatic pairing of Sufism with the word "mysticism." Tracing this label back through Orientalist, Traditionalist, and Perennialist thinkers, she argues that "mysticism" obscures more historically grounded frameworks like al-bāṭiniyya, and reveals it instead as a modern, Western-inflected construct.

In this presentation, Aiyub Palmer traces how Sufi epistemology's heart-centered theory of knowledge became intellectually mainstream — made possible only once Ashʿarī theology, culminating with Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, developed a way to describe the self beyond bodies and accidents. He shows how Avicennian and early Sufi models of the soul converged into a distinctly Islamic phenomenology of spirit.

In this presentation, Muhammad Sajjad Qadeer reframes taqwā not as a mere ethical virtue but as a mechanism for testing the reliability of mystical experience. Through close Qur'anic analysis, he shows how murāqaba — sustained self-monitoring — becomes the practical tool by which unveilings, dreams, and inspiration are calibrated against revelation and intellect.

In this presentation, Davlat Dadikhuda challenges the primacy that Sufi and Illuminationist thinkers give to presential, mystical knowledge. Drawing on the Peripatetic tradition of Avicenna and contemporary philosopher Ayman al-Maṣrī, he argues that only discursive, representational knowledge meets the standards of truth-aptness — while mystical awareness, though real, carries more psychological than epistemic weight.

In this presentation, Hashem Morvarid turns to an underexplored archive — Shia ḥadīth and devotional literature — to build a typology of mystical experience. Moving through phenomenology, metaphysics, and epistemology, he examines how texts like Nahj al-Balāgha and al-Munājāt al-Shaʿbāniyya describe heart-based perception, and what marks distinguish authentic experience from delusion.

In this presentation, Zoheir Esmail investigates one of Islamic mysticism's most provocative claims: that dreams of the Prophet offer direct, unmediated access to him. Tracing this tradition across Sunni and Shiʿi sources, he asks what it means for rational, historically-grounded scholarship when a vision seemingly outperforms every conventional method of religious verification.

In this presentation, Arif Abdulhussain reads the famous saying "one who knows his soul knows his Lord" as describing an ontological event, not merely a cognitive one. Weaving together Ibn ʿArabī, al-Qayṣarī, and Mullā Ṣadrā, he builds a constructive argument that self-realisation is the very mechanism by which the Divine comes to know itself through creation.

In this presentation, Omneya Ayad explores spiritual unveiling as the foundation of Sufi Qur'anic interpretation, centered on a rare unpublished manuscript by Ruzbihān al-Baqlī devoted entirely to defending kashf's authenticity. She traces the rigorous criteria Sufi exegetes developed to keep esoteric readings accountable to the Qur'an's literal meaning.

In this presentation, Mehmet Akif Aydin looks past Ibn ʿArabī to one of his most influential early interpreters, Dāwūd al-Qayṣarī. He unpacks Qayṣarī's detailed typology of unveiling — including its five sensory modalities — and shows how this systematic framework helped anchor Akbarian metaphysics within Ottoman scholarly culture.

In this presentation, Lahouari Taleb examines the 19th-century Moroccan Sufi Ahmad ibn ʿAjība's account of how sense experience relates to mystical gnosis. Unpacking Ibn ʿAjība's treatise on the Oneness of Existence, he shows how the perceived divide between the sensory and the intelligible dissolves into a cognitive veil rather than a fixed feature of reality — with striking implications for modern philosophy of mind.

In this presentation, Mohammadmahdi Morvarid uses Mullā Ṣadrā's philosophy of graded existence to explain why religious experiences vary so widely across traditions — not as mere interpretive differences, but as real metaphysical distinctions. He brings Ṣadrā's framework into conversation with contemporary philosophy of religion's debates on the nature and validity of religious experience.

Where did Shia communities in Britain actually come from, and why has their history remained largely unrecorded?In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore the untold history of Shia Muslim settlement in Britain with Dr Jaffer Mirza. Focusing on the period 1950 to 1980, Jaffer explains why he moved away from the three dominant lenses used to study Shia Islam in Britain — sectarianism, diaspora, and institutional history — arguing that each can obscure more than it reveals. Instead, he turns to ritual as a grassroots, micro-level framework for understanding how communities were actually built.We discuss what ritual is and why it matters for migration studies, and push back on whether a micro-level approach risks ignoring the wider political and structural forces at play. The conversation moves through the idea of "translocal" Shia practice — a third space shaped by both transnational connections and local British context — and uncovers the largely unrecorded role women played in founding Shia communities across cities like Birmingham, Glasgow, and Newport, often invisible in institutional archives. We also examine how geopolitical events, from the Iranian Revolution to Saddam Hussein's Iraq, shaped Shia visibility and self-censorship in Britain, and the challenges of doing oral history with a community whose memory is contested and gendered. The episode closes on the contested idea of "British Shia Islam" and where the field needs to go next.Dr Jaffer Mirza is a researcher whose work explores the history of Shia settlement in Britain, ritual, migration, community formation, and freedom of religion or belief. Drawing on oral history and fieldwork across nine British cities, his research brings overlooked voices and everyday practices into the study of Islam in Britain.Audio Chapters:0:00 – Highlights2:16 – From Karachi to Recovering Britain's Shia History6:22 – Beyond Sectarianism, Diaspora and Institutional History13:30 – What Is a Ritual?17:35 – Why Ritual Matters in Migration21:06 – Can Micro-History Ignore Power and Politics?26:46 – From Transnational to 'Translocal' Shia Practice30:15 – Women Built Britain's Early Shia Communities37:24 – How Geopolitics Made Shia Islam Visible42:49 – Gender, Fieldwork and the Limits of Oral History57:38 – Is There a 'British Shia Islam'?1:07:49 – Building the Future of Shia Communities

What is the Problem of Ghayba in Twelver Shi'ism? And why does the occultation of the Twelfth Imam remain one of the most debated questions in Twelver Shīʿism? Dr Hashem Morvarid explores.The occultation (ghayba) of the Twelfth Imam sits at the heart of one of Twelver Shīʿī theology's most persistent challenges: how can an Imamate defined by presence and public authority be occupied by an Imam who is hidden?In this research seminar, Dr Hashem Morvarid (Utrecht University) applies the tools of Islamic analytic theology to the Problem of Ghayba, offering a systematic critical review of four major responses in the classical and modern tradition — unseen presence, psychological benefit, the cosmic role, and the spiritual role — before advancing an original proposal grounded in the Qurʾān's treatment of moral evil in Q 2:30–33.Drawing on the Qurʾānic account of Adam's knowledge of "the names," Dr Morvarid argues that the Imam's theological significance lies in serving as God's moral reason for preserving humankind in existence — a role that, unlike leadership or religious instruction, does not require public presence. On this reading, the Imam's hiddenness is not a theological embarrassment, but consistent with what his existence is ultimately for.Dr Hashem Morvarid is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Trinity University, specialising in Islamic philosophy and Shīʿa theology. He holds two PhDs in philosophy — from IPM, Tehran, and the University of Illinois at Chicago — and was previously a Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins University.00:00 – Introduction: The Problem of Ghayba05:24 – The Classical Definition of Imamat09:14 – Response 1: Unseen Presence12:49 – Response 2: Psychological Benefit (and Taftāzānī's Rebuttal)15:39 – Response 3: The Cosmic Role17:53 – Response 4: The Spiritual Role (Wilāya)21:39 – A New Proposal: The Imam as God's Moral Reason27:20 – Qur'ān's Response to Moral Evil (Q 2:30–33)33:49 – Evaluating Three Interpretations of "the Names"42:21 – Implications for Ghayba and Closing Objection

In this presentation, Dr Asma Shahin Khan explores insights gathered while developing an online course on Muslim mental health at Cardiff University's Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK. Drawing on interviews with mental health experts, she identifies key themes around using Islamic knowledge in treatment, community-based support, and the barriers and stereotypes British Muslims face when accessing mental health services.

In this presentation, Dr Siham Elkassem explores a justice-oriented approach to caring for Muslim youth facing racial, colonial, and spiritual harm in Canada. Drawing on two studies—including national research conducted amid the Gaza genocide—she introduces a Justice-Oriented Response Framework grounded in Islamic ethical commitments to mercy, justice, and trust.

In this presentation, Dr Sadek Hamid explores the emerging crisis of masculinity among young British Muslim men, shaped by structural racism, Islamophobia, and conflicting cultural expectations. Through case studies of grassroots initiatives and interviews with participants and practitioners, he examines care-centred approaches helping young men reconcile faith, identity, and wellbeing.

In this presentation, Dr Mansur Ali and Khadija Sulaiman explore the professional journey of a British Muslim woman who became a Multifaith Police Chaplaincy Lead, tracing her path from hospital chaplaincy through to policing. The presentation highlights the gendered, theological, and racialised barriers she navigated, and how these experiences shaped her commitment to inclusive, multifaith spiritual care.

In this presentation, Dr Nuha Dwaikat-Shaer explores how Canadian Muslim families navigate support and acceptance of queer and trans relatives, drawing on interviews with 30 individuals and their family members. She identifies key facilitators—such as education and religious reframing—and barriers to acceptance, introducing the concept of "ambivalent acceptance" sustained through ongoing relational labour.

In this presentation, Dr Muhammed R. Tajri explores how Shīʿa Muslim imams, chaplains, and therapists navigate counselling clients who experience same-sex attraction. Based on interviews with fifteen practitioners, he reveals a pronounced sense of moral and professional uncertainty and highlights the need for formalised training and stronger collaboration between religious scholars and mental health professionals.

In this presentation, Dr Naveed Baig explores empathy not as sentimentality but as a disciplined ethical practice essential to chaplaincy and care. Drawing on qualitative research with hospitalised Muslim patients during COVID-19 and his own chaplaincy experience, he argues that empathy—rooted in Islamic concepts such as rahma and rifq—is the ethical foundation of responsible, humane care.

In this presentation, Dr Riyaz Timol explores findings from Understanding British Imams, the largest academic study of mosque-based religious leadership in Britain, drawing on survey data from over 2,000 imams and 40 in-depth interviews. He focuses on how imams respond to mental health issues raised by congregants despite limited training, poor institutional support, and entrenched stigma, and calls for greater investment in their professional development.

In this presentation, Dr Mahmoud Abdallah explores the emergence of Islamic spiritual care in Germany as a response to gaps in traditional family- and community-based support. He examines its academic and social value for Muslim communities and considers its relationship to established theological disciplines such as fiqh, Qur'anic studies, and Hadith studies.

In this presentation, Dr Mahshid Turner explores a theologically grounded model for Muslim chaplaincy rooted in the Qur'anic concepts of fitrah, the primordial covenant (alast), and the Divine Names and Attributes. She proposes that chaplains can help individuals "read" life events, relationships, and suffering as signs of Divine communication, offering a pastoral approach that works across diverse and pluralistic contexts.

In this presentation, Zeynep İrem Çeven explores how Ibn al-ʿArabī's understanding of emotions as spiritual states (aḥwāl) can inform a psychoeducational model for Muslim mental health care. She reframes emotions such as fear, sorrow, and joy as meaningful signals inviting reflection rather than problems to be corrected, offering practitioners a way to address distress without pathologisation or moral judgment.

In this presentation, Dr Sulaimon Owoseni explores the tension between religiously-motivated service (khidmah) and work-related exhaustion among Muslim care practitioners. Drawing on mixed-method research with around 200 Muslim professionals, he proposes an Islamic ethical model of care—grounded in ṣabr (patience), amānah (trust), and mīzān (balance)—that honours service without sanctifying self-neglect.

In this presentation, Professor G. Hussein Rassool explores how Islamic spiritual practices—such as dhikr, murāqabah, duʿāʾ, and tawakkul—can be integrated into established therapeutic modalities including CBT, EMDR, and trauma-informed approaches. He also examines the ethical dilemmas this integration raises, from role confusion between therapist and religious authority to the risks of misinterpreting sacred texts or reinforcing guilt and shame.

In this presentation, Dr Nazila Isgandarova explores the bio-psycho-social-spiritual (BPSS) model of Islamic spiritual care, tracing its roots to Ibn Sina's (Avicenna's) biopsychosocial framework and older traditions of "medicine of the heart." She examines how integrating Islamic theology with contemporary psychology and social science can strengthen the effectiveness of this model in addressing mental health and spiritual distress among Muslim clients in hospitals, schools, and correctional institutions.

In this presentation, Dr Faten El Skafi explores how licensed Muslim psychologists in Lebanon integrate religiosity and spirituality into their clinical practice. Combining a systematic literature review with semi-structured interviews, she investigates the ethical dilemmas practitioners encounter and the strategies they use to preserve professional integrity, with a view to informing culturally sensitive training and guidelines.

How can a 7th-century tragedy like Karbala still shape the way millions understand war, injustice and resistance today?In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore the enduring power of Ashura and the story of Karbala across Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. The conversation begins with the idea of Karbala as ever-present, a story lived rather than merely remembered, woven into names, daily speech, and a shared moral language of standing with the oppressed. We consider how rituals are politicised from the bottom up rather than simply imposed from above, the meeting of nationalism, martyrdom, and religion, and how the latmiya has shifted from a language of mourning into one of mobilisation and resistance in a time of war.We also look at the impact of social media on how a new generation engages with pilgrimage and ritual, and ask whether Karbala is becoming the lens through which all political struggle is understood. Throughout, the discussion returns to a central insight: no one owns the narrative of Karbala, and its meaning is constantly negotiated between states, communities, and individuals.Zahra Ladha is a Middle East analyst and writer. Fluent in Arabic and Persian and holding an MSc in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Oxford, her research focuses on Iran, Iraq, transnational Shiism, and Muslim diasporas. Her reporting examines the intersection of ritual, politics, and collective memory across the region.Audio Chapters: 0:00 – Highlights 3:07 – Ever-Present Karbala 7:35 – The Politicisation of Rituals 13:50 – Muharram in Iran vs Iraq 16:14 – Latmiya, Resistance & the Ashura Narrative 25:29 – Karbala & Social Media 29:35 – Karbala & Geopolitics 37:56 – Memory, Politics & Ritual 42:34 – Thinking Islam Question

Was there such a thing as modern Islamic art? In this seminar, delivered at Al-Mahdi Institute on 29th April 2026, Professor Gallois challenges the dominant view that colonialism brought Islamic visual culture to an end. Instead, he argues that the colonial period produced some of the most sophisticated and spiritually rich art in Islamic history — much of it deliberately hidden from imperial eyes.In this seminar, you'll discover:- Why aniconism (the avoidance of the human figure) is largely a 19th-century Western invention, not a timeless feature of Islam- How the Murīdiyya Sufi order in Senegal turned image-making into direct anti-colonial resistance — and why French authorities ordered Islamic engravings destroyed- The hidden fifth dome in a Tunisian watercolour later appropriated by Paul Klee, and what it reveals about the Islamic concept of the bāṭin (the hidden)- Why Muḥammad ʻAbduh's famous 1904 fatwā on images may have narrowed rather than enriched Islamic visual culture- How Muslim artists encoded religious identity in plain sight — in marketplace domes, reverse glass paintings, and devotional imagery — under conditions of empire

Were the Shi'as of colonial India at the periphery of the Shi'i religious universe, or did they develop an autonomous identity of their own? What were their hopes and fears about the creation of Pakistan?In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore the themes of Professor Justin Jones's landmark book Shi'a Islam in Colonial India. The conversation begins by challenging the assumption that Iran and the shrine cities of Iraq form the sole heartland of Shi'ism, and traces the indigenous character of Indian Shi'ism after the fall of Awadh in 1856. We discuss the rise of madrasas, the different categories of ulama and Indian mujtahids who provided autonomous leadership without always looking westward, the consolidation of the Shi'a as a distinct qaum rather than a firqa, and the question of political quietism in their relationship with the British Raj. The discussion then turns to the Pakistan Movement, where Shi'a presence in the Muslim League sat uneasily alongside the deep apprehension that Pakistan would become a "Sunnistan," and the striking alliance between Indian Shi'as and Ambedkar's untouchable movement, where Imam Husain emerged as a universal model for social justice and the struggle against oppression.Professor Justin Jones is a historian of Islam in modern South Asia at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on religious revitalisation, the remaking of religious authority, and the social history of Muslim communities in the subcontinent. His work on Shi'i Islam has opened scholarly conversations on Shi'i religious thought, community formation, and politics from the fall of Awadh to independence in north India.Audio Chapters:0:00 – Highlights01:52 – Why Shi'a Islam in South Asia06:31 – Indian Shi'as in the Shi'i Religious Universe14:00 – Relation with Najaf and Qom25:00 – Role of Ulama and Mujtahids41:27 – Shi'as as a Separate Qaum55:10 – Shi'as and the Pakistan Movement1:03:30 – Imam Husain, Untouchables, & Freedom1:13:43 – Ghulats, Usulis, & Akhbaris in India1:22:00 – Decline of Shi'ism in India?1:32:11 – Thinking Islam Question

Is political power built on institutions or on the stories we choose to believe?What is Islamism, and how do political narratives shape power in the Muslim world?In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr Fatemeh Sadeghi explores Islamism, political narratives, and how storytelling shapes political power and legitimacy. Drawing on both Islamic intellectual traditions and modern social theory, Dr Sadeghi examines how narratives do more than describe reality - they actively shape it. From early Islamic history, where hadith and sīra were used to legitimise authority, to contemporary movements such as Islamism and the far right, we uncover how political stories mobilise people through promises of justice, salvation, and belonging. We also examine the decline of Islamism as a compelling narrative, and the “melancholic condition” it has left behind in many Muslim societies—a space marked by disillusionment, yet still open to new possibilities. The conversation raises a profound question: if all political and even religious commitments are mediated through stories, what kinds of narratives are needed today to sustain hope, dignity, and meaningful collective life?Dr Fatemeh Sadeghi is a sociologist and political theorist at the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity. Her research explores political imagination, gender, and the role of narrative in shaping social order and legitimacy, offering a powerful lens for understanding the moral and political crises of our time.Audio Chapters:00:00 - Highlights01:20 - What is a Narrative?03:05 - Political Narrative: Stories That Shape Power06:39 - Two Kinds of Narratives13:19 - Good vs Evil: ‘Us and Them'17:17 - Isn't the Quran doing the same thing?23:00 - Nostalgia as a Response to Colonialism30:00 - Can some Narratives Cause more ‘Legitimacy'?36:10 - Living Through a ‘Melancholic' Moment40:25 - Islamism Moved from Theology to Power43:24 - What Comes After Islamism as a New Narrative?48:30 - Who Creates Narratives when Knowledge is Democratised?56:30 - New ‘Islam' narratives are still grounded in Morality01:00:50 - Thinking Islam Question

Can Christian majority societies and Muslim communities find common ground on some of the most contested issues of our time?In this research seminar, Professor Robert Wintemute, Professor of Human Rights Law at King's College London, explores a compelling framework of reciprocal tolerance: if Christian-majority societies continue to legally protect visible Muslim religious practices, can Muslim communities in turn come to accept the secular legal recognition of same-sex marriage?Drawing on landmark case law from the UK, France, Canada, the United States, Germany, and South Africa, Professor Wintemute examines how courts have navigated the tension between institutional neutrality and religious accommodation — from disputes over the niqab and jilbab to the banning of religious symbols in French schools and Québec's public sector. He then turns to the rapid global expansion of same-sex marriage — now legal in 38 countries — and asks what a genuinely pluralistic society might look like when competing rights claims are taken seriously on all sides.Audio Chapters:00:00 Introduction03:12 Majority Acceptance of Visible Muslim Diversity03:24 The Birmingham Case That Changed UK Law10:41 Religious Accommodation in Canada, USA & South Africa13:51 France, Europe & the Secularism Debate24:48 Quebec: Canada's French Exception29:00 Give & Take: Same-Sex Marriage30:08 Criminalisation vs. Recognition Worldwide32:15 Muslim Acceptance of Secular Same-Sex Marriage

Is Imam Ali a source of division or the grounds for friendship among Muslims?How did a man who asked that his killer's ropes be loosened in his dying moments become the most contested figure in Islamic history?In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore Dr Hassan Abbas's acclaimed book, "The Prophet's Heir" through the lens of a policy maker and conflict resolution scholar. Drawing from both Shi'a and Sunni sources, Dr Abbas tells the story of Imam Ali not as a sectarian narrative but as a bridge between traditions. We examine the political dynamics of Saqifa, Ali's radical economic justice, the bias in Western scholarship of Islam, and the paradox of a warrior whose defining qualities were dialogue, selflessness, and forgiveness. In his final moments, struck by a poisoned sword, Ali asked that his killer be treated well, a measure of the justice and forgiveness that Dr Abbas argues makes Ali's legacy not a source of division but a possibility for renewal and unity.Dr Hassan Abbas is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at the National Defence University in Washington, D.C. and a senior adviser at Harvard University's Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs. His research focuses on countering political and religious extremism, rule-of-law reforms, and the intersections of security, politics, and faith in South Asia and the Middle East. "The Prophet's Heir: The Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib," published by Yale University Press, has been widely praised across traditions.Audio Chapters: 0:00 – Highlights 01:32 – Writing a Book on Imam Ali 8:04 – Using Both Shi'a and Sunni Sources 17:23 – The Bias in Western Scholarship 25:35 – An Uncritical Version of Imam Ali? 32:00 – Saqifa Through the Lens of a Policy Maker 43:47 – Did the Companions Fail the Test? 51:28 – Imam Ali as a Diplomat 56:45 – Imam Ali & Economic Justice 1:07:15 – Imam Ali, Dialogue & Egalitarianism 1:16:02 – Imam Ali's Legacy 1:21:05 – Thinking Islam Question

How does listening to the Qur'an differ from reading it? What does it mean to approach the Qur'an not with your mind but with your whole existence?In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr Abdolkarim Soroush proposes an existential encounter with the Qur'an, one that asks us to set aside our assumptions and approach it not as a book of law or philosophy but as maw'iẓa (admonition) that speaks to the whole being. This conversation explores the difference between reading and listening, why Rumi's Mathnawi is called the Persian Qur'an, and what it means to have a pure heart as a precondition for understanding the Qur'an. We delve into how kufr in the Qur'an is not about non-belief but about arrogance before truth, and why, as Dr Soroush tells us, the companion according to Sufis is everything.Dr Abdolkarim Soroush is a distinguished philosopher of religion and a leading voice in Islamic intellectual reform. A Visiting Scholar at the University of Maryland and former Professor at the University of Tehran, he has held visiting positions at Harvard, Princeton, and Yale Universities. Dr Soroush is renowned for his influential work on prophetic experience and his contributions to contemporary Islamic philosophy and Qur'anic hermeneutics.Audio Chapters:0:00 - Highlights01:30 - Relation between Qur'an & Its Reader07:20 - Uneven depth of the Qur'an13:09 - Reading vs Listening to Qur'an24:44 - Existential Reading of the Qur'an32:36 - Losing the Sense of Maw'iza in Translation39:33 - Rumi's Mathnawi: A Persian Qur'an44:50 - Pure Heart & Qur'an49:17 - Love & Companionship 55:19 - Is Qur'an not a Kitab?58:32 - Thinking Islam Question

Who writes Islamic history — empires and rulers, or ordinary believers?In this research seminar hosted by AMI on 14 January 2026, Dr Hassan Abbas presents insights from his forthcoming book project, A People's History of Islam. Challenging state-centred and court-sponsored historiography, Dr Abbas explores Islam through the lived faith of pilgrims, mystics, poets, and everyday communities across centuries.Drawing on extensive travels to major pilgrimage sites — from Fez, Konya, and Baku to Lahore, Karbala, and Makkah — the seminar highlights how oral tradition, spirituality, and devotion preserve histories often absent from official archives. Dr Abbas also reflects on the role of mysticism alongside juridical tradition, the challenge of writing accessible yet rigorous scholarship, and the problem of sectarian framing in Western representations of Islam.Speaker:Dr Hassan Abbas is a Distinguished Professor of International Relations based in Washington, DC, and a Senior Advisor at Harvard University's Project on Shi'ism and Global Affairs. He is the author of The Prophet's Heir (Yale University Press) and several other widely cited works on Islam and global affairs.

Can mourning become a pathway to the divine? Has the modern world sanitised death, and does Muharram insist we don't look away?Drawing from his forthcoming book Senses of Mourning, Dr Babak Rahimi of UC San Diego asks a question many have wondered, but few have explored: why do Shi'as keep mourning? This episode reveals mourning not as passive grief but as active devotion, a technique for connecting to God through the body, the senses, and collective memory. We explore how modernity's devotion to pleasure has pushed death to the margins, how Muharram insists we confront what modern life conceals, and why the senses are not obstacles to the sacred but pathways toward it. From the festive dimensions of grief to the standardisation of ritual by state and digital platforms, this conversation moves through the space where philosophy meets performance, and where the body becomes a site of hope.Dr Babak Rahimi is an Associate Professor of Communication, Culture and Religion at UC San Diego, where he directs the Program for the Study of Religion and the Middle East Studies Program. His research focuses on sensory religion, public sphere theory, and the historical contexts of early modern Islamicate societies. He is the author of "Theatre-State" and "The Formation of the Early Modern Public Sphere in Iran" (Brill, 2011) and editor of "Performing Iran" (I.B. Tauris, 2021).Audio Chapters: 0:00 – Highlights 01:30 – Why Muharram Performances? 5:50 – Mourning as Religiosity? 18:06 – Mourning as Technique 26:02 – Muharram as Festive Events 36:01 – Role of Senses in Muharram Devotion 46:14 – Panja and Symbolism 51:00 – Memory as a Sense? 57:00 – Gender and Muharram Performances 59:50 – Self-Flagellation as Performance? 1:06:40 – Muharram and the Other 1:11:00 – Why Western Thinkers? 1:19:40 – Modern World and the Sense of Smell 1:24:27 – Digital and the Standardisation of Muharram Rituals 1:38:28 – Thinking Islam Question

Dr Nisha explores how digital technologies are reshaping religious life in contemporary India. Challenging the strict divide between the secular and the religious, she argues that digital media has given rise to new hybrid forms of belief, practice, and spiritual experience.

This talk critically examines transhumanism and AI through the lens of Christian theological anthropology. Professor Valčo contrasts visions of technological “optimization” with religious understandings of embodiment, vulnerability, and communion, offering an alternative ethical vision for the digital future.

This talk centres Black women's digital religious leadership through a Womanist lens. Rev. Dr Gladden explores how digital rituals, online worship, and algorithmic systems intersect with justice, creativity, and resilience in contemporary faith communities.

Drawing on major UK and European research projects, this talk explores how digital spaces are reshaping Muslim religious authority, identity, and practice. Professor Cheruvallil-Contractor examines how different generations navigate faith across online and offline worlds.

This presentation critiques transhumanist visions of remaking humanity through technology. Rev. Anyanwu examines how such ideas challenge religious understandings of human nature, divine providence, and moral limits in an age of rapid technological enhancement.

This talk explores how classical ethical traditions and religious philosophy can respond to the growing moral challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Drawing on Buddhist thought and contemporary philosophy, Dr Maurya examines whether AI threatens human agency and how ethical frameworks might help safeguard humanity in an increasingly automated world.

This presentation examines Islamic apocalyptic thought in relation to modern technological change. Professor Mirza explores how digital culture, scientific worldviews, and rapid social transformation shape Muslim imaginaries of the future, offering a balanced theological response beyond fear or utopianism.

This joint presentation investigates how large language models influence Catholic theology and moral reasoning. Karr and Conwill examine how AI systems can blur doctrinal distinctions, while also considering how faith-based ethical frameworks might guide responsible religious uses of AI.

Focusing on the work of Romano Guardini, this talk examines how modern technology reshapes human power, faith, and social structures. Professor Vila-Chã reflects on the loss of authentic human experience and considers how religious thought can help address the dehumanising tendencies of modern technological systems.

Professor Campbell analyses how internet memes shape public perceptions of religious communities. She explores how humour, stereotypes, and digital culture can reinforce religious bias, while also highlighting how faith communities can critically engage and respond.

Professor Fatemi introduces the concept of the “Cyber-Leviathan” to describe the totalising power of digital surveillance and algorithmic governance. From an Islamic ethical and theological perspective, he argues for rethinking human rights and moral responsibility in order to protect human agency in the digital age.

Professor Reed addresses the ethical challenges of weapons control through Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. She explores how shared moral resources can contribute to contemporary debates on warfare, accountability, and emerging military technologies.