Archive for May, 2025

1.Hybrid: The Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo (IASA), is pleased to announce a lecture by Mr. Jason Browning (Indiana University-Bloomington / IASA).

The talk will argue that Ibn ʿArabī was familiar with substance-less, accidents-only atomic theories promoted by such earlier scholars as Ḍirār ibn ‘Amr (ca. 728-815 CE) and chose to fashion them into his own innovative, esoteric atomic theory. The event will be held in a hybrid format, with online participation available via Zoom.

Lecture Title:

Ibn ‘Arabī’s Endorsement of Accidents-Only Atomism and His Esoteric Addendum

Speaker:

Mr. Jason Browning (Indiana University-Bloomington / IASA)

Profile: https://ceus.indiana.edu/people/graduate/doctoral/browning-jason.html

Date:
Thursday, 26 June 2025, 18:00–19:30 (JST)

Venue:
Room 304, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (Tōyō Bunka Kenkyūjo), University of Tokyo and online via Zoom

Abstract:

Ibn ‘Arabī is often referred to as a “mystic-philosopher,” but such attributions typically overlook the fact that he was quite rigorous and astute in his critiques of Islamic philosophical and theological traditions. In this talk I will demonstrate that Ibn ‘Arabī’s criticism of Ash‘arī atomism amounts to an endorsement of the competing atomism of Ḍirār ibn ‘Amr (ca. 728-815 CE) and those influenced by him. After drawing out the idiosyncracies of Ibn ‘Arabī’s scholarly methods and writing style, it will become evident that he undoubtably knew of substance-less, accidents-only atomic theories and chose to fashion them into his own innovative, esoteric atomic theory.

How to Participate:
(1) In-person attendance: No prior registration is required. Please note: The institute’s entrance doors will no longer be accessible from outside after 18:00. We recommend arriving before that time. A contact telephone number for those arriving late will be posted at the entrance.
(2) Online attendance: Please register at https://forms.gle/ETF5cb6oog3r1vt39. A Zoom link will be sent by noon (JST) on the day of the event.

This lecture is organized by the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo.

Note:

Mr. Browning’s lecture will be preceded by a lecture by Professor Fuat Dündar, entitled “Re-Examining Ottoman Migrations in Light of Hikiagesha Researches.” For more information, please visit the IASA website.

Contact Info:
Kazuo Morimoto
Email: morikazu[at]ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

 

 

 

 

2. A full scholarly translation of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi’s Kitab al-tawhid, translated as The Book of Monotheism by Prof. Tahir Uluç has been published by Ibn Haldun University Press.

The book can currently be purchased online from Turkey at this link: https://www.kitapyurdu.com/kitap/kitb-altawd-the-book-of-monotheism-2-cilt/721004.html.

 

 

 

 

3. The Latin America and Caribbean Islamic Studies Newsletter

Vol. 5, no. 2 | Spring 2025

https://mailchi.mp/b1e2aa2b8d58/latin-america-caribbean-islamic-studies-newsletter-vol5-no2

 

 

 

 

 

4. Renaissance Society of America – Islamic World discipline representative would like to invite paper proposals for the following three sponsored panels:

* Histories, Materials, Myths: Perceptions and Depictions of the Distant Past:

https://www.rsa.org/forms/FormResponseView.asp?id=1347254A-6557-43ED-B606-CC2BE85EFAB5

* Presence in Absence, Absence in Presence: Excavating Labour in the Early Modern World:

https://www.rsa.org/forms/FormResponseView.asp?id=182E297E-4701-4F50-9C36-6CF0A8AC29D3

* Out of Sight: Early Modern Depictions and Narratives of the Unseen:

https://www.rsa.org/forms/FormResponseView.asp?id=F66DED93-4700-4AF2-B308-076238A8AE8E

Contact Email

saygin.salgirli@ubc.ca

 

 

 

 

5. The Fons Vitae Tafsir – Quran Commentary Series

NOW ALSO AVAILABLE in PDF & eBOOK formats: Up until now, these fundamental tafasir have remained out of reach for many English speaking Muslims (and non-Muslims). Among the most important sources for understanding the Qur’an are the tafsir works, commentaries on the Qur’an, which help to properly explain and contextualise the Revelation. VIEW ALL COMMENTARIES…

The series aims to make widely available the leading exegetical works in translation for study and research in unabridged form, which are faithful to the letter and meaning of the Arabic.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Postdoctoral Research Associate (Arabic and Hebrew Sources)
King’s College London
The Department of History at King’s College London invites applications for one 2-year (24 month) Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to work on the project ‘ECOMEDS: Economic and cultural connections within Mediterranean ecosystems, c.1250-c.1550’ (a UKRI Frontier Research Grant, previously ERC). The primary objective of PDRA (Arabic and Hebrew Sources) is to collect information regarding the production, consumption and trade of four target commodities (coral, honey, citrus and cheese), especially with regard to Muslim and Jewish communities.
Deadline | 1 June 2025
More information

 

 

 

 

 

7. Research Associate

Newcastle University
The post holder will produce trilingual digital resources for parents and Early Years practitioners on supporting early oral language development in young Arabic-speaking children. These include training materials on the importance of early oral language development, guides for using language assessments in Arabic, French and English, and guides for professionals on interpreting language outcomes and advising families on the next steps.
Deadline | 4 June 2025
More information

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. 2025 Mohamed Ali Foundation Fellowship Lectures
Lecture | Durham University & Online | 11 June 2025

The Mohamed Ali Foundation and Durham University’s Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies present two free public lectures that place Abbas Hilmi II and the archive of this last khedive of Egypt in context. This year’s two visiting fellows are Dr Will Hanley and Dr Mohamed Abdou.

More information

 

 

 

 

 

9. Kurdish Studies Conference
Conference | London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | 11-13 June 2025
Organised by the LSE Middle East Centre and the University of Sheffield, this conference will disseminate and discuss the latest research on Kurdish politics and society. Alongside panel discussions, the conference will feature a keynote lecture by Professor Hamit Bozarslan and a film screening of All The Mountains Giveby Arash Rakhsha.
More information

 

 

 

 

 

10. Rise, Habibi
Exhibition | The Crypt Gallery, London | 28 May-15 June 2025
In partnership with Saqi Books & Shubbak 2025, Radical Love’s ‘Rise, Habibi’ showcases the groundbreaking poems of 30 Arab & Muslim women writing over 1,000 years ago, taken from Saqi’s cult collection ‘Classical Poems by Arab Women’ translated by Abdullah al-Udhari.
More information

 

 

 

 

 

11. Al Jaliah | Magazine for Arab and Arab-Diasporic Affairs

An initiative coming from the Arab-Brazilian diaspora has recently been launched in March, 2025. Al Jaliah – Magazine for Arab and Arab-Diasporic Affairs is directed by Gustavo Racy and Yara Osman and is devoted to the discussion of topics related to the Arab-World and its diasporas. Reviving the original journal published in São Paulo by Sami and Beny Racy (Gustavo Racy’s great-grandfather and great uncle), the initiative aims at bridging the gap between MENA and its diasporas. The magazine is published in Portuguese, Arabic, and English and is completely independent. While building its first steps, and working towards its monetization, the organizers launched its experimental number 0, with content produced by professors, scholar and artists from Brazil, Lebanon, Syria, and Bahrain. The magazine also publishes extra content on its blog and has a continuous open call for those interested in collaborating.
The content, including the first issue of the journal, the blog, and collaboration form, may be checked on www.aljaliahbr.com.

 

 

 

 

12. BRAIS 2025 at the University of Cambridge (Monday 30 June – Tuesday 1 July): Places still available

With just over a month to go before our Tenth Anniversary Conference at the University of Cambridge, we wanted to encourage any members who are planning to attend to register as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment.

We have a truly rich and diverse two-day programme in store this year, celebrating the depth and breadth of Islamic Studies. The full programme can be viewed here: https://www.brais.ac.uk/conferences/brais-2025

We are honored to be welcoming Professor Sayed Farid Alatas (National University of Singapore), Professor Recep Şentürk (Hamad Bin Khalifa University) and Professor Amira Bennison (University of Cambridge) for our opening keynote panel, generously sponsored by Islamic Courses and the Centre for Islamic Knowledge.

Our closing keynote welcomes the research team from the ESRC-funded project ‘Digital British Islam‘ to share their fascinating research findings with us.

To register online for BRAIS 2025 click here: https://www.brais.ac.uk/conferences/brais-2025/brais-2025-delegate-registration

 

 

 

 

13. A Persian-English Translation Workshop: Hafez’s Ghazal 103

Workshop with Philip Grant (University of La Verne)

Friday, June 06, 2025

02:30 PM – 04:30 PM PST

Bunche 10383 & Online

Organized by UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies, co-sponsored by UCLA Iranian Studies

https://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/event/17247

 

 

 

 

14. Max Planck Research Group Leader (W2) to Head the “Centre of Expertise for the Law of Arab and Islamic Countries”, Hamburg

Your profile: You have an outstanding legal education and have earned a doctoral degree with distinction.

You are an expert on law of Arab and Islamic countries, and you have a strong academic interest in private international law and comparative law. Arabic should be a working language for you; proficiency in Persian is an asset. You are fluent in English and are willing to learn German.

Deadline for applications: 30 June 2025. Information: https://mpi-privatrecht-hh.softgarden.io/job/56325252?l=de

 

 

 

 

15. Articles on “Spirituality in the History of Iran and Islam” for a Special Issue of the Journal “Spektrum Iran”

This journal is published by the Cultural Consultation of Iran in Germany in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in Social Health and Development (Tehran, Iran): Themes: Historical and Theological Foundations. – Philosophical and Ethical Perspectives. – Practical Models of Spiritual Care. – Cultural and Social Dimensions. – Artistic and Literary Expressions. – Contemporary Issues and Future Directions.

Deadline for manuscripts: 30 June 2025. Information: https://www.spektrumiran.com/

 

1.Workshop for PhD Candidates: “Researching, Writing and Publishing on Gender, Culture and Society: Upskilling Early Career Researchers in Türkiye”, British Institute at Ankara (BIAA), 23-24 October 2025 and 23-24 March 2026

This project aims to support final year PhD candidates and researchers who completed their PhD within the last five years from universities across Türkiye working in interdisciplinary gender studies. Participants will gain insight into writing for publication and applying for grants with editors of leading international journals and publishers of academic monographs. Participants will also be assigned a mentor who will support them to write an article suitable for publication.

Deadline for applications: 13 September 2025. Information: genderwritingworkshops@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

2. 16th Conference of the “European Association for Modern Arabic Literature (EURAMAL): “Catastrophe and Beyond: Representations of Violence and Trauma in Modern Arabic Literature”, University of St Andrews, 22-26 June 2026

The conference will explore how Arab writers engage with the different forms of violence and trauma that have shaped Arab modernity and how their work can be seen as an attempt to depict catastrophe and imagine a future beyond it. A special panel will be dedicated to Arab authors resident in the UK. The languages of the conference are English, Arabic and French.

Deadline for abstracts: 1 September 2025. Information: https://euramal.org/ & https://euramal.org/contact/join/

 

 

 

 

 

3. Applications are now open for the inaugural Āthār wa ashʿār course, to be held at the University of Tübingen in October, 2025.

This year’s course will comprise a practical, hands-on approach to basic and advanced features of al-Maktaba al-Shāmila (Shamela 3.6) and a variety of digital tools for Arabic and Islamic Studies, with a special focus on poetry. The course is open to all researchers, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates and is free to attend.

Venue: University of Tübingen, Germany (in person only) 

Dates: October 6-9, 2025

Āthār wa ashʿār is free to attend for accepted applicants, who will be responsible for arranging their own transportation and accommodations (lunch will be provided on days of the course). Participants must have full command of English and proficiency in reading Arabic; no prior experience with Shamela is necessary. Accepted applicants will be provided a guide with links to download the software and practice using it before the course. Please note that seats are limited.

Participants will learn how to:

o effectively use basic and advanced features of Shamela 3.6

o use Acrobat wizards to build bookmarked PDF collections

o synchronize a cloud-shared digital library with Shamela

o add new titles to Shamela, and customize the interface

o navigate the major critical editions of pre- and early Islamic poetry

o effectively use indexes of printed Arabic dīwāns

o locate biographical and genealogical data for poets, tradents, etc.

o work with the Shīʿī and Ibāḍī versions of Shamela, OCR applications, and other online and

desktop too

Equipment: Since Shamela 3.6 is not compatible with Mac devices, participants must bring long a PC (Windows 10/11) device with at least 25 Gb of available storage, and with the full version of Adobe Acrobat Pro/DC installed. A personal cloud subscription, such as OneDrive (recommended) or Google Drive, is optional.

Applications should include:

o A letter of motivation, including a brief statement confirming that the applicant will have

the required equipment and software when attending the course.

o A curriculum vitae

Application Deadline: June 30, 2025

Instructor: Raashid S. Goyal (University of Tübingen)

As seats are very limited, those interested are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Applications and all questions may be submitted to Dr. Shuaib Ally (shuaib.ally@uni-tuebingen.de).

 

 

 

 

 

4. The second printing (2025) of the book below, in a limited edition, is once again available.

The Inscription in Old Persian Cuneiform of the Achaemenian Emperors:

In Persian, English and French.

By: Rev. Ralph Norman Sharp

Introduction by: St John Simpson

https://www.mazdapublishers.com/book/inscriptions-in-old-persian-cuneiform

 

 

 

 

5. Mossadegh Foundation Lecture Series, University of Geneva: From Cypress to Platanus: Trees in the Persian Arts, Literature and Cultural Memory

Trees have long held profound symbolic, religious, and literary significance in the Iranian world, a tradition that dates back to the Achaemenid Empire. One of the most emblematic examples is the cypress tree, closely associated with divine kingship in the Zoroastrian tradition. In this context, the cypress symbolizes the legitimate sovereign as a divinely sanctioned patron of the faith. Among these revered trees, the most renowned is the Cypress of Kashmar, located in the Balkh-i Bami district of Tarshiz, Khurasan. This tree occupies a pivotal place in the foundational narrative of Zoroastrianism, commemorating the conversion of King Gushtasp by the prophet Zarathustra. An inscription carved into its trunk marks this seminal moment, celebrating the king’s acceptance of the “good religion” and his role as its earthly protector.

During the Islamic period, arboreal symbolism continued to thrive in Persian cultural production. Trees came to embody not only natural forces but also metaphysical and philosophical ideals, enriching Persian poetry and visual culture. They appear throughout the literary canon—from the epics of Ferdowsi and the courtly verses of Farrokhi Sistani to the mystical works of Jami and Saeb Tabrizi—serving as metaphors for kingship, divine love, spiritual inquiry, and the cyclical passage of time.

In parallel with this literary tradition, trees feature prominently in Persian visual arts, including illustrated manuscripts, album paintings, carpets, textiles, metalwork, and ceramics dating from the tenth to the late nineteenth century. Often depicted alongside blossoming peach and almond trees, they serve to frame romantic encounters, battle scenes, and royal pursuits. In urban design, the symbolic and aesthetic role of trees is also evident: cityscapes incorporate tree-lined avenues, gardens like the Chenaristan, and architectural elements such as pavilions and portals adorned with stylized or naturalistic arboreal motifs in tile and ceramic work.

This one-day international symposium seeks to adopt a multidisciplinary perspective in reassessing the cultural and artistic significance of trees in Persian history. Rather than treating trees solely as ornamental components within the Chahar Baghor other garden typologies, this event foregrounds them as central subjects of inquiry in their own right. Topics will include the literary prominence of trees, their symbolic and philosophical resonances in Persian art and architecture, and their ideological meanings as conveyed through textual and visual sources.

Hosted by the University of Geneva, the symposium will bring together ten scholars from Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Presentations will draw from diverse fields, including material and intangible cultural heritage, literary studies, art history, and philosophy, offering an enriched and nuanced understanding of arboreal imagery in the Iranian cultural sphere. A second round of the conference is scheduled to take place at the Centre for Iranian Studies at the University of Hamburg in 2026 under the direction of Professor Shervin Farridnejad.

PROGRAM

Thursday, June 17, 2025

9:30–10:00 | Welcome and General Introduction

Negar Habibi and Shervin Farridnejad

10:00–12:00 | Trees in Persian Material Culture from the Twelfth to the Nineteenth Century

A Motif In Between: Trees as Central Decorative Elements on Iranian Mina’i and Lustre Ware Bowls

Richard McClary, University of York

Beneath the Garden Tree: Specimen Tree Forms in Persian Manuscript and Carpet Designs
Moya Carey, Chester Beatty Library

Between Branches and Meaning: The Silent Language of Trees in Persian Lacquer Painting
Elika Palenzona-Djalili, University of Bern

12:00–13:30 | Lunch

13:30–15:30 | Arboreal Imagery in Persian Illustrated Manuscripts and Visual Culture

Verdant Thrones: The Tree as a Symbol of Authority in Persian Painting
Negar Habibi, University of Geneva

Rooted in Splendour: The Meaning of Trees in Timurid Gardens as Represented in Illustrated Manuscripts

Shiva Mihan, British Museum

The Poet Sarv: Thriving as a Motif in the Literary and Visual Cultures of the Safavids
Mahroo Moosavi, Max-Planck Institute, Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz

15:30–15:45 | Break

15:45–17:00 | Trees in Contemporary Iran

When Roots Remember: The Tree as a Place of Memory in Iran

Sepideh Parsapajouh, CNRS-CéSor

Dissemination or Pruning: The Figure of the Tree in the Novels of Shahrnoush Pârsipour and Nasim Marashi

Julie Duvigneau, INALCO

17:00–18:00 | Keynote Lecture

Blossoms on Fire, Branches of Wisdom, and Trunks of Desire: Trees and the Human Condition in Medieval Persian Poetry

Domenico Ingenito, UCLA

18:00–18:15 questions

18:15-18:30: Conclusion

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Private Visit to the Ariana Museum and its Persian Collection (for speakers only)

Contact Information

Department of Art History, University of Geneva

Salle 211, Bâtiment des Philosophes

Contact Email

Negar.habibi@unige.ch

 

 

 

 

6. International Journal of Islamic Architecture 14.2 is out now

For more information about the journal and issue click here>>

https://www.intellectbooks.com/international-journal-of-islamic-architecture

 

 

 

 

7. NMAA Online Program – Beyond Babur’s Gardens: A Symposium in Honor of Elizabeth Moynihan – June 3–5

Join the National Museum of Asian Art from June 3 to 5, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT daily for Beyond Babur’s Gardens: A Symposium in Honor of Elizabeth Moynihan. Registration is free and open to the public here.

Inspired by the groundbreaking work of Elizabeth Moynihan (1929–2023), this online symposium explores how ecological concerns and heritage imperatives have impacted the ways we study, view, and reconceptualize historical gardens.

In her long career as researcher, historian, and author, Elizabeth Moynihan left a profound impact on the study of Mughal gardens in South Asia. Her pioneering work includes extensive research on Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, and publications such as Paradise as a Garden in Persia and Mughal India (1979) and The Moonlight Garden: New Discoveries at the Taj Mahal (2000), among others. In 1996, Moynihan also directed a joint project for the Archaeological Survey of India and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, now the National Museum of Asian Art.

A rich collection of Moynihan’s work has been compiled online in the Elizabeth Moynihan Resource Gateway. It includes her research of the Lotus Garden in Dholpur, the Jai Mahal Garden in Jaipur, Mehtab Bagh (Moonlight Garden) in Agra, and many other Mughal gardens. It also contains correspondence, field notebooks, drawings, sketchbooks, photographs, slides, rock specimens, blueprints, maps, and published articles.

Beyond Babur’s Gardens brings together experts in Mughal art and garden history from around the world. Each day will be centered around a theme: Garden Poetics and Planting; Mughal Gardens in Cultural and Environmental Context; and Conservation, Ecology, and Heritage Management. With a geographic focus on South Asia, Iran, and Central Asia, presenters will discuss topics including garden design, the sensorium, water and climate, rewilding and restoration, and sustainability. In addition to the Elizabeth Moynihan archives, they will synthesize interdisciplinary sources—from poetry and literature to art history and archaeology.

This symposium will weave together the stories of plants and gardens from the sixteenth century to the present day and consider how lessons from gardens past can revitalize efforts to preserve environmental and cultural heritage for the future.

Speakers include:

• Farshid Emami, Rice University
• Kathryn Gleason, Cornell University
• Rachel Hirsch, Harvard University
• Sahar Hosseini, University of Pittsburgh
• Ali Akbar Husain, Independent Scholar
• Ebba Koch, University of Vienna
• Pradip Krishen, Author and Ecological Restoration Practitioner
• Ratish Nanda, Aga Khan Trust for Culture, India
• Laura Parodi, Università de Genova
• Sugata Ray, University of California, Berkeley
• Nicolas Roth, Independent Scholar
• Jyoti Pandey Sharma, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
• James Wescoat, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (emeritus)

Please visit the program page for more information.

This program is made possible by a generous gift from Farhad and Mary Ebrahimi.

Contact Information

Lizzie Stein

Freer Research Center

National Museum of Asian Art

Contact Email

FreerResearchCenter@si.edu

URL

https://asia.si.edu/research/beyond-baburs-gardens/

 

 

 

 

8. Should Blood Blend with Milk:  A History of Incitement to Vengeance in Arabic Poetry from Jahili Voice to Militant Jihadist Verse

D Fakhro

Brill, 2025

https://brill.com/display/title/71953

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Oxford Interfaith Forum – Online: ‘Friends of the Devil: Rebellion and the Construction of Early Islamic Caliphal Sovereignty’

29 May, 2025, 6pm UK time

Abstract: Between the eighth and tenth centuries, Muslim caliphs deemed rebellions against their rule as the work of Satan. In the Umayyad (661-750 C.E.) and Abbasid eras (750-1256), several government letters referred to any group who challenged caliphal authority as awliyā ʾ Iblīs (friends of the Devil). Government officials adapted qurʾānic conceptions of the Devil to legitimize the caliphs’ authority as God’s deputies. However, this political-religious conception of the Devil has continuity with the political theology of late antique Christian Roman emperors who used similar language for those who threatened their rule. In this talk, I trace this genealogy of the Devil and his supposed human allies as the caliphate’s archenemies in government letters written for the Umayyad caliphs Hishām b. ʿAbd al-Malik, and Marwān II (r. 744-750), and the Abbasid caliphs, al-Maʾmūn’s (r.  813-833), and al-Radī’ (r. 934–40). By closely examining these official letters, I will reveal in this talk how understanding this political framing of the Devil offers us key insight into the tense construction of early Islamic sovereignty.

Speaker: Dr Mohammed Allehbi is a Mohammed Noah Research Fellow at the Oxford Center of Islamic Studies.

Date: 29 May, 2025

Time: 18:00-19:00 BST | 19:00-20:00 CEST | 10:00-11:00 PST | 13:00-14:00 EST

Venue: online

More information and registration: https://oxfordinterfaithforum.org/thematic-international-interfaith-reading-groups/philosophy-in-interfaith-contexts/friends-of-the-devil-rebellion-and-the-construction-of-early-islamic-caliphal-sovereignty/

 

 

 

 

10. Events on Islam and the Middle East around Cambridge University – Online

Thu 29 May

Reconfiguring and Appropriating Arabic, Persian, and Indic Literary Traditions in Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Britain: Orientalism and the Recreation of the Islamicate Canon

Dr Claire Gallien, Dr Majid Daneshgar, Dr Michele Petrone

ONLINE

11:00am – 12:30pm Uk time

 

 

 

 

 

11. Fully funded PhD fellowship at Ghent University within the framework of the ERC Consolidator Grant project “KNOW: Polymathy and Interdisciplinarity in Premodern Islamic Epistemic Cultures (1200-1800)”.

We welcome proposals related to the intersections between Islamic law (fiqh) and medicine (tibb), broadly conceived. Possible areas of inquiry include: the intellectual and professional profile of jurist-physicians; the overlap and divergence between legal and medical casuistry; institutional and social contexts in which legal and medical knowledge were produced, debated, and applied; the role of interdisciplinarity in addressing complex ethical, bodily, or forensic questions.

For details and instructions on how to apply:

PhD position: https://www.ugent.be/en/work/scientific/doctoral-fellow-31

Project website: https://erc-know.ugent.be/en

The deadline for applications is June 15, 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

12. Zoom – The Oxford Seminars in Cartography 2024-25

Thursday 29 May – “Unmapping Africa in the Age of the Enlightenment”

Online event             Petter Hellström (Uppsala Universitet)

Seminar runs from 4.30pm to 6.00pm (UK time) via Zoom Webinar

Join via: https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/tosca

 

1.The University of Edinburgh – Teaching Fellow in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Vacancy

https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/12516

Closing date: 17/06/2025, 23:59

 

 

 

 

 

2. Arash Ghajarjazi, Remembering ʿUmar Khayyām: Episodes of Unbelief in the Reception Histories of Persian Quatrains, Berlin: De Gruyter, 2025. (see https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111626017/html?srsltid=AfmBOooksJSvTLcblM9WuJCSimQksQd4Db9ec9KmswUfRrHnM1ic4M8a and https://beyondsharia.nl/2025/05/08/book-talk-remembering-khayyam-in-modern-iran/)

 

 

 

 

 

3. Kings and Dervishes

Sufi World Renunciation and the Symbolism of Kingship in the Persianate World

S A Arjomand

University of California Press, 2025

https://www.ucpress.edu/books/kings-and-dervishes/hardcover#table-of-contents

 

 

 

 

 

4. The Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures (NESA) at The Ohio State University is hiring a full-time lecturer (non-tenure track) in Arabic culture for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is a one-year position with the possibility of renewal. The position will involve teaching eight (8) courses in Arabic culture, literature, and/or language in-person, with the possibility of some courses online. Required: Master’s degree or PhD in Arabic language or a related field. Preference will be given to applicants who are highly proficient in both Arabic and English; have demonstrated excellence in teaching Arabic culture, literature, and/or language courses at the college level; and have experience using technology to enhance undergraduate learning.

For more information: https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Lecturer-in-Arabic_R128740-1

 

 

 

 

5. The American University of Beirut (AUB) Press announced the latest addition to the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Series on Arabic and Islamic Texts and Studies: a groundbreaking study titled Poetry and Spiritual Insights: A Study and Edition of Kitāb al-Shawāhid wa-l-Amthālby Abū Naṣr al-Qushayrī (d. 514/1120), presented by Professors Bilal Orfali, Ramzi Baalbaki, and Francesco Chiabotti.

Based on the Ayasofya 4128 manuscript from Turkey, this volume illuminates Qushayrī’s influential work, renowned for embedding Sufi teachings within the framework of adab—a synthesis of literary and ethical traditions—appealing to scholars and general audiences alike.

This publication brings to light the role of Kitab al-Shawāhid wa-l-Amthāl in weaving Sufism into the cultural and scholarly landscape of medieval Islam. Qushayrī’s innovative use of both oral and written forms to communicate Sufi doctrines, blending poetry with accessible language, effectively “translated” complex mystical concepts for the literati and religious scholars of his time. “This work, which took over a decade to complete, offers a crucial lens on Sufi poetry’s unique role in bridging the mystical and the literary,” shared Orfali.

Through Kitab al-Shawāhid, readers are invited to explore how Sufi teachings evolved within the sophisticated intellectual society of Nishapur, enriching the tradition’s adaptability and resonance across audiences. Baalbaki underscores the value of publishing Arabic manuscripts as “an essential contribution to preserving the textual heritage of Islamic culture,” while Chiabotti highlights Kitab al-Shawāhid‘s significance within Sufism, “a spiritual tradition with profound global impact and relevance.”

The authors’ meticulous study of Kitab al-Shawāhid not only provides an essential resource for understanding the dynamics of language, spirituality, and adaptation in medieval Islamic society but also advances scholarly discourse on the enduring legacy of Sufi poetry within Islamic culture.​

The book will be launched during the 66^th Beirut Arab International Book Fair during May 2025. For further details on this volume and other titles in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Series, please visit the AUB Press official website.

To purchase the book, check:

www.aub.edu.lb/aubpress/Pages/shawahid.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

6. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

in the School of Modern Languages & Cultures, Durham University 

The School of Modern Languages & Cultures at Durham University invites expressions of interest from outstanding candidates who wish to apply for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship through Durham University.

Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham gathers together our eight language areas (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hispanic Studies, Italian, Japanese and Russian) and Translation Studies, working within and across these to enable interdisciplinary investigations. Four areas of particular strength characterise our research activities: Medieval and Early Modern Studies;

Digital, Environmental and Medical Humanities; Translation; Visual and Performance Studies. We welcome enquiries from eligible candidates particularly those related to the key research themes in the department (https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/research/groups/ ), or to relevant Research Centres and Institutes (https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/research/centres-institutes/).

Candidates are invited to contact a prospective mentor in the School in the first instance (https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/about-us/our-people/#d.en.466981), with an up-to-date CV and summary of their research proposal (1 A4 page max) by 13 June 2025. If the mentor agrees to support your application, candidates will be supported through an internal review process ahead of submission to the external funder by 10 September 2025.

Further information, including details of eligibility criteria, can be found at: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/how-to-apply

For any informal enquiries, please contact Dr Amaleena Damlé at amaleena.damle@durham.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

7. The Book of Sana’a

Edited by Laura Kasinof

Comma Press, 2025

https://commapress.co.uk/books/the-book-of-sanaa

 

 

 

 

 

8. The editorial board of MELA Notes, the official journal of the Middle East Librarians Association (MELA), invites submissions for a special issue dedicated to exploring the history and legacy of pioneer libraries and archives, as well as the contributions of influential librarians and bibliographers in the field of Middle East Studies.

This issue seeks to illuminate the foundational roles these institutions and individuals have played in shaping scholarship, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting research across the region.

We seek original short articles and entries (minimum 3,000 words) that examine the development, impact, and historical significance of libraries, archives, librarians, and bibliographers across the Middle East. Submissions may focus on:

• Underrepresented or lesser-known research libraries and archives that have contributed to local or regional scholarship, as well as the broader field of Middle East Studies
• Major national or institutional libraries and archives that have significantly influenced academic research, public knowledge, or cultural preservation
• Institutions notable for their stewardship of rare manuscripts, archival collections, or unique primary sources
• Case studies of libraries and archives that have played pivotal roles in the development of the field of Middle East Studie, bibliographic innovation, or international scholarly collaboration
• Biographical or critical studies of influential librarians, bibliographers, or information professionals whose work shaped library collections, research practices, or bibliographic knowledge in the field of Middle East Studies

We welcome interdisciplinary approaches and encourage contributions from scholars, librarians, archivists, and practitioners engaged in Middle Eastern studies, library and information science, archival studies, manuscript studies, and related fields.

Submission Guidelines

• Length: Submissions must be a minimum of 3,000 words
• Language: Submissions must be in English
• Formatting: Please adhere to the journal’s Guidelines for Contributors, which include instructions on formatting, transliteration, and citation style
• Peer Review: All short articles and entries will undergo double-anonymous peer review
• License: Accepted pieces will be published under a CC BY 4.0 license

Important Dates

• Submission of Abstracts Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025
• Submission of Full Short Articles and Entries Deadline: Monday, August 11, 2025

Please submit your abstract and, later, your manuscript through the MELA Notes submission portal.

Ensure that your final submission includes your name, institutional affiliation, and current mailing address at the conclusion of the text, if you expect to receive offprints.

For inquiries or further information, please contact:

Farshad Sonboldel,

Editor-in-Chief, MELA Notes

University of California, San Diego Library

Email: fsonboldel@ucsd.edu

 

 

 

 

9. Yale Library seeks a highly collaborative, knowledgeable, and user-centered Catalog/Metadata Librarian to join the Bibliographic Description Unit within Special Collections Technical Services, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Reporting to the Associate Director of the Bibliographic Description Unit, the Catalog/Metadata Librarian creates, enhances, and maintains original and complex bibliographic and authority records for a wide range of special collections materials in various formats. They may plan, direct, and review the work of cataloging assistants and/or student assistants and provide project management for cataloging and metadata projects. The incumbent will collaborate closely with colleagues across functional units and throughout special collections and the Library in support of the sustainable stewardship and discovery of special collections materials.

Required Skill/Ability 1:

Excellent reading and writing knowledge of Arabic.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

Fluency in Persian, Coptic, Syriac, Turkish, or Armenian. Academic training in Islamic studies or Middle Eastern studies. Experience with Arabic script paleography. Special collections cataloging experience according to AACR2, RDA, and/or Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (DCRM). Record of involvement or desire to engage with special collections and other cataloging communities.

https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?partnerid=25053&siteid=5248&PageType=searchResults&SearchType=linkquery&LinkID=14124655#jobDetails=1597879_5248

Questions? Please contact Michelle Al-Ferzly:  michelle.alferzly@yale.edu

Curator, Yale Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

 

 

 

 

10. Summer School on Digital Humanities for Islamic Studies

Date: September 1, 2025 – September 4, 2025
Location: Switzerland
Subject Fields: Digital Humanities, Islamic History / Studies

The University of Bern is pleased to host a four-day summer school on Digital Humanities for Islamic Studies, designed for early-career researchers working with Arabic-script materials. This course provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with digital tools and methodologies, engage in scholarly exchange, and explore the latest developments in the field.

The program will feature expert-led sessions by renowned scholars in the field:

• Alicia González Martínez (University of Hamburg)
• Maxim G. Romanov (University of Hamburg)
• Peter Verkinderen (Aga Khan University, London)

Participants will explore key topics such as text digitization, computational analysis, data modeling, and digital corpora, with a focus on Islamic and Arabic-script historical sources.

Application Process

Due to the practical nature of the sessions, on-site participation is limited to 20 participants. Interested candidates must apply by Friday, June 13, 2025, by submitting the following documents:

Motivation Letter (explaining research interests and how the course aligns with them)
Curriculum Vitae (max. 3 pages, highlighting major achievements)
Additional Supporting Documents (if applicable, indicating previous experience in the field)

Format: All documents must be submitted as a single PDF file named “LastName_Name_Bern_IslamicateDH2025”

Submission: Send your application to Sefer Korkmaz at sefer.korkmaz@unibe.ch

Financial Support

A limited number of (partial) scholarships are available for participants who are unable to secure funding from their institutions. If so, please add a statement in your motivation letter specifying that you are also applying for financial support for the travel costs and not only for admission to the summer school.

Scientific Board

Prof. Tobias Hodel
Prof. Serena Tolino

Additional Information

The final program and reading list will be shared with accepted participants. More details will be available soon on the official webpage: University of Bern Summer Schools (https://www.unibe.ch/studies/programs/summer___winter_schools/index_eng.html)

For inquiries, contact organizers:

Sefer Korkmaz (sefer.korkmaz@unibe.ch)

Ilyes Mechentel (mohamed.mechentel@unibe.ch)

Please, find the flyer in this link: https://networks.h-net.org/system/files/attachments/2025summerschoolislamicateflyerv4-kopyasi.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Call for Papers

The AHRC-Funded First International Conference of the Syrian Academics and Researchers’ Network in the UK (SARN UK)

18-19 September 2025 | University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom

The Syrian Academics and Researchers’ Network in the UK (SARN-UK) and the Middle East and North Africa Centre at Sussex (MENACS), in association with SARN UK’s partner, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) will co-host SARN UK’s first international conference, which is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

We are pleased to announce that our call for papers is now open. In addition to submissions aligned with the conference theme, ‘Rebuilding Syria: Reflections, Innovations and Collaborations’, we welcome papers on a range of topics related to Syrian culture, art, history and politics.

We accept individual as well as co-authored paper proposals.

Please complete this form to submit your proposal by 23.59 (BST) on 20 June 2025.

If you have any queries, please write to Feras Alkabani at f.alkabani@sussex.ac.uk

Conference Themes

Rebuilding Syria: Reflections, Innovations and Collaborations

The collapse of the 54-year Assad dictatorship on 8 December 2024 took the world by surprise. For many Syrians, this was a dream that eventually came true after 14 years of a bloody struggle that left much of the country in ruins.

Yet Syrians continued to work, resist and rebuild. Now more than ever, Syrians need to come together to share, discuss and envisage their future and that of their country.

This interdisciplinary conference invites academics and researchers working on Syria from within the UK and around the world to share their latest research in their areas of expertise to reflect, innovate and collaborate on rebuilding the new Syria.

Themes may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

• The role of education in the rebuilding process
• Historical approaches and imaginative futures
• The role of art and music in healing and building bridges
• Transitional justice
• Civil liberties, gender relations and sexuality in civic society
• Diasporic connections and intercultural innovations
• Reflective storytelling in literature, art, cinema and dance
• Political plurality and civil society
• Cross-sectarian dialogue
• Multiple identities and belonging
• Syrian culture and soft power

Hardship Fund

We are not charging a registration fee, thanks to our AHRC fund.

We expect scholars with institutional affiliations to request funding to cover their travel and accommodation expenses from their institutions where possible.

However, we may be able to help cover (some of) the travel and/or accommodation costs for a small number of successful UK-based speakers up to a limited maximum total of funds (to be determined later).

But please note that this is the exception (not the norm). We, therefore, encourage you to seek external funding to pay for your travel and accommodation costs if you need to.

Best wishes,

SARN UK

 

 

 

 

 

12. Applications Open for Fall 2025 M.A. in Kurdish Studies

Zahra Institute is delighted to announce the opening of applications for our M.A. Program in Kurdish Studies. The deadline for applications for the Fall semester is 15 July 2025. The online, two-year M.A. program consists of 31 credits and welcomes full-time and part-time students.

The Master of Arts in Kurdish Studies is the first of its kind in the United States. It provides access to the language and cultures of approximately forty million Kurds, a Middle Eastern people living in Kurdistan and beyond, spread across the borders of several modern states and linguistic and cultural zones. It focuses on the humanities aspects of Kurdish Studies including history, literature, music, visual arts, and cinema.

For Fall 2025, we offer the following courses: Approaches to Kurdish Studies, History and Literature of the Kurds, Religion in Kurdish Society, and Kurmanji and Sorani Kurdish language courses.

Zahra Institute offers both M.A. and Certificate in Kurdish Studies. Kurdish language courses can be taken as electives in the M.A. program, or as standalone courses. In addition, we offer M.A. and Certificate in Critical Muslim Studies.

For application information, please visit our website: www.zahrainstitute.org.

 

 

 

 

13. AKU-ISMC’s Short Course on Governing Diversity: Toronto and London

The Aga Khan University (International) in the UK, in collaboration with the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum, is pleased to offer an in-person short course in Toronto and London. 

Governing Diversity: Engaging with a Complex World

This thought-provoking course explores how different states – from the Roman and Mughal Empires to modern Europe and North America – have approached ethnic and religious diversity. Through a mix of historical case studies, participants will examine how communities saw themselves represented (or not) in state structures, how they managed internal affairs, and how leadership balanced community needs with state demands.

Highlights include:

• Comparative analysis of minority experiences across time and geography
• Insights into legal, political, and demographic impacts on diversity
• A study session at the Aga Khan Museum
• Reflections from the local Ismaili community on historical lessons for today

Full Programme Agenda for Toronto Here. 

Full Programme Agenda for London Here. 

Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the final version will be emailed to all registered participants before the event.

Toronto Programme Details 

Date

September 16 – 12:00 pm EDT

September 18 – 5:30 pm EDT

Location

The Ismaili Centre, Toronto

49 Wynford Drive Toronto, ON M3C 1K1 Canada

London Programme Details 

Date

November 4  – 12:00 pm GMT+1

November 6 – 5:30 pm GMT+1

Location

The Ismaili Centre, London
Cromwell Gardens, London, SW7

Register at:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/governing-diversity-engaging-with-a-complex-world-tickets-1259761022129?aff=oddtdtcreator – for Toronto

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/governing-diversity-engaging-with-a-complex-world-tickets-1343696114249?aff=oddtdtcreator – for London

 

 

 

 

 

14. A Sufi Commentary on the Tao Te Ching: The Way and Its Virtue

Sufi commentary of Tao Te Ching by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

https://fonsvitae.com/product/a-sufi-commentary-on-the-tao-te-ching-the-way-and-its-virtue/

 

 

 

 

15. Postdoctoral researcher: “Genealogies of ‘humanity’ in Islamic charity’”

for the ERC project ‘Entangled Universals of Transnational Islamic Charity’, based at Leiden University.

The deadline for applications is 15 June. 

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/vacancies/2025/q2/15669-postdoctoral-researcher-genealogies-of-humanity-in-islamic-charity

 

 

 

16. HYBRIDE Atelier-rencontre avec Mehdi Berriah (Ifpo) autour de l’ouvrage “The Medieval Jihad. Texts, Theories, and Practices”, Mehdi Berriah et Abbès Zouache (eds.), IISMM, Paris, 18 juin 2025, 13h00 – 15h00 CET

Loin d’être une simple réaction de l’islam à la croisade ou d’être une idéologie monolithique déclinant un droit de la guerre imposant des normes de comportement à l’ensemble des acteurs sociaux, le jihad est un phénomène revêtant de multiples dimensions : religieuse, jurisprudentielle, idéologique, militaire, politique, économique, sociale, culturelle et littéraire. C’est à ces multiples dimensions que les auteurs de cet ouvrage ont été invités à réfléchir.

Information : https://iismm.hypotheses.org/files/2025/05/Affiche-IISMM_RencontreMBerriah.pdf .

Inscription : https://tinyurl.com/5zjrka5w

 

 

 

 

 

17. Conference “Pius XII and Decolonization: Catholicism in North Africa and the Levant, 1939-1958”, Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo, 10-11 November 2025

Key questions: What role did the Catholic Church – both as an institution and as a diverse religious community – play in decolonization? How did Vatican diplomacy interact with local clergy, indigenous populations, and political movements? To what extent were these interactions shaped by competition, hybridization, and exchange? The con-ference aims to critically engage with newly available sources, prioritizing transnational perspectives and highlighting the agency of marginalized actors.

Deadline for abstracts: 10 June 2025. Information: https://iismm.hypotheses.org/files/2025/05/Cfp-Cairo.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

18. Postdoctoral Research Associate (2 Years) in the Project “Economic and Cultural Connections within Mediterranean Ecosystems, c. 1250 – c. 1550” (Arabic and Hebrew Sources), King`s College London

Qualification: PhD qualified in relevant subject area. – Good research skills in historical methods e.g. the ability to carry out relevant research, including the relevant linguistic, bibliographic, and, if necessary, palaeographic skills. –

Ability to work with late medieval/early modern sources in Arabic and/or Hebrew and an understanding of the relevant communities under study, their history and historiography.

Deadline for applications: 1 June 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/mtb8a7j7

 

Islamic Perspectives on God and (Other) Monotheism(s)

The ISBN is 978-1-915550-05-7 (hardback) and 978-1-915550-06-4 (paperback).

FROM MANUSCRIPT TO CARPET: THE TALKING TREE MOTIF IN THE SERVICE OF SAFAVID SUFI DISCOURSE

The presentation will highlight the formal and conceptual interrelations among two inscribed grave rugs (preserved in Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum, Inv. T113; and Cincinnati, Cincinnati Art Museum, Inv. 1953.24); three dispersed illuminated folios of Jāmī’s Yusuf va Zuleykhā and Sa’dī’s Būstān (introduced by Christie’s, 2012 Live Auction 6537; and 2010 Live Auction 7871); and an illustrated manuscript of Niẓāmī’s Khamseh (Hazine 788), all attributed to Safavid workshops. Central to this exploration is the motif of the Talking Tree, which emerges as a dominant visual element across these works.

The discussion will focus on how this decorative motif, the literature, and the woven words interact, and how the motif evolves into a symbol that serves the Sufi discourse within the Safavid Shi’i context.

Register here.

1.Syrian-Kurdish Intersections in the Ottoman Period

Eds., Stéfan Winter and Zainab HajHasan

U Toronto Press, 2024

https://utppublishing.com/doi/10.3138/9781487554408

 

 

 

2. American University – Beirut – Post-Doctoral Position: “Americas and the MENA Region” (American Studies/History)

https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=68767

 

 

 

 

 

3. The World History Association (WHA) would like to extend its call for proposals for sessions and papers presenting original research and pedagogical techniques for its annual conference this year in Louisville, KY (June 26-28, 2025).

While the overarching themes of the conference this year are Protest, Prohibition, and Pugilism, the WHA welcomes any topic involving world-global dimensions, including transnational, transcultural, interreligious, international and the like (see https://pretalx.com/wha2025/cfp). The WHA provides a unique opportunity to share research and pedagogy beyond our own respective fields in a mutually supportive interdisciplinary setting.

Proposals are welcome from graduate and doctoral students, scholars, teachers, and other qualified experts around the world. Proposals may take the form of:

Organized Panels (three to four panelists, one chair, and optionally, one discussant) – each paper should be a maximum of 20 minutes in length for three panelists; papers should be a maximum of 15 minutes in length for four panelists

Individual Papers (not part of an Organized Panel) – each paper should be a maximum of 20 minutes in length

Roundtable Sessions (between four to six participants) – five-minute opening statements from each participant followed by conversational dialogue with the audience

Workshop Sessions (between one to four participants) – these are hands on sessions on specific teaching techniques or practices that often include handouts, breakout sessions and/or assignment creation/reflection

Meet the Author Sessions – an excellent opportunity for exchanges between authors and audiences, including explanations of methods and suggestions for use

Innovative Sessions – innovative teaching, research, or other formats not outlined above Proposals from the fields of anthropology, geography, political science, literature, art history and criticism, digital humanities, other humanities and social sciences, as well as natural or physical sciences that address global historical change are also encouraged.

Each organized session should include a 250-word panel proposal and a 250-word proposal for each paper along with a short biographical statement for introduction by the session Chair. Individual papers and all other sessions should include a 250- word abstract and a short biographical statement for introduction by the session Chair.

PLEASE NOTE: Prearranged (organized) panels/roundtables/workshops are given priority in the program and receive earlier notification of acceptance. Individual papers will also be considered and, if accepted, are arranged into suitable panels by the Program Committee. Individual papers may receive later notice of acceptance, pending appropriate placement on panels.

Contact Email: info@thewha.org

 

 

 

 

 

4. Call for Submissions to an Edited Volume: Deadline July 1, 2025

“My Blood is Cheaper than Oil”: Arabic Literature and the Encounter with Petropolitics

How have 20th-century oil discoveries in the MENA region shaped the emergence of what came to be known as ‘Arab modernity’? How has modern Arabic literature reimagined domestic and social relationships with and through oil? And how have the increasingly precarious conditions of oil production, consumption, and theft over the course of a century transformed the Arabic literary imagination?

More than a material resource, oil is deeply entangled with the cultural production of home, nation, identity, race, religion, family, and legal status. Its presence permeates allegories, metaphors, literary genres, and framing practices. The violent traces of war and the haunting fumes of traumatic memory linger in the words and lacunae of Arabic literature. In Arabic discourse, oil has been both an evocative and lucrative symbol (of prosperity, modernity, war, and hegemony) and a material force shaping everyday life—driving urban development, education, the rise of civil society, the formation of a modern intellectual class, and traumatic phenomena such as epidemics, bodily deformities, forced migration, dispossession, and mass murder. Oil has also seeped into the domestic domain of literature, such as familial gestures, relations, affects, languages, and silences.

This edited volume seeks to center the narratives, affects, temporalities, and life worlds of oil in Arabic literature. From early encounters with oil discoveries and the rise of multinational petroleum industries to contemporary engagements with the aftermaths of petropolitics, the collection brings together diverse literary perspectives on oil’s profound impact on Arab cultures.

We invite chapter submissions for a peer-edited anthology on Arabic literature’s encounter with oil. Contributions may engage with Arabic poetry, short stories, or novels that explore the poetics and practices of oil culture in Arab spaces and their transnational ramifications. This call is open to a broad range of thematic and theoretical approaches. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Oil and migration, land dispossession, and diaspora
• Oil and archaeology, indigeneity, and monumental history
• Oil and war, coloniality, and environmental devastation
• Oil and transnationalism, globalization, and neoliberalism
• Oil and urban utopias/dystopias
• Oil as an archive and index of identity, race, and place
• Multisensory experiences of oil
• Memoirs of oil and empire
• Genealogies of oil
• Oil and the ecological nomad
• Storytelling through oil

Submission Guidelines:

Please send 250-word abstracts and a short bio to yhanoosh@gmail.com and yasminekhayyat@gmail.com by July 1, 2025. Notifications of acceptance will be sent within two weeks after the deadline. Full manuscripts (6000-10,000 words) will be requested by February 20, 2026. For any inquiries, feel free to contact the editors at the email addresses above.

Editors:

Yasmeen Hanoosh is Professor of Arabic Literature at Portland State University, as well as a literary translator and fiction writer. Her recent projects explore the politics of survival in Arab Detroit and the complexities of literary translation as a colonized subject. She recently co-edited Beyond Refuge in Arab Detroit (Wayne State UP, 2025) and a special issue of the Journal of Arabic Literature titled Cultural Production in Modern Iraq (Brill, 2025)

Yasmine Khayyat is Associate Professor of Arabic Literature at Rutgers University. Her work examines the intersections of memory, narrative, and the environmental and political histories of the Middle East. She is the author of War Remains: Ruination and Resistance in Lebanon (Syracuse UP, 2023), which examines the figuration of the ruin as a site of protest and resistance in contemporary Lebanese cultural production.

 

 

 

 

5. UCLA: Foreign in Two Homelands: Racism, Return Migration, and Turkish-German History

A lecture by Michelle Lynn Kahn (University of Richmond)

Thursday, May 22, 2025

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM PST

Bunche Hall 6275

Organized by the the UCLA Center for European and Russian Studies and UCLA Department of History

https://forms.international.ucla.edu/ApplicationForm.aspx?FtXwvukSD5-3qVJPRssUvxd3r2oMq1sscD4viEcgREY=

See

https://curis.ku.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/450132916/Research_Seminar_-_Shia_diaspora.pdf

for further information.