1.”Dissertation Award” of the Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies

Students who have completed English-language dissertations in any field of Islamic studies in or after 2024 are eligible to apply. Authors must submit their theses, along with letters of nomination from their dissertation advisors. Theses will be evaluated by a committee of senior scholars in Islamic studies and the winning entry will be awarded a cash prize of $1000.

Deadline for applications: 1 January 2026. Information: https://tokatinstitute.org/grants/dissertation-award

 

 

 

 

 

2. ‘One Hundred Thousand Greetings!

The Opening Section of Early Judeo-Persian Letters’

H Sheikh

Dabir, 11, 2024, 110-126

https://brill.com/view/journals/dbr/11/1-2/article-p110_5.xml

 

 

 

 

 

3. Articles for Journal “State Studies Quarterly (Focus Iran)”

Themes: States and modern technologies at global, regional, and national (Iranian) levels. – _The state and economic development in the world and in Iran today. – _The state and the processes of globalization, mediatization, and cyberization in the world and in Iran today. – _The state and democracy in the world and in Iran today. – _States and religious, ethnic, and racial identities in the world and in Iran today. Etc.

Deadline for submissions: 16 April 2026. Information: https://tssq.atu.ac.ir/news?newsCode=136&lang=en

 

 

 

 

 

4. Articles on “Muslim Women and Gender at the Margins” for a Special Issue of the “International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies”

Themes: Trans, queer, and non-binary Muslims. – Muslim women who are located outside of Middle Eastern and South Asian regions and culture contexts. Ahmadiyya, Ismaili and Shia women; Black Muslim women; Black African women living on the African continent; Latina Muslim women of any race; Muslim women in/from East Asian contexts; Rohingya and other refugee women and those in conflict zones; Muslim converts/reverts.

Deadline for submission: 1 December 2025.

Information: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions/special_issues/Muslim_women_margins

 

 

 

 

 

5. Modern Standard Arabic Workbook: Questions, Answers, and Practice

Ayman Ibrahim (Academia), Free PDF Download

With 20 expertly crafted lessons, including in-depth verb exercises, this workbook offers engaging puzzles, real-world vocabulary from the Bible and Quran, and famous Arabic texts to make learning meaningful. No prior knowledge needed – _just start practicing, check your answers, and watch your skills grow! Perfect for self-study or paired with Basics of Arabic for deeper insights. Form daily habits, craft sentences, and unlock the joy of Arabic fluency.

Information: https://tinyurl.com/5saxnpva

 

 

 

 

 

6. New Book on “Indo-Persian Elite in the Late Eighteenth to the Early Nineteenth Century” by Gulfishan Khan (Cambridge University Press)

This book explores the intellectual and literary engagements of the Indo-Persianate intelligentsia from the late-Mughal era to the early colonial period. It situates the writings of the Indo-Islamic elite within the broader context of the Mughal empire’s gradual decline and the British colonial ascendancy. Additionally, it examines Indian agency in shaping the Orientalist tradition.

Information: https://tinyurl.com/4s72hpyn

 

 

 

 

 

7. Documentary on Rumi and Shams (Part 1)
The documentaryShams and Rumi: The Twined Flames (Part 1), directed byDr. Bahman Solati, is now available here: https://youtu.be/11Jb1m6zHP8?si=qMGmQFy8jJfyX0RJ.

The interviewees are Leili Anvar, Manouchehr Anvar, Robert Darr, Kabir Helminski, Camille Helminski, Jane Lewisohn, Mahmoud Mostafa, Mehmet Serif Ozden, Omid Safi, Bahman Solati, and Navid Saberi-Najafi.

 

 

 

 

 

8. New Courses: Introduction to Early Judeo-Persian and Shahname

Introduction to Early Judeo-Persian: Jewish Letters from Xinjiang to Cairo
Dates:September 1–11
Application Deadline: August 24

This online course is designed for students interested in the early stages of th development of New Persian and its manuscript traditions. Aimed at MA and PhD students, it offers a comprehensive introduction to Early Judeo-Persian and its written culture. Participants will learn the Hebrew script used specifically for writing Persian and explore the earliest dated documents inNew Persian. We will delve into documents found in the Cairo Genizah, Xinjiang, and the Bamiyan Papers from Afghanistan.

The course also introduces the relevant academic literature and provides participants with the tools to work independently with these texts.

2. The Shahname: Introduction to the Iranian Epic (Weekly)
   Dates:September 12–October 31
   Application Deadline: September 4

This course is for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Shahname, Ferdowsi’s monumental epic of Persian kings. Through weekly two-hour sessions held every Friday, participants will engage in a close, analytical study of the language and structure of the Shahname. The course will equip students with the skills to work independently with the text and explore its classical, historical, and poetic dimensions. This time we will be reading the story of Rostam and Esfandyar.

I would be really grateful if you could share these courses with anyone who might be interested.

Update:
The Classical Persian through Living Books: Introduction to Persian Manuscripts online course, previously announced, has been rescheduled to begin on August 18 (instead of August 11). There are still two spots available.

Ferdowsi School of Persian Literature

Yerevan, Armenia

Website: www.ferdowsi.org

 

 

 

 

9. Zahra Institute:

Student Panel: Why Kurdish Studies?

Our first student panel “Why Kurdish Studies?” taking place on Zoom at 12 pm Central, this Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

Please join us to hear our students’ inspiring journeys, motivations, and experiences — and to find out why they chose to study at Zahra Institute.

📅 Wednesday, August 6

🕛 12PM Central (Chicago) / 1 PM Eastern

🔗 Register here

 

 

 

 

10. Routledge Handbook on the Sciences in Islamicate Societies

Sonja Brentjes, the editor of the Routledge Handbook on the Sciences in Islamicate Societies (2023), has posted the entire (nearly 900 page!) volume on her Academia.edu page: https://www.academia.edu/143240806/.

1.Islamic Texts Society (ITS)

New al-Ghazali Titles

We are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of

Al-Ghazali on Proper Conduct for Reciting the Qur’an

and

Al-Ghazali on Proper Conduct when Listening to Music 

and the Experience of Ecstasy.

These two new additions to our popular al-Ghazali series will be available to purchase from 15 September 2025.

Forthcoming Titles

 

 

 

 

2. Fons Vitae – al-Ghazali works

https://fonsvitae.com/product-category/sufism/al-ghazali/

 

 

 

 

3. Challenging Maps and Exploration: A Sunderland Collection Symposium

30 October, 2025, 9.30-4.00, London and online

Join us for a day of expert panels discussing the connections, historical and contemporary, between maps and exploration. This event is generously sponsored and co-organised by The Sunderland Collection and hosted by the Royal Geographical Society. It is free to attend and hybrid; prospective attendees must register to come in-person or online.

For each panel, speakers will present their thoughts on the theme via one or more maps. Then, the chair will lead the speakers through a discussion of the topic, followed by questions from the audience. At lunch, a table-top display of relevant maps will be shown in the Foyle Reading Room.

The panels will be filmed and made available online at oculi-mundi.com after the event.

Schedule

• 9.30am – Coffee/tea
• 10.00am – Panel 1: cartographic encounters with empire. Panellists: Ed Armston-Sheret (RGS), Sujit Sivasundaram (Cambridge). Chair: Katherine Parker (RGS-IBG).
• 11.15am – Break
• 11:30am – Panel 2: cartographic encounters with Indigeneity. Panellists: Michael Bravo (Cambridge), Rohini Rai (Brunel). Chair: Sana Murrani (Plymouth).
• 12.45pm – Lunch
• 2.00pm – Panel 3: cartographic encounters with contemporary exploring. Panellists: Felicity Aston and Phoebe Smith. Chair: Tom Allen (RGS-IBG).

Advance booking for this event is required. Please book here: https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/challenging-maps-symposium

Contact Information

Katherine Parker

Contact Email

k.parker@rgs.org

 

 

 

 

4. Latest issue of Arab Media and Society

https://www.arabmediasociety.com/post_issue/issue-38-summer-fall-2024/

 

 

 

 

 

5. CFP: The IV International Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Symposium on the History of Islamic Sciencewill take place in Istanbulon November 20–21, 2025, hosted by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University.

The main theme of this year’s symposium is “Islamic Geography and Maritime History.” The symposium will be held in person, and submission of an abstract indicates a commitment to attend. Presentations are welcome in Turkish, English, or Arabic.

Symposium Focus

One of the fields to which Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin dedicated considerable attention in his studies on the history of Islamic science was geography. In his seminal series “Geschichte des Arabischen Schrifttums,” Sezgin devoted six volumes exclusively to the history of geography and cartography, meticulously analysing Islamic contributions, particularly in mathematical geography, descriptive geography, human geography, cartography, and travel literature. He emphasised the significant impact of Islamic maps on the European cartographic tradition, underscoring the inseparable link between cartography and geographical thought, and highlighting its substantial influence on Western scientific heritage.

The organic link established among astronomy, geography, and maritime sciences in the Islamic world was a crucial driving force behind scientific progress. Beginning from the 9th century, this interdisciplinary knowledge was not limited to theoretical insights but materialised through instruments and methods such as celestial globes, astrolabes, terrestrial models, and maps.

A significant aspect of this accumulated knowledge is maritime practice and navigational expertise. Portolan charts, logbooks, ship models, compasses, and navigational instruments clearly demonstrate how Muslim sailors utilised applied geographical and astronomical knowledge. The maritime instruments and manuscripts catalogued and introduced by Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin vividly illustrate the scope and impact of Islamic maritime knowledge.

Framed within this historical context, the theme of this year’s IV International Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Symposium on the History of Islamic Science is “Islamic Geography and Maritime History.” The symposium aims to both preserve Prof. Sezgin’s scientific legacy and encourage new research in these fields.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit:

• An abstract (maximum 250 words)
• A short list of keywords (3–5)
• A brief CV (maximum 300 words), including your affiliation, academic rank, and one or two notable publications or achievements

Send your materials to:
📧 fs-ibtas@fsm.edu.tr no later than Friday, August 15, 2025

Accepted abstracts will be announced on August 25, 2025.

Topics of Interest Include (but are not limited to):

• Geography in Islamic Scientific Tradition
• Western-Islamic Geographic Encounters
• Terminology and Classification in Islamic Geography
• Islamic Geographical Schools and Traditions
• Leading Islamic Geographers and Their Works
• Geographical Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
• Islamic Cartography and Map-Making
• Maritime Maps and Portolans
• Cosmography and Its Relationship to Geography
• Travel Writing and Descriptive Geography
• Geography Education in the Islamic World
• Human and Economic Geography
• Digital Approaches to Islamic Geography
• History of Islamic Navigation and Maritime Sciences
• Navigational Instruments (Astrolabes, Sextants, Compasses)
• Maritime Manuals, Logbooks, and Guides
• Naval Organisation, Shipyards, and Technology
• Maritime Trade Routes
• Naval Strategy and Maritime Warfare
• Notable Muslim Mariners and Explorers
• Maritime Engineering and Education
• Preservation and Museology of Maritime Heritage

Additional Information

The symposium is open to scholars at all career stages. There is no registration fee. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered for accepted participants coming from outside Istanbul.

Contact Information

İlhami Danış – M. Sait Türkan
Email: fs-ibtas@fsm.edu.tr

Contact Email

fs-ibtas@fsm.edu.tr

URL

http://fuatsezginsempozyumu.fsm.edu.tr

 

 

 

 

 

6. Postdoctoral positions – Jaussen & Savignac archaeological programme

The Jaussen & Savignac archaeological programme is recruiting 4 post-doctoral contracts, starting in January 2026

The Jaussen & Savignac Archaeological Program is now accepting applications for 4 post-doctoral contracts (each lasting 2 years), starting in January 2026. Two of these postdoctoral fellowships are reserved for candidates from the Arab world

Work Environment
Dedicated to the development of archaeology and preventive conservation in the Arabian Peninsula and, more broadly, in the Arab-Muslim world, the Jaussen & Savignac Program is based at the Jaussen & Savignac Archaeological Researches Center, directed by Gaëlle Tallet, Professor of Archaeology of the Hellenistic and Roman East.
Presentation of the Position

The recruited post-doctoral researchers, starting on January 1, 2026, for a duration of two years, will contribute to the dynamic environment of the Jaussen & Savignac Archaeological Research Center by developing a research project within at least one of the six themes listed below. He or she will be expected to organize doctoral seminars and/or scientific events, and will be allocated a corresponding budget.

List of the themes :

• Environmental Heritage: Oasis Landscapes
• Conservation and Restoration in the Arabian Peninsula
• Archaeology 2030: Archaeology and New Technologies
• Arabian Peninsula: Cradle and melting pot of cultures and religions
• Arabian Peninsula:crossroads between the East, Africa and the Mediterranean
• Epistemology and Historiography of Archaeology and Conservation in the Eastern Regions.

The postdoctoral researcher will carry out their work as part of one of the six research units associated with the Jaussen & Savignac Archaeological Research Center including UMR 8215 Trajectoires, UMR 8167 Orient et Méditerranée, EA 4100 HICSA within its welcome team Conservation Restauration des Biens Culturels, UMR 7041 ArScAn and UMR 8068 TEMPS, under the direction of a professor of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University affiliated with ED 112 (Archaeology or Preventive Conservation). For more information about the affiliated research units and potential supervisors for your research project, please click here.

Candidate Profile
The selected post-doctoral researcher is required to have a PhD in Archaeology or Preventive Conservation.
There are no age or nationality restrictions for applicants.

Hiring process

Selection will be made on the basis of submitted applications, which must be received by October 2, 2025, at 4:00 PM (Paris time)
Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.
For detailed information on the application submission process, please refer to this file: Call for applications Jaussen & Savignac Postdoctoral 2026-2027

URL

https://jaussen-et-savignac.pantheonsorbonne.fr/en/news/call-applications-post-…

 

 

 

 

 

7. Islamic Medieval Wall Paintings: Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach

International on-line Conference, September 4-5, 2025

For the conference programme and to resister, see:

Conference web page: https://www.uni-bamberg.de/forensische-organik/imwp-tagung/ 

Conference Programme Times are provided in Central European Summer Time (UTC/GMT +2 hours)

Conference language: English

Conference Organizers:

Dr. Ana Marija Grbanovic, Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT), University of Bamberg

Dr. Agnieszka Lic, Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures, Polish Academy of Sciences

This conference is related to the Iranian Medieval Wall Paintings project funded by the German Research Foundation – the DFG, at University of Bamberg’s Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies – the KDWT (Applicant: Dr. Ana Marija Grbanovic).

URL

https://www.uni-bamberg.de/forensische-organik/imwp-tagung/

 

 

 

 

 

8. The new issue of Middle Eastern Literatures

The new issue of the Middle Eastern Literatures journal is now published on the MEL website and can be accessed here:

https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/came20/0/0

 

 

 

 

 

9. An artistic and spiritual retreat anchored in traditions of Arabic calligraphy and illumination: West African, Ottoman and Persian

October 2-6, 2025

Abiquiu, New Mexico

Arabic calligraphy as practiced around the world transcends the simple act of writing. As one early writer said of calligraphy, “If it was a flower, it would be a rose, if a metal, gold.” Another said, “The pen is the ambassador of intelligence, the messenger of thought, and interpreter for the mind.” This spiritual and artistic practice imbues the written word with life and beauty, so both the calligrapher and viewer alike may begin to embody the words and letters, their expression, and ultimately their meanings.

What earlier appreciation for this practice has failed to fully embrace is that all throughout the world the richness of Islamic calligraphy has flourished, in different regions that are both at the center and the periphery of Islam, with different schools finding their roots in the spirituality and the unique practice of Islam in each region. Today the Reed Society for the Sacred Arts and the West African Calligraphy Institute invite you to discover the diversity of the calligraphic form, to learn from practitioners, both of traditional schools and those at the frontiers of Islam, and to join a growing community of people who seek to increase human understanding and compassion through artistic expression. If, in the words of the American calligrapher, Mohamed Zakariya,“calligraphy is music for the eyes,” then we invite you to join us this October in Abiquiu, New Mexico for a beautiful symphony.

URL

https://www.musicfortheyes.com/

 

 

 

 

 

10. CfP: The Luminous and the Labyrinthine: Exploring Islamic Libraries of Pre-Modern Times

American University of Beirut, May 21-23, 2026

The Shaykh Zayed Chair for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut invites scholars to an interdisciplinary conference on the subject of pre-modern Islamic libraries. The study of libraries has emerged as a burgeoning subfield in scholarship on the pre-modern Islamic world in recent years. The purpose of this conference is to build upon this significant work, while also attempting to explore the numerous gaps that still exist in the exploration of such a rich but relatively young subfield in Islamic studies. The conference also hopes to shed light on the different scholarly approaches to pre-modern Islamic libraries, and to critically examine the various methodological and conceptual concerns surrounding their study.

Scholarship on individual libraries with apparently great significance has expanded greatly within the past two decades. But how are scholars to approach Islamic libraries as a type of institution – _broadly examined – _granting that such an approach is desirable to begin with? Conversely, how can the study of a single library reveal broader realities that may be generally applicable to other institutions of a similar kind? Then there are questions concerning the different varieties of Islamic libraries: the personal/private and the institutional, and among the latter group also distinctions between the standalone library and libraries belonging to larger complexes, especially mosques and madrasas.

Given the different types of libraries – _and the disparities between their geographical, physical, human, bibliographical and other characteristics – _the nature of their role(s) in pre-modern Islamic societies assumes a significant degree of complexity as a scholarly/historical question. As repositories of knowledge at the most basic level, their role in the transmission and preservation of learning has been much examined but not fully elucidated. Additionally, as spaces of scholarly exchange and socialization, and in which different social and institutional roles were crystallized, the human ecology of Islamic libraries has yet to be adequately explored as a matter of social history.

To what extent, for example, can pre-modern libraries of various types inform modern scholars of the formation and perpetuation of scholarly and/or literary canons? What discernible distinctions – _if any – _can be detected between such canons geographically and diachronically? Furthermore, what clues can the data available on libraries offer regarding prevalent reading practices? How were developments in textual and literary practices reflected in the development of libraries as institutions? Conversely, in what ways did the evolution of libraries influence the means and modes through which users interacted with texts and even books as material objects?

Other questions might assume a more structural or institutional focus, concerning issues of library staffing, the acquisition of books – _a pertinent element of which, of course, is the matter of how book owners built up their collections and the circumstances under which they chose to endow them in the first place – _besides circulation and copying, among other matters. Scholars are also invited to reflect on the different approaches to the study of pre-modern Islamic libraries, including detailed expositions of the particular types of sources used in their study, be they archival (eg. court records, registers, endowment documents) or narrative (chronicles, biographical compendia) sources.

We encourage scholars to explore any of the questions listed above, some combination thereof, or related matters pertaining to pre-modern Islamic libraries. Please submit an abstract (250-300 words) of your intended contribution and a short CV to bo00@aub.edu.lb and ta35@aub.edu.lb by 30/10/2025.

Contributions in English or Arabic are accepted. Our aim is to publish the conference proceedings in an edited volume, as part of the AUB Press’s Shaykh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Series, for which more information can be found at the following link: https://www.aub.edu.lb/aubpress/Pages/arabicstudies.aspx. Please do not hesitate to get in touch for general inquiries.

Organized by:

Tarek Abou Hussein

Bilal Orfali

 

 

 

 

 

11. The Picture Gallery (Nigāristān)

A Persian Moral Miscellany

Muʿīn al-Dīn Muʿīnī Juvainī
Translated by Edward Rehatsek
Edited by Gregory Maxwell Bruce

EUP, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. Illustrated Ottoman Cosmographies, c. 1550–1700: The World through Muslim Eyes

Bilha Moor

EUP, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Job Announcement: Assistant Professor of Modern Arabic Literature and Culture

UC Berkeley

Closing date: 15 Sept., 2025

https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05015

Questions may be directed to the search chair, Prof. Adam Benkato, <abenkato@berkeley.edu>.

 

 

 

 

 

 

14. ‘A Newly Discovered Jewish Persian Poet’,

Dabir, 11, 2024, pp. 1-17

David Gilinksy

https://brill.com/view/journals/dbr/11/1-2/article-p1_1.xml

 

 

 

 

 

15. Book Launch: The Production and Consumption of Non-Muslim Islams

NOTE: This book is openly accessible and downloadable via the following link:

The Production and Consumption of Non-Muslim Islams                           

Date and Time

Wedndesday 20 August 2025 17:00 – 19:00 PM (London).

Venue

Aga Khan Centre (Atrium Conference Room),
10 Handyside Street,
London N1C 4DN

Booking

The event is free, but booking is essential.

Register to Attend:

In-Person (Aga Khan Centre, London)
Register on Eventbrite

 

 

 

 

 

16. Symposium “Ethnographic Experiments from and with the Arab World”, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar, 15-16 December 2025

This symposium seeks to critically engage with classical epistemological debates in anthropology by locating them within the diverse intellectual traditions shaping the Arab world and its shifting geopolitical realities. These debates include, but are not limited to, questions of scale and distance, ethnographic excess, critique, ethnographic refusal and the limits and possibilities of comparison in anthropology.

Deadline for abstracts: 10 August 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/mrxfr7xp

 

 

 

 

 

17. “Arab Graduate Students Conference (AGSC)”, Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Doha, Qatar, 11-13 April 2026

The conference will provide Arab doctoral students and recent PhD graduates of the social sciences and humanities based at Western universities an open space to present papers based on their PhD theses and receive critical feedback and will give the participants an opportunity to better acquaint themselves with an Arab research agenda as well as to create collegial, professional networks within the Arab region.

Extended deadline for abstracts: 30 October 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2rbew865

 

 

 

 

 

18. Assistant/Associate Professor in International Relations Theory, Department of Political Science, American University in Cairo

A PhD is required at the time of appointment. Successful candidates should have an ongoing research and publication program and teaching experience. In addition to research and teaching, responsibilities include service to the Department and the University. Note also that candidates with experience in and familiarity with the North American higher education system are preferred.

Deadline for applications: 30 October 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/25czsp46

 

 

 

 

 

19. “Humanities Research Fellowships for the Study of the Arab World”, Research Writing Retreat (2 Weeks) at NYU Abu Dhabi

This retreat aims to foster a scholarly community for up to 8 scholars from around the world and to advance research projects in all areas of the Humanities related to the study of the Arab world, its rich literature and history, its cultural and artistic heritage, and its manifold connections with other cultures. Scholars will have the opportunity to work on any type of academic writing, including a research article, book manuscript, chapter or essay.

Deadline for applications: 30 September 2025. Information: https://apply.interfolio.com/167905

 

 

 

 

 

20. Assistant Professor for Contemporary Islam in the Americas, Department of Religious Studies, DePaul University, Chicago

We are looking for a candidate who specializes in Contemporary Islam in the Americas. Scholars working on critical approaches to gender and/or race are particularly encouraged to apply. We are interested in applicants from Religious Studies and allied disciplines whose research and teaching complement the interests and strengths of our interdisciplinary department.

Deadline for applications: 1 October 2025. Information: https://apply.interfolio.com/169330

 

 

 

21. Master’s Programme, ‘History and Societies of the Islamic World’

Freie Universitat, Berlin

The program focuses on the history, politics, religions, cultures, knowledge formations, and normativities of Islamic societies from the beginnings of Islam to the present with a geographical emphasis on West Asia and North Africa as well as Europe. The program is taught in English and there are no tuition fees.

Deadline for application: 15 August 2025. More information: https://tinyurl.com/463a7uxy

 

 

 

 

 

22. ONLINE Mediterranean Seminar on “Islamic Legal Texts: In Depth”, CU Mediterranean Studies Group, 11-14 August 2025

This Summer Skills Seminar introduces participants to Islamic law. The seminar is focused on developing the skill of reading Islamic legal texts as opposed to surveying Islamic legal doctrines. It is designed for beginners seeking to build their capacity to investigate Islamic law.

Extended deadline for registration: 4 August 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/y6b9jtcu

1. Zoom: The Forgotten German Civilians of Persia

Professor P Khosronejad will be sharing fascinating research on the forgotten German civilians from Persia who were interned in Australia during WWII. Discover the remarkable research, untold stories, cultural legacies and the powerful impact these families had on post-war.

This event will also feature Mrs. Helga (Girschik) Griffin, the only surviving female from this group, who will share personal memories of life in the Internment Camp.

Friday 1^st August 2025

Iluka Library 2-4 pm (Sydney time)

Online zoom link:

https://uws.zoom.us/j/82662853883…

Meeting ID: 826 6285 3883

Password: 388690

 

 

 

 

 

2. CfP: Text, Context and Interpretation: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Qur’an

Sharjah, April 8–9, 2026 | الشارقة في 8–9 أبريل 2026

Department of Arabic and Translation Studies (ATS) | قسم دراسات العربية والترجمة

American University of Sharjah (AUS) | الجامعة الأميركية في الشارقة

Abstract submission deadline: November 17, 2025

https://info.aus.edu/text-content-and-interpretationhttps://info.aus.edu/text-content-and-interpretation

 

 

 

 

 

3. Iran and French Orientalism

Persia in the Literary Culture of Nineteenth-Century France

J C Hartley

Bloomsbury, 2025

1.Submissions Open for BRISMES Conference Student Paper Prize

Submissions are currently open for this year’s BRISMES Conference Student Paper Prize. Established in 2021, this prize aims to support BRISMES student members in the development of peer-reviewed work. If you are a student member of BRISMES and presented a paper at the conference, please do consider making a submission!

Deadline | 17:00 (UK time) on Friday, 31 October 2025

 

 

 

 

2. Lecturer (Edu) in the History of the Middle East

School of Oriental and African Studies
SOAS are looking for a one-year replacement covering the History of the Middle East for a colleague who will be on research leave during the 2025-2026 academic year. You will be expected to teach and supervise UG and PGT dissertations on the history of the Middle East and related areas. The preferred candidate will hold a PhD in History or a closely related discipline and have gained some initial teaching and supervision experience. A strong commitment to innovative approaches to teaching and research and a collegial working style will be welcome.
Deadline | 27 July 2025
More information

 

 

 

 

 

3. Lecturer in Islamic Studies
King’s College London
The Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London is seeking to appoint a fixed-term Lecturer in Islamic Studies for 12 months, ideally starting 1 September 2025. You will contribute to co-taught undergraduate modules including Global Philosophy, Religious Traditions and God, and to a sole-taught third-year module, Philosophy of Religious Life. You will also contribute to MA modules, possibly ‘Asian Religions in Global Context’ and ‘Religion, Spirituality and Health’.
Deadline | 31 July 2025
More information

 

 

 

 

 

4. Call for Papers | Ethnographic Experiments from and within the Arab World

Symposium, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies

This symposium seeks to bring together scholars working in/on/from/with the Arab world who are engaged in developing innovative ethnographic practices and critical contemplations on broader epistemological concerns within the discipline of anthropology. In particular, we seek to bring scholars whose research agenda does not only emerge from the political and existential urgencies of the present moment, but who are also grappling with the incommensurability between the ethnographic practices of the discipline’s older generation of scholars and the contemporary crises shaping this present moment.

Deadline | 10 August 2025

More information

 

 

 

 

 

5. Call for Applications | Global Innovation Fellowship: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Fellowship, The British Academy

The objective of the Global Innovation Fellowships is to provide opportunities to UK-based early and mid-career researchers from across the humanities and social sciences to develop their skills, networks and careers in the creative and cultural, public, private and policy sectors to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. The Academy and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace invite applications for fellowships in various areas, one of which is “Middle East and North Africa.”

Deadline | 24 September 2025

More information

 

 

 

 

 

6. Call for Applications | Sir William Luce Fellowship

Fellowship, Durham University

The Sir William Luce Memorial Fund committee welcomes applications for the 2026 Sir William Luce Fellowship, 27 April – 26 June 2026. The committee seek to appoint a Fellow whose work will provide fresh perspectives on urgent regional issues in the area comprising Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the Gulf monarchies and Iran. Fellows are expected to engage with academic staff at Durham and with the distinctive resources available at Durham – The Sudan Archive and the extensive documentary and library collections relating to the MENA region and Gulf in particular.

Deadline | 1 October 2025

More information

 

 

 

 

 

7. Book Launch: The Enduring Legacy of the Habsburg Islam Policy

The Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) is proud to announce the publication of The Enduring Legacy of the Habsburg Islam Policy, edited by Sevgi Adak and Thomas Schmidinger. This timely volume explores how Islam was governed, represented and instrumentalised under the Habsburg Empire, and how these imperial legacies continue to shape the treatment of Muslim minorities in contemporary Central and Southeastern Europe.

Published as part of AKU-ISMC’s Governance in Muslim Contexts series, the book draws on archival and ethnographic research across multiple regions to examine the enduring impact of imperial Islam policies in shaping state–Muslim relations. Published Open Access – download your free copy here.

And join us on Thursday, 16 October 2025 for a Book Launch to celebrate with editors Sevgi Adak and Thomas Schmidinger, who will discuss the key themes and motivations behind the volume. The event will be held at the Aga Khan Centre in London and will also be streamed live via Zoom

Booking

The event is free, but booking is essential.

Register to Attend:

In-Person (Aga Khan Centre, London)
Register on Ticketsource

Online via Zoom
Register for Zoom

 

 

 

 

 

8. Asemana Books: The Art of Speaking and Writing by Mirza Agha Khan Kermani – Edited by M. Rezaei Tazik

Fann-e Goftan wa Neveshtan

(The Art of Speaking and Writing)
By Mirza Agha Khan Kermani
Edited by: M. Rezaei Tazik
ISBN: 9781997503071

This volume presents for the first time in book form a complete collection of articles by the influential Iranian thinker Mirza Agha Khan-e Kermani (1853/4–1896), originally published in the Akhtar newspaper of Istanbul. Kermani was one of the pioneering intellectuals of modern Iranian thought, a prominent critic of religion and autocracy, and a foundational figure in the discourse of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.

During his stay in Istanbul, Kermani contributed to Akhtar with a series titled The Art of Speaking and Writing, spanning twelve articles. These pieces, published between August and November 1889, offer invaluable insights into Kermani’s evolving literary philosophy and intellectual vision at a formative period in his career.

🔗 Order the book:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/mirza-agha-khan-kermani-and-m-rezaei-tazik/the-art-of-speaking-and-writing/paperback/product-7kvpkjw.html

📚 Read more:
https://asemanabooks.ca/the-art-of-speaking-and-writing/

 

 

 

 

 

9. CFP – LAMPS Seminar Series, semester one
We are very pleased to announce the attached call for papers for the Late Antique and Medieval Postgraduate Society’s seminar series, to take place in the upcoming semester (September – December 2025). The seminar series is intended to serve as an open forum for postgraduate students from Edinburgh and beyond to present their research and gather valuable feedback and input from an interdisciplinary cohort. As such, we encourage the submission of works-in-progress and completed research alike.

We encourage the submission of abstracts on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Late Antique Studies
• Archaeology
• Medieval Studies
• Byzantine and Islamic Studies
• Renaissance Studies
• Medieval Romance
• Neo-Medievalism
• Art History
• Reception Studies

Practicalities:

• Seminars will be held in-personon Tuesdays at 17:00, location TBA
• Submissions of a 300-word abstract and professional bio must be made to lampsedinburgh@gmail.com
• Deadline for submissions is the 29^thof August, and applicants will be notified by the 1^st of September

For further information and a QR code to sign up to our mailing list, see attached the poster for our CFP. For any further enquiries you can contact us at lampsedinburgh@gmail.com.

Kindest regards,

The LAMPS committee

 

 

 

 

 

10. New Book: “Covidocracy: Do Pandemics Defend Dictatorships and Challenge Democracies” by Nicolai Due-Gundersen (Bloomsbury Academics)

The book examines Saudi Arabia’s and other responses to Covid. For Saudi Arabia, the book focuses on government responses to previous pandemics, MBS’ rise to power and analyses speeches given by King Salman during Covid before analysing Saudi Arabia’s health diplomacy during Covid.

Information: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/covidocracy-9781350581265/

 

 

 

 

 

11. New Open Access Book: “Handbook of Families in the Arab Gulf States” Edited by Md Mizanur Rahman, Kaltham Al-Ghanim, Ziarat Hossain, Sharique Umar (Springer)

The book demarcates how Gulf families are experiencing many formidable challenges and undergoing profound changes due to speedy economic transformation, educational reforms, extensive use of social media, rapid urbanization, migration, women empowerment, and the intersections of popular culture from both the East and the West.

Information and online access: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-96-3412-5

 

 

 

 

 

12. New Book: “Islam and Pseudoscience” by Stefano Bigliardi (Cambridge University Press); Free Online 21 July – _4 August 2025

This book discusses, in critical fashion, different ideas and approaches that combine pseudoscience and Islam. It begins by historically reconstructing the debate on Islam-related pseudoscience developed by Muslim and non-Muslim critics. After a section discussing other malpractices and erroneous approaches, which do not strictly qualify as pseudoscience but accompany and foster it, the book ends with the discussion of overarching questions constituting an agenda for future discussions of Islam-related pseudoscience.

Information and online access: https://tinyurl.com/vrk8x6r8

1. Fons Vitae Publishing is delighted to announce a new very exciting partnership with the recently launched Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies.

The Tokat Library of Islamic Classics, a translation series published in partnership with Fons Vitae.

“The Tokat Library of Islamic Classics (Fons Vitae) endeavors to present the timeless writings of the Islamic tradition to contemporary readers in robust and lively English translations.

With full awareness of the breadth and creativity of Islam’s literary achievements across languages such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Punjabi, Malay, and Chinese, the Library encompasses works from a wide variety of genres, namely philosophy, mysticism, theology, scriptural commentary, legal theory, science, poetry, history, travel writing, and biography.

Each translation in the Tokat Library of Islamic Classics is of the highest quality and is undertaken by a skilled translator who is also a widely recognized expert in the text’s subject matter, thereby ensuring both readability and scholarly precision.

For more information, visit https://tokatinstitute.org

 

 

 

 

 

2. Studies in Iranian History and Culture

In Honor of Elton L. Daniel

M Ashtiany et al eds.,

Brill, 2025

https://brill.com/display/title/72704?utm_source=marketing-cloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_term=monthly-newsletter-en_July2025

 

 

 

 

 

3. Poetic Desire and Literary Thievery

Economies of Intertextuality in Arabic Literature

M J al-Musawi

CUP, 2025

https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/history/middle-east-history/poetic-desire-and-literary-thievery-economies-intertextuality-arabic-literature#description

 

 

 

 

 

4. Departmental Lecturer in Classical Arabic Literature

The University of Oxford from January 2026 to June 2027.

Deadline to apply is August 14.

Further Information: Job Details

 

 

 

 

 

5. ASPIRANTUM’s 2025 Persian Language Winter School (from December 01 to December 26, 2025) in Yerevan, Armenia. 

For more details about the Persian Language Winter School and to apply, please visit: https://aspirantum.com/courses/persian-language-winter-school

The 2025 Persian Language Winter School will last for 4 weeks (80 hours).

The participation fee is:

$1900 – 4 weeks

We offer a special discount exclusively to PhD students.

$1200 – 4 weeks (only for PhD students).

 

1.The Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies is pleased to announce its inaugural Book Completion Grant (in the amount of $3000). 

See here for details: https://tokatinstitute.org/grants/book-completion-grant

 

 

 

 

2. Visualizing Egypt: European Travel, Book Publishing, and the Commercialization of the Middle East in the Nineteenth Century

P Banas,

AUC Press, 2025

https://aucpress.com/9781617976674/

 

 

 

 

 

3. Classical Persian through Living Books: Introduction to Persian Manuscripts

The course will take place from August 11 until August 21st (two weeks).

Designed for students with little or no prior exposure to Persian manuscripts, this intensive course offers an introduction to the Persianate manuscript tradition. Here is a short-hand list of the main manuscripts that will be discussed (links on the website):

1. Kitāb al-abniya ‘an haqāiq al-adwiyya. 1056 AD
2. Florence Shahnameh, 1217 AD, Florence
3. Naṣr-Allāh Munšī, Kalīlah va-Dimnah (Persian MS 68), 1219 AD, Manchester
4. Prince Baysunghur’s Rose Garden (Gulistan) by Sa`di (Per 119), 1427 AD
5. Dawlatshāh Samarqandī (d. ca. 1494). Taẕkirat ul-Shuʻarā (Persian MS 54). Date 1749.

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Be able to read and interpret Classical Persian manuscripts
• Be familiar with key scripts, including Nasqand Nasta‘liq
• Understand Persian orthographic conventions and their development
• Gain insight into historical manuscripts from diverse regions and periods
• Explore the connection between Persianate literature and manuscript art
• Build the skills needed to work independently with Persian manuscripts

You can read more and apply via the link below.
The application deadline is August 4th.

https://ferdowsi.org/classical-persian-through-living-books-summer-2025/

Ferdowsi School of Persian Literature

Yerevan, Armenia

Website: www.ferdowsi.org

 

 

 

 

 

4. Four and a Half Ghazals from the time of Ferdowsi (in Early Judeo-Persian)

The manuscript presented in the post (Ms. Heb. 8333.195, probably from the first half of the 11th century, kept at the NLI) is a unique piece in that it preserves to us a small collection of 4 (and a half) poems written in Persian in Hebrew characters, which in my estimate date to the late 10th century.

This manuscript is highly important in that it can provide us with a glimpse into the earlier stages of the development of Persian literary traditions.

You are welcome to read more about it in this post:

https://ferdowsi.org/four-and-a-half-ghazals-from-the-time-of-ferdowsi-in-early-judeo-persian/

 

 

 

 

 

5. ‘Black Light in Akbarian and Persianate Sufism’ online lecture IIS

Please join us at 5 pm (British time) on Thursday, 24^th of July, for the next session of the Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series organised by the Institute of Ismaili Studies.

Dr Dunja Rašić’s talk is titled  “Behind the Veil of the Night: The Black Light in Akbarian and Persianate Sufism”, with Dr Toby Mayer as discussant.

This lecture will focus on Ibn ʿArabī’s writings on the black light of the night. We will explore Ibn ʿArabī’s notions of the night serving as the source of knowledge, power and protection for the spiritual seekers known as the Nightfolk (ahl al-layl) and identify the possible origins and parallels of these teachings in Persianate Sufism.

To join, please register for online attendance at https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/behind-the-veil-of-the-night/

 

 

 

 

 

6. “International Conference on Turkic Studies”, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw, 13-14 November 2025

Proposals for papers and panels are invited in the domains of language, literature, history, culture, society, and politics, and philology of the Turkic peoples.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 July 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2rey25p7

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Workshop “Cities and Decolonization: Anti-colonial Struggles, Urban Protest, and Global Solidarities”, University of Oxford, 19-20 March 2026

The workshop advances current approaches to anti-colonialism by rethinking the urban histories of the struggle against empire in Asia and Africa through a focused examination of actors, venues, and tensions. This approach moves beyond comparative frameworks to reveal the complex entanglements and ongoing legacies of urban anti-colonial protest, connecting historical struggles with contemporary debates over urban space and colonial heritage.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 September 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/yke5hts2

 

 

 

 

 

8. Conference “Istanbul: Cultural Pasts – Urban Futures” Işık University Istanbaul, 6-8 July 2026

The conference is expressly international and welcomes perspectives from across a range of fields: the humanities and the social sciences; architecture, urban planning and landscapes; heritage studies and design, and more. As such, it is open to local, regional and international discussions of art historical research, building renovation projects, digital art and heritage, anthropological study and socio-cultural critiques – past, present and future.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 July 2025. Information: https://amps-research.com/conference/istanbul-heritages/

 

 

 

 

 

9. Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Middle East History, Brigham Young University, Utah

The appointment is for a scholar with expertise in Middle East history, preferably with a specialization in the period 600-1800 CE. Those with exceptional teaching and a strong research agenda are encouraged to apply. The position may be filled with visitor

Deadline for applications: 30 September 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2k5uvun9

 

 

 

 

 

10. Articles on “The Arab World and Middle East in an Age of Dynamism and Change” for a Special Issue of “The Journal of Social Encounters”

The latest developments in the MENA region will be explored from the perspectives of Anthropology, Arab and/or Arabic Studies, Classics, Communication and Rhetoric, Diaspora Studies, Education, Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, Government, History, Human Rights, International Law, International Relations, Media Studies, Mediter-ranean Studies, Middle East Studies, Peace Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies, and/or Theology.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 August 2025. Contact Dr. Mawa Mohamed at mawabagi@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

11. Articles on “Gift Giving and Economic Anthropology” for a Special Issue of the Journal “Anthropology of the Middle East”

We invite contributions to investigate gift giving, receiving, and reciprocating as they occur within complex value systems of different cultures of the Middle East and North Africa. These investigations could be within religious, social, economic, and political dimensions. Submissions may draw on data from archaeology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology to illuminate the complexities and historical depth of gift exchange.

Deadline for articles: 1 August 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/3wrhtn24

1. Book Launch: Language, People, and Society: Iranian Minority Languages and Literary Traditions | Aug 1 at OISE, U of T

Asemana Books, in proud collaboration with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, warmly invites you to the launch of a groundbreaking new volume:

🗓 Friday, August 1, 2025

🕑 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Room 11-164, OISE, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON

This powerful, multilingual volume features original contributions in Persian, Kurdish, Turkish, and includes a pioneering study on Iranian Sign Language—the first of its kind in an academic collection. Drawing on the proceedings of the 2023 McGill Symposium of Language Studies, the book brings together leading voices from across Canada, Europe, and the Middle East to explore urgent questions of language, identity, resistance, and representation.

Featured Speakers:
• Dr. Shahrzad Mojab (University of Toronto)
• Dr. Amir Kalan (McGill University)
• Dr. Mahdi Ganjavi (University of Toronto)

Books will be available on-site
Event Language: English | Multilingual roots celebrated
Free & open to the public

About the Volume

Language, People, and Society is edited by Amir Kalan, Mahdi Ganjavi, Anisa Jafari, and Lale Javanshir, and showcases critical work across languages and disciplines. With chapters by:

Amir Kalan · Shahrzad Mojab · Yalda Kaveh · Sima Hasan Dokht Firooz · Sara Siavoshi · Ardavan Guity · Jafer Sheikholislami · Anisa Jafari · Vahid Rashidi · Samad Pourmousavi · Hajar Kabiri · Saqi Ghahreman · Suzan Karimi · Elmira Bahmani

The collection examines the social lives of minority languages in Iran and among the diaspora—making essential contributions to linguistic justice, cultural memory, and transnational scholarship.

Available now worldwide, including Europe, North America, and Australia.
Order your copy: Purchase the Book
Learn more: Asemana Books Website

 

 

 

 

 

2. The Wonder of the World Book Talk on MELA Notes YouTube Channel

We’re delighted to announce that the recent MELA Notes Book Talk on:

The Wonder of the World: Travel Journals of Hajj Sayyah in the U.S. (1874–1875)

by Mirza Mohammad-Ali Mahallati (Hajj Sayyah)

Edited, Translated, and Introduced by Ali Ferdowsi (Notre Dame de Namur University)

In conversation with Mahdi Ganjavi (MELA Notes Review Editor) is now available for streaming on the MELA Notes Journal YouTube channel.

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJfMxR_qgc0

 

 

 

 

3. Tajikistan Learning Tour – Sept 2025

Greetings from the Hikmat International Institute,

We’re excited to share that in addition to our premier online course on Islamic Mysticism this August, we are organizing a special Learning and Exploration Tour to Tajikistan in September 2025.

If you’d like to complement your summer with a journey that blends spiritual insight, academic engagement, and cultural discovery — this tour is for you. You’ll explore one of the region’s most beautiful and untouched countries through guided visits, scholarly discussions, and breathtaking natural landscapes.

This program offers a rare opportunity to explore Tajikistan’s historical, cultural, and natural wonders through an academic lens. It’s more than a tour — it’s a carefully curated experience combining scholarship, reflection, and discovery.

🗓️ Dates: September 6 – 13, 2025
📍 Locations: Dushanbe, Hissar Fortress, Sarazm (UNESCO site), Panjakent ruins, Lake Iskandarkul
🎓 Highlights: Guided tours, cultural immersion, scenic exploration, historical and natural sightseeing

⚠️ Very limited spaces are available, so we strongly encourage you to register soon to secure your place!

https://hikmat-ins.com/tajikistan-learning-tour/

 

 

 

 

 

4. Join us for the 7th PMA talk in 2025 by Dr Fuchsia Hart

THE ADES COLLECTION OF CERAMICS AND ITS PROVENANCE

In 1949, Gurgan Faiences by Iranian curator Mehdi Bahrami was published in Cairo. In the work, Bahrami presents a group of 12th/13th-century ceramics which, he argues, were made and recently excavated in Gurgan, in Iran’s northeast. Many of the objects published were owned by Clement and Raymond Ades in Cairo. The V&A now holds 40 examples of these ceramics from Iran once owned by members of the Ades family, with many more in other British collections. Further objects published by Bahrami were owned by Jacques Matossian, an art and antiquities dealer also based in Cairo. In this talk, Fuchsia Hart will focus on the little-known figure of Matossian and his wider role in the lives of the ‘Gurgan faiences’ and the formation of the Ades Collection. While Bahrami’s publication provided a starting point for this research, Fuchsia will draw on documentation still held in the V&A archives to explore the collection histories of the Ades objects. Using additional archival material, the objects will also be contextualised within the wider market for art from Iran in 20^th-century Egypt. While many questions remain about the provenance of the Ades Collection and the larger proposed group of ‘Gurgan faiences’, this talk will begin to explore the story of their journey from Iran to England, via Egypt.

DR FUCHSIA HART
Fuchsia Hart is a historian of the arts of the Islamic world, specialising in the arts of Iran. She has been the Sarikhani Curator for the Iranian Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London since 2022. She is currently working on a number of projects, including a display of royal dress from Saudi Arabia and an article about British ceramics at the Qajar court. She holds a PhD in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Oxford. Her PhD thesis explored the patronage of major shrines in Iran and Iraq by the second Qajar ruler of Iran, Fath ‘Ali Shah (r.1797-1834). In the past, she has held positions at the Bodleian Library (Oxford), the University of Warwick (UK), and Turquoise Mountain (Kabul).

24 July 2025, 5 – 6.30 pm UK Time
Online Lecture on Zoom

Zoom Registration Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/m_zhmCKzTWu8qL8bVae2CQ
Kind regards,
The PMA Team
Persian Manuscripts Association
https://persianmanuscripts.org/

 

 

 

 

5. Myth and History in Ancient Persia

The Achaemenids in the Iranian Tradition

R S Zarghamee

EUP, 2025

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-myth-and-history-in-ancient-persia.html

 

 

 

 

 

6. Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies

The Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies is a non-partisan academic body that is informed by a broad and robust approach to Islamic studies. Led by an internationally renowned team of specialists, it draws from the best traditions of scholarship in Islamic thought, taking in fields as diverse and interconnected as philosophy, mysticism, rational theology, science, logic, art, and literature.

https://tokatinstitute.org

 

 

1. Socioeconomic Transformation in the Sasanian Empire

Late Antique Central Zagros

Hossein Habibi

EUP, 2023/2025

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-socioeconomic-transformation-in-the-sasanian-empire.html?utm_source=Edinburgh%20University%20Press&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15081781_Copy%20of%20IMES%20May%202025%20NIPs&utm_content=socioeconomic%20transformations%20sasanian%20empire_button&dm_i=CEQ,8Z96D,MWI2D5,11HCHM,0

 

 

 

 

 

2. “International Conference on Turkic Studies”, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw, 13-14 November 2025

Proposals for papers and panels are invited in the domains of language, literature, history, culture, society, and politics, and philology of the Turkic peoples.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 July 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2rey25p7

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. The Standing and Understanding of Scholars in Society: Arab and European Experiences

Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA), Tunis, 5-7 December 2025

The conference follows two main aims: a) to create a better understanding of the chances and challenges of academics “going_public_” – _be it through their contributions to media discourses, policy counselling, the conduct of blogs or other forms of science communication; b) to reflect on the involvement of stakeholders from society in research projects – _the challenges of participatory and transdisciplinary research for and with society. The ultimate goal is the publication of a peer-reviewed special issue and/or edited volume with an internationally renowned publisher. All conference-related costs will be covered by AGYA.

Deadline for abstracts: 22 July 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/3cs8jsxb

 

 

 

 

 

4. CFP: “Oceanic Crossroads” The Mediterranean Seminar Fall 2025 Workshop (8 & 9 December: Abu Dhabi)

Proposals are welcome from scholars of all ranks from across all disciplines of the Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, or Sciences that engage in the broadest sense with social, historical and cultural aspects of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. Junior scholars, graduate students, contingent faculty, scholars of under-represented communities, and those whose work engages with historiographically marginalized groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Deadline for abstracts: 1 September 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/bdfsdv7w

 

 

 

 

 

5. Three Panels on the Islamic World at the “72nd Annual Meeting of the Renaissance Society of America”, San Francisco, 19-21 February 2026

Panels: Histories, Materials, Myths: Perceptions and Depictions of the Distant Past. – _Presence in Absence, Absence in Presence: Excavating Labour in the Early Modern World. – _Out of Sight: Early Modern Depictions and Narratives of the Unseen.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 July 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/456nhzcf

 

 

 

 

 

6. 26th Symposium of the “International Committee for Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Studies (CIÉPO), Varna, Bulgaria, 23-27 June 2026

Themes: The Black Sea Region and Crimea in Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Times. – _Europe, the Mediterranean World, and the Ottomans: War, Trade, and Diplomacy. – _The Nomads and the State. – _Ottoman Agriculture between Tradition and Transformation. – _Demography and Migrations. – _Governance and Corruption, Public Order and Justice. – _Ottoman Studies and Digital Humanities. Languages are English, French, German, and Turkish.

Deadline for abstracts: 31 October 2025. Information: https://ciepo26varna.weebly.com/

 

 

 

 

 

7. Senior Research Fellowship in Modern Languages 2026, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, All Souls College, University of Oxford

Applicants are expected to have a correspondingly distinguished record of achievement in research. The primary duty of a Senior Research Fellow is to pursue on a full-time basis a programme of academic research in Oxford.

Deadline for applications: 19 September 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/ec9aduj3

 

 

 

 

 

8. Associate or Full Professor in Islamic Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, Hartford, CT

A successful candidate should demonstrate expertise in a particular area of Islamic Studies, though the research specialization is open. The person must be grounded in the Islamic tradition and able to teach in broad areas related to contemporary issues and themes.

Deadline for applications: 1 October 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2xaedr9s

 

 

 

 

 

9. Faculty Member in Islamic Chaplaincy, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, Hartford, CT

HIU seeks an engaged, dedicated practitioner-scholar to join our esteemed faculty. We invite applications for a full-time or half-time faculty position in Islamic Chaplaincy (open rank). The ideal candidate would be classically trained in the Islamic tradition, experienced as a chaplain, inter-culturally sensitive, and actively involved with local and broader Muslim chaplaincy communities.

Deadline for applications: 1 October 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/tuc4fhjt

1.New Version of the Daiber Collection Manuscript Database Released

The Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at The University of Tokyo is pleased to announce the release of the beta version (public test version) of the new Daiber Collection database, which provides access to approximately 520 Arabic-script manuscripts held by the institute. Nearly two decades have passed since the launch of the original database, and a comprehensive update is now underway to enable more advanced use.

This upgrade is being carried out in collaboration with the Uehiro Project for the Asian Research Library (U-PARL) and the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, both within The University of Tokyo.

On June 30, 2025, we released the first phase of the beta version of the new database, and we warmly invite all users to participate in its testing. This initial release features manuscripts No. 1 through No. 50 from Collection I of the Daiber Collection (which consists of two parts). Additional updates will be made on a regular basis.

[Related Links]

• Beta Version of the Database: https://daiber.u-parl.lib.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/
• Project Overview: https://daiber.u-parl.lib.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/about/
• How to Use the Database: https://daiber.u-parl.lib.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/guide/

 

Call for Cooperation in “Cultivating” the Beta DatabaseThe beta version of the database is an open-ended archive that will grow through the active contributions of a diverse range of stakeholders. We warmly welcome feedback on metadata corrections and general impressions of the beta database. Please share your thoughts using the following form: https://u-parl.lib.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/contact . Kindly use “Regarding the Daiber Collection” as the subject line.

Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo

 

 

 

 

 

2. V&A collections are open for researchers again!

In case you haven’t heard the news, the V&A collections which were previously stored at Blythe House, and which have been inaccessible for about the last six years, are open again for study appointments! So as you make your plans for summer research trips, factor in the fact that you can finally come and study all those V&A objects you have been unable to access in recent years.

Object study appointments will now mostly take place at the fabulous V&A East Storehouse, which is a brand new visitable storage facility in Stratford, East London, part of the regeneration of the London Olympic site:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/east/storehouse/visit

No appointment is necessary to visit Storehouse itself, which is also free of charge. It has many amazing objects to discover around the public walkway in the central hall. These are all presented through the lens of the ‘working museum’, and include many objects related to Islamic art history, not least the Agra Colonnade and the Torrijos ceiling.

This is where you will also go for most study appointments, and these can now be booked through the new Order an Object service:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/order-an-object

You can order upto 5 objects at a time, and you can have appointments of 1 to 3 hours in length. You can book adjacent appointments with different objects and over contiguous days.

The Order an Object service will be available 7 days a week at Storehouse, and will also operate at the V&A South Kensington on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

You might find that some objects are not available via this service. This is probably because the object has been assessed as being too fragile for public consultation. In this case, please contact the curators as you have done in the past! We will do what we can to arrange access appointments for you.

We are looking forward to welcoming researchers back into the V&A collections!

URL

https://www.vam.ac.uk/east/storehouse/visit

1. The Egyptian Journal of History and Philosophy of Science (EJHPS)

EJHPS is a peer-reviewed academic journal committed to publishing high-quality research that examines the historical and philosophical dimensions of science. The journal emphasizes contributions that delve into the rich heritage of the history and philosophy of science, including Islamic science and its global influence. For further information, please visit our website: https://ejhps.journals.ekb.eg/.

In addition, EJHPS hosts a monthly online public talk via Zoom, featuring a distinguished scholar discussing a selected topic within their area of expertise. All the members of the list are welcome to give a talk, attend and to participate.

 

 

 

2. Hikmat International Institute

International Academic Course on Islamic Mysticism (ʿIrfān)

Intensive Online Summer School

First, we so excited to announce that registration is now open for our highly anticipated International Academic Course on Islamic Mysticism (ʿIrfān)!
In this unique and deeply enriching course, we will be joined by some of the world’s most renowned scholars to explore the profound spiritual and philosophical dimensions of Islamic Mysticism.

This is a rare opportunity to engage with essential topics such as the nature of the soul, divine love, unity, mystical nature of human and the cosmos, and much more — all within a structured academic framework.

🖥️ Live Online Sessions (August 4 – 23, 2025)
📜 Certificate upon completion
🎓 Limited number of scholarships available

We encourage you to register as soon as possible to secure your spot and, if needed, apply for a scholarship.

https://hikmat-ins.com/islamic-mysticism/

 

 

 

 

 

3. Invitation to Digital British Islam: Westminster Policy Seminar
Digital British Islam: Policy Seminar

Monday 7^th July 2025

Committee Room 18, House of Commons

Houses of Parliament, St Margaret St, London SW1A 0AA

12:00 – 14:00

Sponsored by Ayoub Khan MP

 During the event, Prof Gary R. Bunt (University of Wales Trinity Saint David) and Prof Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor (Coventry University) will share findings and policy recommendations from the Digital British Islam project on key areas including gender, religious authority and political agency. The event will highlight important findings around digital inclusion amongst Muslim communities and elements of social justice and equality online.

The Digital British Islam project is a collaboration between the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, University of Edinburgh and Coventry University.

Places are limited and require registering in advance to attend. Please book your place on this form no later than Thursday 3rd July 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/kxsmVbFpJw

If you have any further queries, please contact laura.jones@ed.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

 

4. CfP – KNOW Workshop on Scholarly Practice in the Post-Formative Period (Ghent, 2–4 June 2026)

The ERC project KNOW: Polymathy and Interdisciplinarity in Premodern Islamic Epistemic Cultures (1200–1800) invites proposals for its first international workshop:

Problem Areas, Disciplinary Boundaries, and Scholarly Practice in the Post-Formative Period

Ghent University, 2–4 June 2026.

Submission deadline: 31 July 2025.

We welcome contributions that examine how scholars navigated and redefined disciplinary boundaries in Islamic intellectual traditions in the post-formative period.

For further details and submission guidelines, please visit:

https://erc-know.ugent.be/en/call-papers-problem-areas-disciplinary-boundaries-and-scholarly-practice-post-formative-period

 

 

 

 

 

5. The School of Modern Languages at the University of St Andrews invites applications for a fully funded PhD scholarship in Global Digital Humanities,
a dynamic and rapidly evolving field at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary
research.
This award supports innovative doctoral research that either employs or
critically examines digital methodologies within the context of Modern
Languages.
You will join an intellectually vibrant and internationally connected research
environment that draws on expertise from eight language areas, Arabic,
Chinese, French, German, Italian, Persian, Russian, and Spanish, and
collaborates with the School of Computer Science. This is your opportunity to
gain advanced technical and analytical skills while contributing original
research to the evolving landscape of digital scholarship in the humanities.
We welcome proposals across a wide range of topics, including, but not limited
to:
* Digital Pedagogy
* Digital Publishing and Encoding
* Digital Preservation and Archival Practice
* Digital Storytelling
* Languages and Technology
* Memory Studies in the Digital Age
* Quantitative Literary Analysis
* Transmediation through Gaming
Find the full details and application information at
https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.st-andrews.ac.uk%2Fstudy%2Ffees-and-funding%2Fscholarships%2Fscholarships-catalogue-search%2F%3Fquery%3D%2522Digital%2520Humanities%2522&data=05%7C02%7C%7C99eff596e4e743225e5208ddbadc990f%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C638872178821681494%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=D%2BGclKSzVLgIKf0N2RUgfKbiEPTkappk2eTBzCZBbpI%3D&reserved=0,
which is updated regularly.

Questions to :

Dr Orhan Elmaz
Senior Lecturer in Digital Humanities and Arabic
oe2@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

 

6. Persianate Prose and the Making of Malay Muslim Literature

Text, Translation and Commentary of the Durr al-Majalis

M Daneshgar,

EUP, 2025

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-persianate-prose-and-the-making-of-malay-muslim-literature.html?utm_source=Edinburgh%20University%20Press&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15053382_IMES%20June%202025&utm_content=persianate%20prose%20and%20malay%20muslim%20lit_button&dm_i=CEQ,8YN9I,MWI2D5,11EDD3,0

 

 

 

 

 

7. Sufism and Power in the Ottoman Empire

The Writings of Ismail Hakki Bursevi (1653–1725)

K N Atanasova,

EUP, 2025

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-sufism-and-power-in-the-ottoman-empire.html?utm_source=Edinburgh%20University%20Press&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15053382_IMES%20June%202025&utm_content=sufism%20and%20power%20in%20the%20ottoman%20empire_button&dm_i=CEQ,8YN9I,MWI2D5,11EDD3,0

 

 

 

 

 

8. Afghanistan: Volume 8, Issue 1.

Following a successful Subscribe to Open campaign, volume 8 of Afghanistan is entirely Open Access! Explore the latest issue for articles on the Afghan Jamiat-i Islami party, the ethnocultural alienation of Hazaras in Afghanistan, the latest books relating to Afghanistan and more.
– Browse the issue: https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fddlnk.net%2Fc%2FAQjSfRDG5JYHGPmorJQFIN61yKYB-aanNJDXWPw9IcNzuPn8j00EB295tfN-

 

 

 

 

 

9. CFP Workshop: Beyond Eurocentrism and Arabocentrism, 12–13 September 2025, University of Aberdeen, UK

The workshop is co-organized by Florian Zemmin, Nicola Carpentieri, Nile Green, Jakub Zbrzeżny, and myself, and will be hosted by the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy, and Art History at the University of Aberdeen, UK.

The workshop will cover travel and accommodation expenses for participants whose papers are accepted. The deadline is 30 July 2025.

The workshop hopes to foster a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of the Arabo-Islamic intellectual tradition, one that recognises its pluralistic foundations and the dynamic interplay of race, ethnicity, religion and language in shaping premodern knowledge production. We hope to inspire a richer, more inclusive understanding of the pluralistic foundations of Arabo-Islamic scholarship and its lasting impact on modern identity and historiography. The workshop invites contributions from the humanities and the social sciences on the nature of diversity throughout premodern Arabo-Islamic history to the modern times. Each paper should present a clear case study that effectively highlights its historical and cultural contexts.

Those interested in presenting papers are invited to submit an abstract (500 words, including references) and a short biography (150 words) through the digital portal on the full CFP on AGYA’s website:

Full information at:

https://agya.info/publications/calls/beyond-eurocentrism-and-arabocentrism

 

 

 

 

 

10. ‘The Ottomans and Diplomacy’, Newnham College Cambridge, 10-12 July.

Information, programme and registration:

https://newn.cam.ac.uk/research/skilliter-centre-ottoman-studies/conferences-and-workshops

 

 

 

 

 

11. International Conference “Minority Law in Arab States: Governing Religious Diversity”, Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) & Centre of Expertise for the Law of Arab and Islamic Countries, Hamburg, 14-15 July 2025

The conference foregrounds the complex interplay between legal autonomy and the governance of religious diversity. It brings together scholars from law, anthropology, political science, history and Middle Eastern studies as well as legal practitioners. The conference examines the complex interplay between legal pluralism, minority-state relations, gender and inter-religious relations. It analyzes the impact of colonial policies, regional conflicts, and reform movements on the development of minority law.

Deadline for registration: 7 July 2025. Programme: https://tinyurl.com/3xyfx948

 

 

 

 

 

12. Colloque: Diversité(s) en islam. Fondements et implications d’une pluralité complexe, Strasbourg, 8-9 septembre 2025

Information et programme : https://tinyurl.com/5cyz6uw7

 

 

 

 

 

13. Symposium “Ethnographic Experiments from and with the Arab World”, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar, 15-16 December 2025

This symposium seeks to critically engage with classical epistemological debates in anthropology by locating them within the diverse intellectual traditions shaping the Arab world and its shifting geopolitical realities. These debates include, but are not limited to, questions of scale and distance, ethnographic excess, critique, ethnographic refusal and the limits and possibilities of comparison in anthropology.

Deadline for abstracts: 10 August 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/mrxfr7xp

 

 

 

 

 

14. 28 Fellowships (10 Months) of the “French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Programme” at Seven Institutes of the Aix-Marseille, Cergy, Loire Valley (Orléans-Tours), Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes and Paris, 2026-2027

The Programme is open to all disciplines in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (SSH) and to all other research fields interfacing with the SSH. FIAS awards fellowships to outstanding researchers of all career levels, from postdoctoral researchers to senior scientists. The minimum requirement is a PhD + 2 years of research experience at the time of the application.

Deadline for applications: 16 July 2025. Information: https://www.fias-fp.eu/fellowships/faq

 

 

 

 

 

15. New “MA in Politics of Energy, Infrastructure and Environment”, Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter

This MA offers a multidisciplinary exploration of energy use, the transition to sustainable sources, and the environmental impacts of infrastructure and energy. Integrating perspectives from the humanities and social sciences, the course examines these critical issues with a particular focus on the Middle East, a region with paradigmatic struggles around environmental preservation and fossil fuel use.

Rolling deadline – _applications at any time.

Information: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/politics/energy-infrastructure-environment/

 

 

 

 

16. Hybrid Lecture Series: “Humanity, Sufi Thought, and Healing II” Lecture Series, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, 23-27 July 2025

The Institute intends for the lecture series to be a safe space wherein participants can ask the difficult ethical and theological questions and receive fulfilling answers from renowned scholars who have brought back pearls of wisdom from Sufi figures. Simultaneous English-Turkish translation will be provided.

Deadline for applications: 17 July 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/yma42wcr

 

 

 

 

 

17. Articles on “A Sociolinguistics of Islam: Exploring Multilingualism & Meaning in Faith” for a Special Issue of the “Journal of Multilingual & Multicultural Development”

This special issue seeks to foreground the theoretical and empirical orientation of Sociolinguistics of Islam by attending to how Islam, as faith, worldview, and cultural practice, shapes – _and is shaped by – _linguistic practices at various social, cultural, and political sub-strata.

Deadline for abstracts: 22 August 2025.

Information: https://ibrarspace.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/call-for-papers-1.pdf