For the text, see:
https://www.jamesmdorsey.net/post/a-battle-for-the-soul-of-islam-plays-out-in-a-bahrain-courtroom

On the Twelver Shi’a living along Kashmir’s frontiers (in Kargil).

‘Shii News Chats’ aims to profile academics across the world whose research focuses on Shiism and Shii communities across the world. These thereby highlight the diversity of the researchers but also the diversity of the faith and its practitioners.

These can be found on the menu along the top of the site’s main page.

The second of these, with Simon Fuchs, lecturer in Islamic and Middle East Studies at the University of Freiburg, Germany, is now available via this link.

“BARAKA BODIES: PRESENCE, ABSENCE, AND OBJECT AGENCY IN SOUTH ASIAN SHIʿI MATERIALITY”

[Silsila Fall 2022 Series]

Karen Ruffle, University of Toronto

Wednesday, October 12th, 12:30pm EDT

[Webinar] Silsila Fall 2022 Lecture Series, Body and Senses

Shiʿi image-objects capable of engaging in the production of acts such as taʿziyas (replicas of Imam Husain’s shrine-tomb in Karbala), ʿalams (metal standards representing the Imams or family of the Prophet Muhammad, the Ahl-e Bait), tabuts (coffin replicas), jhulas (the cradle of Husain’s infant son ʿAli Asghar), and Husain’s battle horse Zuljanah are visual images that stimulate acts of religious seeing for South Asian Shiʿa, making present the absent Imams and Ahl-e Bait.

As forms of Shiʿi materiality, image-objects such as the taʿziya and ʿalam, are focal objects that promote reciprocal visual exchange, creating cultural memory and social interaction. Through acts of reciprocal gazing, the image-object is transformed from object to subject, endowed with agency to work miracles, to intercede for devotees, and to hear devotees’ prayers.

Full details of the event and a link to register as an attendee can be found at:

https://as.nyu.edu/silsila/events/2022-2023/baraka-bodies–presence–absence–and-object-agency-in-south-asi.html

Only registered attendees will be able to access this event.