This conference aims to promote the study of devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and his family (often defined as the Ahl al-Bayt) as a key component of Islamic thought and practice, both in history and as the lived reality of millions of Muslims. Rather than side-lining such devotions as 鈥榥on-canonical鈥 or as the prerogative of sectarianised minorities, our goal is to accord them the centrality that they deserve as a pervasive and enduring component of Muslim piety.
Devotion to the Prophet and his family is expressed in an immense variety of Islamic traditions, only a minority of which have received sustained academic attention. Accordingly, we aspire through this conference towards a more representative scholarly account of Prophet- and Ahl al-Bayt-centred devotion as a field of study, exploring material from historical periods, geographical regions and particular groups that have attracted less attention to date, as well as fostering engagement across disciplinary boundaries. Shi士i Islamic traditions, are, of course, a principal locus for devotion to the Prophet and his family, but are by no means the only one, and we welcome papers that focus upon non-Shi士i traditions also. Furthermore, in pursuing a broader account of these devotions in different contexts, we hope to explore and affirm the integrity of 鈥榙evotion鈥 to the Prophet and his family as an object of enquiry, in conversation both with contemporary academic theorisations and with the wealth of literature that Muslim authors have produced on the subject since Islam鈥檚 early centuries.
We encourage submissions addressing any topic related to the conference鈥檚 overall theme of devotion to the Prophet and his family, with no a priori constraints regarding geographical region, historical period or discipline. The following list, meanwhile, suggests some major themes that applicants may wish to consider:
The proceedings of the conference will be published in an edited volume by the Institute of Ismaili Studies with I. B. Tauris, as part of the Shi士i Heritage Series.
The conference will be held in-person at the Aga Khan Centre, London, though online participation will be made possible for presenters who are unable to travel.
The language of the conference (and published papers) will be English.
Please send your abstract (max. 300 words), accompanied by a short biography (max. 200 words), as a single pdf file to .听
The deadline for abstracts is 15th December 2024. A decision regarding accepted papers will be made by mid-January 2025.
Scholars at all career stages are encouraged to apply.听
Date: 20-22 May 2025
Location: The Aga Khan Centre, 10 Handyside Street, London N1C 4DN, United Kingdom
Please note: filming and photography may take place during the conference for educational and promotional purposes.
Views expressed in the conference are those of the presenting scholars, not of IIS, the Ismaili community or leadership. Acceptance of conference papers is not an explicit endorsement of the ideas presented.