House of Muhammad: Launching the Ahl al-Bayt Research Initiative at the Harvard Divinity School

House of Muhammad: Launching the Ahl al-Bayt Research Initiative at the Harvard Divinity School's Project on Shi'ism and Global Affairs marks the inauguration of a new scholarly effort dedicated to the study of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Family of the Prophet Muhammad) as a central yet often underexplored dimension of Islamic and comparative religious studies. This panel brings together leading scholars of Islamic studies to reflect on the conceptual, methodological, and historiographical questions that shape the study of the House of Muhammad.

The panel will examine how the Ahl al-Bayt has been defined across intellectual and devotional traditions; the challenges of interpreting “family” and “house” beyond modern Western or mainstream assumptions; and the ways in which disciplinary biases and approaches within Islamic or religious studies have contributed to the relative marginalization of this field. Panelists will also explore what is at stake in treating the Ahl al-Bayt as a broader religious paradigm and a cross-cultural or civilizational dimension rather than merely as a sectarian subject. The event will also cover the broader implications of this study for the academic study of religion, including parallels and insights relevant to other traditions.

By situating the House of Muhammad and Ahl al-Bayt at the intersection of theology, history, and lived religion, this event invites a rethinking of inherited frameworks and opens new avenues for cross-disciplinary inquiry.

Sponsored by the Jaffer Family Foundation of New York

Time: 20 April 2026 at 2 PM

Location: HDS Swartz Hall, James Room West. 45 Francis Ave

Speakers: 

Hassan Abbas (New America)
Sarah Aziz (Harvard University)
Mohsen Goudarzi (Harvard Divinity School)
Mohammad Sagha (Harvard Divinity School)
Hasnain Walji (United Global Initiative)
 

Moderator: 

Payam Mohseni (Harvard Divinity School)

Registration Required. In-person event with hybrid option. *REGISTER HERE*