Within Shi’a Islamic thought it would not be an understatement to say that the role and function of the Imam is of the utmost centrality and importance. It is through the Imam that humans reach true understandings of tawhid and the foundations of belief (usul al-din). But how can we understand the concept and person of the Imam? This workshop undertakes a diverse exploration of the role of the Imam within Shi’ism by exploring indigenous Shi’a sources and resources on approaching the station and person of the Imam through various lenses including legal, historical, mystical-philosophical, and theological. Lectures will cover various aspects of the Imamate and its centrality within Shi’ism from the early Islamic era through to the contemporary period. This will include historically contextualizing the caliphate of Imam Ali, the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, and other important episodes.
It will also cover intellectual, philosophical, and theological understandings of the Imams found within the Shi’a corpus—such as occultation, intercession, and walaya—including from al-Kulayni’s Kitab al-Kafi and the works of medieval Shi’a thinkers, as well as contemporary academic scholarship on the Imam and the role of the Ahl al-Bayt. The workshop will present how mainstream Twelver Shi’ism emerged from contestations with “exaggerated” (ghuluww) interpretations of the Imams and how the Imams and Ahl al-Bayt themselves described their role and position within humanity and creation.
Workshop Details:
This intensive workshop will include both daily pre-recorded lectures to view as well as live daily interactive sessions over zoom led by Professor Payam Mohseni (Harvard) as well as other affiliates and researchers at the Harvard Divinity School’s Project on Shi’ism and Global Affairs. There will also be daily readings provided.
Application Requirements:
Applications to participate in this workshop are highly selective and seats will be awarded to a limited number of participants. Requirements include a CV, transcript (unofficial), and a personal statement.
Application materials should be sent in either Word or PDF formats to globalshiism@hds.harvard.edu. Applications should be submitted by June 30th, 2024 by 11:59pm EST. In the subject line, please write “Application to Knowing the Imam Workshop” followed by the applicant’s first and last name. Incomplete applications cannot be considered for admission into the workshop.
Personal Statement:
Provide a statement of purpose that describes your interests in applying to the Knowing the Imam Workshop at the Harvard Divinity School’s Project on Shi’ism and Global Affairs. Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would make this workshop beneficial for you. Submissions should be a minimum of one-page (single spaced) and not exceed two-pages.
Workshop Dates: July 22nd - August 2nd, 2024
Instructor: Payam Mohseni, Director of the Project on Shi'ism and Global Affairs, Harvard Divinity School
Contact: globalshiism@hds.harvard.edu
Registration Deadline: June 30th, 2024
LOCATION:Online zoom meeting STATUS:CONFIRMED DTSTART:20240722T160000Z DTEND:20240802T190000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR