The AMI Podcast
The AMI Podcast explores a range of topics including cutting-edge research in Islamic Studies, book reviews by prominent authors and academics, and discussions among scholars of diverse faiths and denominations within Islam.
Episodes
The Problem of Ghayba in Twelver Shīʿism | Dr Hashem Morvarid | Research Seminar
What is the Problem of Ghayba in Twelver Shi'ism? And why does the occultation of the Twelfth Imam remain one of the most debated questions in Twelver Shīʿism? Dr Hashem Morvarid explores.The occultation (ghayba) of the Twelfth Imam sits at the heart of one of Twelver Shīʿī theology's most persistent challenges: how can an Imamate defined by presence and public authority be occupied by an
Key Lessons from Developing the 'Understanding Mental Health in Muslim Communities' Online Course by Dr Asma Shahin Khan
In this presentation, Dr Asma Shahin Khan explores insights gathered while developing an online course on Muslim mental health at Cardiff University's Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK. Drawing on interviews with mental health experts, she identifies key themes around using Islamic knowledge in treatment, community-based support, and the barriers and stereotypes British Muslims face when
Care as Resistance: A Response Framework for Practitioners Advancing Muslim Youth Wellbeing by Dr Siham Elkassem
In this presentation, Dr Siham Elkassem explores a justice-oriented approach to caring for Muslim youth facing racial, colonial, and spiritual harm in Canada. Drawing on two studies—including national research conducted amid the Gaza genocide—she introduces a Justice-Oriented Response Framework grounded in Islamic ethical commitments to mercy, justice, and trust.
Who Cares About the Crisis of Masculinity Among Young British Muslim Men? – An Exploration of Interventions Which Provide Hope and Healing by Dr Sadek Hamid
In this presentation, Dr Sadek Hamid explores the emerging crisis of masculinity among young British Muslim men, shaped by structural racism, Islamophobia, and conflicting cultural expectations. Through case studies of grassroots initiatives and interviews with participants and practitioners, he examines care-centred approaches helping young men reconcile faith, identity, and wellbeing.
Shepherding the Police: The Journey of a Female Muslim Chaplain to Multifaith Police Chaplaincy Lead by Dr Mansur Ali & Khadija Sulaiman
In this presentation, Dr Mansur Ali and Khadija Sulaiman explore the professional journey of a British Muslim woman who became a Multifaith Police Chaplaincy Lead, tracing her path from hospital chaplaincy through to policing. The presentation highlights the gendered, theological, and racialised barriers she navigated, and how these experiences shaped her commitment to inclusive, multifaith spirit
"God Made You This Way": Ambivalent Acceptance, Relational Labor, and the Politics of Care in Queer and Trans Muslim Families by Dr Nuha Dwaikat-Shaer
In this presentation, Dr Nuha Dwaikat-Shaer explores how Canadian Muslim families navigate support and acceptance of queer and trans relatives, drawing on interviews with 30 individuals and their family members. She identifies key facilitators—such as education and religious reframing—and barriers to acceptance, introducing the concept of "ambivalent acceptance" sustained through ongoing
The Practitioners' Predicament – Challenges in Counselling Clients on the Shia-LGB Nexus by Dr Muhammed R. Tajri
In this presentation, Dr Muhammed R. Tajri explores how Shīʿa Muslim imams, chaplains, and therapists navigate counselling clients who experience same-sex attraction. Based on interviews with fifteen practitioners, he reveals a pronounced sense of moral and professional uncertainty and highlights the need for formalised training and stronger collaboration between religious scholars and mental heal
Empathy as Ethical Discipline: Chaplaincy and Caring Co-Existence in Plural Contexts by Dr Naveed Baig
In this presentation, Dr Naveed Baig explores empathy not as sentimentality but as a disciplined ethical practice essential to chaplaincy and care. Drawing on qualitative research with hospitalised Muslim patients during COVID-19 and his own chaplaincy experience, he argues that empathy—rooted in Islamic concepts such as rahma and rifq—is the ethical foundation of responsible, humane care.
Who Cares for the Carers? Understanding the Pastoral Burden on British Imams by Dr Riyaz Timol
In this presentation, Dr Riyaz Timol explores findings from Understanding British Imams, the largest academic study of mosque-based religious leadership in Britain, drawing on survey data from over 2,000 imams and 40 in-depth interviews. He focuses on how imams respond to mental health issues raised by congregants despite limited training, poor institutional support, and entrenched stigma, and cal
Traditional Forms of Care and the Challenges of Modern Society: Islamic Spiritual Care as an Emerging Field from Germany by Dr Mahmoud Abdallah
In this presentation, Dr Mahmoud Abdallah explores the emergence of Islamic spiritual care in Germany as a response to gaps in traditional family- and community-based support. He examines its academic and social value for Muslim communities and considers its relationship to established theological disciplines such as fiqh, Qur'anic studies, and Hadith studies.
Reading the Signs: A Model for Muslim Chaplaincy by Dr Mahshid Turner
In this presentation, Dr Mahshid Turner explores a theologically grounded model for Muslim chaplaincy rooted in the Qur'anic concepts of fitrah, the primordial covenant (alast), and the Divine Names and Attributes. She proposes that chaplains can help individuals "read" life events, relationships, and suffering as signs of Divine communication, offering a pastoral approach that works
Care, Emotions, and Spiritual Meaning: A Psycho-educational Framework Inspired by Ibn al-ʿArabī for Muslim Mental Health Practice by Zeynep İrem Çeven
In this presentation, Zeynep İrem Çeven explores how Ibn al-ʿArabī's understanding of emotions as spiritual states (aḥwāl) can inform a psychoeducational model for Muslim mental health care. She reframes emotions such as fear, sorrow, and joy as meaningful signals inviting reflection rather than problems to be corrected, offering practitioners a way to address distress without pathologisation
Between Khidmah and Exhaustion: An Islamic Ethical Model of Care for Muslim Care Practitioners by Dr Sulaimon Owoseni
In this presentation, Dr Sulaimon Owoseni explores the tension between religiously-motivated service (khidmah) and work-related exhaustion among Muslim care practitioners. Drawing on mixed-method research with around 200 Muslim professionals, he proposes an Islamic ethical model of care—grounded in ṣabr (patience), amānah (trust), and mīzān (balance)—that honours service without sanctifying self-n
Integrating Islamic Spirituality into Psychotherapy: Clinical Opportunities, Ethical Dilemmas, and Practitioner Challenges by Professor G. Hussein Rassool
In this presentation, Professor G. Hussein Rassool explores how Islamic spiritual practices—such as dhikr, murāqabah, duʿāʾ, and tawakkul—can be integrated into established therapeutic modalities including CBT, EMDR, and trauma-informed approaches. He also examines the ethical dilemmas this integration raises, from role confusion between therapist and religious authority to the risks of misinterpr
Islamic Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy at the Intersection of Theology and Social Sciences by Dr Nazila Isgandarova
In this presentation, Dr Nazila Isgandarova explores the bio-psycho-social-spiritual (BPSS) model of Islamic spiritual care, tracing its roots to Ibn Sina's (Avicenna's) biopsychosocial framework and older traditions of "medicine of the heart." She examines how integrating Islamic theology with contemporary psychology and social science can strengthen the effectiveness of this mo
Faith and Professional Ethics in Therapy: A Qualitative Study of Muslim Psychologists in Lebanon by Dr Faten El Skafi
In this presentation, Dr Faten El Skafi explores how licensed Muslim psychologists in Lebanon integrate religiosity and spirituality into their clinical practice. Combining a systematic literature review with semi-structured interviews, she investigates the ethical dilemmas practitioners encounter and the strategies they use to preserve professional integrity, with a view to informing culturally s
Ashura in a Wartime World: Karbala, Resistance & Geopolitics with Zahra Ladha | Thinking Islam Ep.16
How can a 7th-century tragedy like Karbala still shape the way millions understand war, injustice and resistance today?In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore the enduring power of Ashura and the story of Karbala across Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. The conversation begins with the idea of Karbala as ever-present, a story lived rather than merely remembered, woven into names, daily speech, and a
What Was Modern Islamic Art? Empire, Resistance, and the Hidden | Prof. William Gallois | Seminar
Was there such a thing as modern Islamic art? In this seminar, delivered at Al-Mahdi Institute on 29th April 2026, Professor Gallois challenges the dominant view that colonialism brought Islamic visual culture to an end. Instead, he argues that the colonial period produced some of the most sophisticated and spiritually rich art in Islamic history — much of it deliberately hidden from imperial eyes
Shi'a Islam in Colonial India with Prof. Justin Jones | Thinking Islam Ep.15
Were the Shi'as of colonial India at the periphery of the Shi'i religious universe, or did they develop an autonomous identity of their own? What were their hopes and fears about the creation of Pakistan?In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore the themes of Professor Justin Jones's landmark book Shi'a Islam in Colonial India. The conversation begins by challenging the assumpt
Who Controls the Story of Power? Islamism & Narrative with Dr Fatemeh Sadeghi | Thinking Islam Ep.14
Is political power built on institutions or on the stories we choose to believe?What is Islamism, and how do political narratives shape power in the Muslim world?In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr Fatemeh Sadeghi explores Islamism, political narratives, and how storytelling shapes political power and legitimacy. Drawing on both Islamic intellectual traditions and modern social theory, Dr Sadegh
Muslim Rights, Same-Sex Marriage & the Future of Tolerance by Prof. Robert Wintemute | Seminar
Can Christian majority societies and Muslim communities find common ground on some of the most contested issues of our time?In this research seminar, Professor Robert Wintemute, Professor of Human Rights Law at King's College London, explores a compelling framework of reciprocal tolerance: if Christian-majority societies continue to legally protect visible Muslim religious practices, can Musli
Why Imam Ali Still Matters: The Prophet’s Heir with Dr Hassan Abbas | Thinking Islam | Ep.13
Is Imam Ali a source of division or the grounds for friendship among Muslims?How did a man who asked that his killer's ropes be loosened in his dying moments become the most contested figure in Islamic history?In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore Dr Hassan Abbas's acclaimed book, "The Prophet's Heir" through the lens of a policy maker and conflict resolution scholar.
Rumi and the Pure Heart: Reading the Qur’an Existentially with Dr Soroush | Thinking Islam | Ep.12
How does listening to the Qur'an differ from reading it? What does it mean to approach the Qur'an not with your mind but with your whole existence?In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr Abdolkarim Soroush proposes an existential encounter with the Qur'an, one that asks us to set aside our assumptions and approach it not as a book of law or philosophy but as maw'iẓa (admonition) that
A People's History of Islam: Tales of Mystics, Pilgrims and the Ordinary by Dr Hassan Abbas
Who writes Islamic history — empires and rulers, or ordinary believers?In this research seminar hosted by AMI on 14 January 2026, Dr Hassan Abbas presents insights from his forthcoming book project, A People’s History of Islam. Challenging state-centred and court-sponsored historiography, Dr Abbas explores Islam through the lived faith of pilgrims, mystics, poets, and everyday communities across c
Why Are Shi‘as Still Mourning? Death, Muharram & Senses with Dr Babak Rahimi | Thinking Islam Ep. 11
Can mourning become a pathway to the divine? Has the modern world sanitised death, and does Muharram insist we don’t look away?Drawing from his forthcoming book Senses of Mourning, Dr Babak Rahimi of UC San Diego asks a question many have wondered, but few have explored: why do Shi'as keep mourning? This episode reveals mourning not as passive grief but as active devotion, a technique for conn
Digital Spiritualism: A New Meaning to Religious Secularism in India by Dr Zairu Nisha
Dr Nisha explores how digital technologies are reshaping religious life in contemporary India. Challenging the strict divide between the secular and the religious, she argues that digital media has given rise to new hybrid forms of belief, practice, and spiritual experience.
Techno-Gnosticism for the Digital Age: AI, Transhumanism, and the Flight from Embodiment by Professor Michal Valčo
This talk critically examines transhumanism and AI through the lens of Christian theological anthropology. Professor Valčo contrasts visions of technological “optimization” with religious understandings of embodiment, vulnerability, and communion, offering an alternative ethical vision for the digital future.
Blue Notes and Black Codes: Womanism, Digital Faith, and the Algorithmic Future by Rev. Dr Shonda Nicole Gladden
This talk centres Black women’s digital religious leadership through a Womanist lens. Rev. Dr Gladden explores how digital rituals, online worship, and algorithmic systems intersect with justice, creativity, and resilience in contemporary faith communities.
Between the ‘Digital’ and the ‘Analogue’: Intergenerational Transformations within Muslim Communities by Professor Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor
Drawing on major UK and European research projects, this talk explores how digital spaces are reshaping Muslim religious authority, identity, and practice. Professor Cheruvallil-Contractor examines how different generations navigate faith across online and offline worlds.
Re-making the Human Being according to the Transhumanist’s Image and Likeness by Rev. Ugochukwu Stophynus Anyanwu
This presentation critiques transhumanist visions of remaking humanity through technology. Rev. Anyanwu examines how such ideas challenge religious understandings of human nature, divine providence, and moral limits in an age of rapid technological enhancement.
Ethics, Human Nature and AI’s Challenge by Dr Rahul Kumar Maurya
This talk explores how classical ethical traditions and religious philosophy can respond to the growing moral challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Drawing on Buddhist thought and contemporary philosophy, Dr Maurya examines whether AI threatens human agency and how ethical frameworks might help safeguard humanity in an increasingly automated world.
Techno Apocalypse in Islam: Between Utopia and Dystopia by Professor Mahan Mirza
This presentation examines Islamic apocalyptic thought in relation to modern technological change. Professor Mirza explores how digital culture, scientific worldviews, and rapid social transformation shape Muslim imaginaries of the future, offering a balanced theological response beyond fear or utopianism.
Equivocation and Erosion: How LLMs Undermine Catholic Religious Discourse by Jonathan Karr & Louisa Conwill
This joint presentation investigates how large language models influence Catholic theology and moral reasoning. Karr and Conwill examine how AI systems can blur doctrinal distinctions, while also considering how faith-based ethical frameworks might guide responsible religious uses of AI.
Technology and the Crisis of Modernity: Romano Guardini, Faith and the Transformations of Power by Professor João J. Vila-Chã
Focusing on the work of Romano Guardini, this talk examines how modern technology reshapes human power, faith, and social structures. Professor Vila-Chã reflects on the loss of authentic human experience and considers how religious thought can help address the dehumanising tendencies of modern technological systems.
Understanding Digital Othering and Religious Bias in Internet Memes by Professor Heidi A. Campbell
Professor Campbell analyses how internet memes shape public perceptions of religious communities. She explores how humour, stereotypes, and digital culture can reinforce religious bias, while also highlighting how faith communities can critically engage and respond.
Safeguarding Human Agency in the Age of the Cyber-Leviathan: An Islamic Perspective by Professor Seyed Mohammad Fatemi
Professor Fatemi introduces the concept of the “Cyber-Leviathan” to describe the totalising power of digital surveillance and algorithmic governance. From an Islamic ethical and theological perspective, he argues for rethinking human rights and moral responsibility in order to protect human agency in the digital age.
On Accountability for the Taking of Human Life: Toward an Interfaith Ethic of Weapons Control by Prof. Esther D. Reed
Professor Reed addresses the ethical challenges of weapons control through Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. She explores how shared moral resources can contribute to contemporary debates on warfare, accountability, and emerging military technologies.
On the Technicity of Muharram Devotional Performances by Dr Babak Rahimi
Dr Rahimi explores Muharram rituals as embodied, technical practices that shape religious experience and communal life. By examining devotional performance, material culture, and sensory engagement, he shows how religious traditions adapt and endure through specific technologies of practice.
Engaging Technology from Noodiverse and Local Perspectives by Professor Arvind-Pal S. Mandair
This presentation challenges instrumental views of technology by drawing on Sikh philosophy and global traditions of thought. Professor Mandair explores how alternative models of individuation and spirituality can reshape our relationship with technology beyond modern Western frameworks.
Infertility, Technology, & Muslim Women in India | Dr Zairu Nisha | Research Seminar
In this Research Seminar, Dr Zairu Nisha (University of Delhi) explores infertility among Muslim women in India through feminist bioethics and phenomenology. She introduces the concept of the body as a site of moral injury, showing how reproductive expectations, religious belief, and assisted reproductive technologies shape women’s moral identities and lived experiences.Drawing on thinkers such as
The Politics of Narrative: Making & Unmaking Political Legitimacy with Dr Fatemeh Sadeghi | Research Seminar
How do stories create political power? Why do narratives matter in shaping legitimacy, justice, and belonging? In this Research Seminar, Dr Fatemeh Sadeghi (University College London – Institute for Global Prosperity) examines the powerful role of narratives and storytelling in legitimising political authority. Drawing on examples from Islamism, nationalism, and contemporary far-right populism, sh
Where Vedas Meet Qur'an: Hindu Self & its Muslim Neighbours with Dr Ankur Barua | Thinking Islam | Ep.10
If God is everywhere, why can't God be in an image? If devotion dissolves the self before the Beloved, what remains to draw the line between Hindu and Muslim? And can we ever find an answer to suffering that satisfies both the heart and the mind? Drawing from his acclaimed book, "The Hindu Self and Its Muslim Neighbors," Dr Barua guides us through the shared devotional languages of Bhakti and Sufi
Ghazālī and Rāzī on Miracles and the Occult by Dr Muhammad Fariduddin Attar
In this episode, Dr Attar explores how two major theologians — al-Ghazālī and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī — challenged the idea that miracles serve as proof of prophethood. Drawing on their engagement with the occult sciences, Dr Attar shows how both thinkers believed that extraordinary acts could be imitated by magicians and thaumaturges, raising new questions about what truly verifies a prophet. He con
Divine Speech, Revelation, and Prophethood in Akbarī Thought by Dr Halim Calis
Dr Calis introduces listeners to the rich metaphysical world of Ibn al-‘Arabī and the Akbarī tradition, where revelation is seen as an ontological process rather than a historical event. He explains how divine speech unfolds through the hierarchical realms of existence and clarifies the misunderstood distinction between risāla (messengership) and wilāya (sainthood). The discussion connects classic
Ibn Taymiyya’s Epistemology of Prophethood and Miracles by Dr Nazir Khan
Dr Nazir Khan presents Ibn Taymiyya’s comprehensive rethinking of prophetic evidence. Rather than relying solely on miracles, Ibn Taymiyya integrates moral integrity, rational coherence, and alignment with human nature into a broader epistemology of prophethood. The episode examines his critique of kalām theologians, his distinction between angelic and jinn-assisted feats, and his preference for Q
Hume’s ‘Of Miracles,’ Islam, and Prophetic Revelation by Professor Imran Aijaz
In this presentation, Professor Aijaz revisits David Hume’s famous critique of miracles and argues that it has major — and often overlooked — implications for Muslim philosophy of religion. He explains why arguments for prophecy based on miracle reports fail under Hume’s analysis and calls for Muslim philosophers to rethink the epistemological foundations of belief in prophecy and revelation.
Where Falsafa Meets Analytic Philosophy of Religion: A Farabian-Hickian View of Prophecy by Dr Jamie Turner
Dr Jamie Turner brings the medieval philosophy of al-Fārābī into conversation with the modern thought of John Hick. He proposes that both thinkers offer a “bottom-up” model of prophecy that emphasises human intellectual and moral refinement. This model opens possibilities for religious pluralism and offers new ways to respond to epistemic and moral challenges in Islam, while still preserving much
The Moral Function of Revelation in an Age of Reason by Dr Amir Saemi
Dr Saemi tackles the tension between revelation and independent moral judgment. He argues that when a believer perceives a moral conflict, it is rational to follow their moral reasoning — but this does not render revelation redundant. Instead, revelation provides new moral reasons, including coordination solutions and relationship-based reasons tied to one’s bond with God.
Fazlur Rahman’s Approach to Quranic Revelation: An Analysis of the Psychological Dimension by Professor Aarash Naraghi
Professor Naraghi examines Fazlur Rahman’s influential theory of revelation, focusing on its psychological dimension — how divine meaning becomes prophetic language. Drawing on the work of Iqbal and the philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce, he clarifies Rahman’s view on how “feeling,” “idea,” and “word” interact in the Prophet’s heart to generate revelation.
Toward an Islamic Model of Revelation by Professor Mohsen Kadivar
Professor Kadivar surveys major models of revelation in Judaism and Christianity before proposing a distinctly Islamic alternative. He critiques six well-known non-propositional models and argues that Islam affirms a primarily propositional model grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah — yet one that still differs significantly from classical Christian and Jewish formulations.
The Quran as Divine Speech: Shīʿī Uṣūlī Thought and Speech Act Theory by Dr Wahid M Amin
Dr Wahid Amin applies modern speech act theory to classical Shīʿī legal debates on divine commands. How do Qur’anic addresses to specific audiences apply to later generations? By engaging thinkers such as Mīrzā Qummī, Ākhund Khurāsānī, and Nāʾinī, he explores how divine speech maintains normative force across time and context.
Ameliorating Gender Bias in Muslim Prophetology by Dr Celene Ibrahim
Dr Ibrahim examines the role of Maryam in the Qur’an and asks why, despite her exceptional status and extensive interactions with divine messengers, most exegetical traditions exclude women from prophethood. Through a careful intra-textual reading, she highlights inconsistencies in classical arguments and proposes paths for reducing gender bias in Muslim prophetology.
Prophetic Wisdom in the Quran: Bridging Divine Revelation and Universal Ethical Principles by Dr Seyyed Amir Hossein Asghari
Dr Asghari explores how the Qur’an pairs the Book (al-kitāb) with wisdom (ḥikma) as twin components of prophetic guidance. He shows how wisdom enables ethical interpretation, universal moral language, and interreligious dialogue — positioning prophetic wisdom as a bridge between divine revelation and human ethical reasoning.
An Inter-Quranic Contextual Analysis of the Nature of Revelation and the Revealer by Shaykh Arif Abdul Hussain
Shaykh Arif re-examines key Qur’anic terms to propose that the Qur’an is not a pre-fixed text but an articulation of formless meanings (Umm al-Kitāb) unveiled in the moment. He distinguishes between God and the agent of revelation speaking within the Qur’an, offering a nuanced linguistic and theological model rooted in inter-Qur’anic analysis.
The Veridicality of Perceptual Prophetic Experiences: A New Proposal by Professor Mahmoud Morvarid
Prophets often report vivid perceptual experiences — seeing angels, hearing recited verses — but what makes these experiences veridical? Professor Morvarid surveys classical explanations from al-Fārābī, Ibn Sīnā, Suhrawardī, and Mullā Ṣadrā, before offering a new account inspired by philosopher David Chalmers. He argues that prophetic visions can be veridical in their “imperfect content,” even whe
How Football Became a Voice for Palestine with Dr Kholoud Al-Ajarma | Thinking Islam | Ep.9
What does solidarity look like from the stands of a football stadium? How do sport, identity, and politics intertwine in the struggle for justice and belonging? And what does it mean to grow up displaced yet deeply rooted in a homeland carried through memory and resistance? In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore these profound questions with Dr Kholoud Al-Ajarma, anthropologist and award-wi
Implications of ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī’s Theory of Mentally-Posited Conceptions for Islamic Legal Theory by Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad & Hossein Mousavi
In this talk, Professor Seyyed Mohaghegh Damad and Hossein Mousavi explore ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī’s theory of idrākāt-i iʿtibārī — or mentally-posited conceptions — and its transformative implications for Islamic legal reasoning. They discuss how human constructs of obligation, action, and morality, though mentally posited, shape Sharīʿa’s adaptability to evolving human needs. Their conversation invi
How Does the Science of Fiqh Evolve? by Professor Abdolkarim Soroush
Professor Abdolkarim Soroush reflects on how Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) must continually evolve to remain relevant. He contrasts its practical and theoretical dimensions, arguing that true renewal depends on deeper engagement with theology, philosophy, and anthropology. Through thought-provoking examples—from modern bioethics to cosmic prayer—Soroush demonstrates that shifts in how we understand
Reason and Rationality in Islamic Legal Theory and Law: A Plea for Caution by Prof. Oliver Leaman
In this talk, Professor Oliver Leaman cautions against overstating rationalism’s place in Islamic law. Drawing on Qurʾānic narratives like Moses and Khidr, he argues that divine wisdom often transcends human reasoning. Leaman challenges the assumption that Islam fully aligns with modern liberal rationality, urging listeners to rethink how theological humility can coexist with intellectual inquiry
Sadrāian Metaphysics and Rational Foundations of Epistemic Hierarchies by Shaykh Arif Abdul Hussain
Shaykh Arif Abdul Hussain explores how the metaphysical insights of Ṣadrāian philosophy can reshape our understanding of rationality in Islamic law. He revisits the tension between reason and Sharīʿa through concepts like aṣālat al-wujūd (the principiality of existence), proposing a dynamic vision of evolving legal norms aligned with human growth and existential purpose. This episode bridges class
A Lacuna in Shīʿī Legal Theory: Reason and Human Experience by Dr Imranali Panjwani
Dr Imranali Panjwani identifies a major gap in Shīʿī legal theory—the neglect of human experience in understanding legal subjects. He argues that jurisprudence must account for the intellectual, moral, and psychological dimensions of the individual (mukallaf). This episode presents a compelling call for rethinking Sharīʿa as a lived moral framework responsive to human reality.
The Epistemological Framework of Contemporary Ethico-Legal Judgments by Dr Mariam al-Attar
Dr Mariam al-Attar examines how modern Muslim scholars balance revelation, reason, and science in forming ethical and legal judgments. By contrasting theological voluntarism with rational moral inquiry, she highlights how approaches to emerging issues—like AI and genetics—reflect enduring debates about divine authority and human intellect in Islamic ethics.
Sad al-Dharāʾiʿ: Causal Reasoning in Shiʿi Law by Dr Haidar Hobballah and Ali R. Khaki
Dr Haidar Hobballah and Ali R. Khaki discuss the principle of sad al-dharāʾiʿ (blocking the means) and how Shīʿī legal thought approaches causal reasoning. They unpack the logic behind preventive rulings and explore their modern implications—from bioethics to environmental ethics—offering a rational framework for ethical decision-making in contemporary Islamic contexts.
Relationship Between Religion and Reason in Nāṣir al-Dīn Ṭūsī’s Thought by Mohammad Amin Hessami
Mohammad Amin Hessami reinterprets the philosophical legacy of Nāṣir al-Dīn Ṭūsī, uncovering a subtle balance between reason and revelation. Through close reading of Tajrīd al-Iʿtiqād and Akhlaq-i Nāṣirī, he reveals how Ṭūsī navigated competing rationalist and traditionalist schools. The discussion highlights how a medieval thinker’s nuanced model of harmony between intellect and faith remains dee
The Ḥujjiyyah of Certainty in the Late Shīʿī Uṣūl: A Contemporary Assessment by Prof. Mahmoud Morvarid
Professor Mahmoud Morvarid brings philosophical precision to a core principle of Shīʿī jurisprudence: the authority (ḥujjiyyah) of certainty. Questioning traditional formulations, he argues for a more nuanced approach informed by contemporary epistemology. Listeners will encounter a rigorous exploration of how knowledge, belief, and rational justification shape accountability in Islamic legal thou
The Ontological Nature of Reason in Uṣūlī Literature by Prof. Seyed Mohammad Ghari S. Fatemi
Professor Seyed Mohammad Ghari S. Fatemi examines the very being of reason within Islamic legal theory. Engaging classical Sunni and Shīʿī perspectives, he asks: Is reason a substance, an accident, or a kind of knowledge? This discussion unpacks how uṣūlī scholars understood the nature, scope, and variability of rational faculties, illuminating how metaphysics, epistemology, and theology converge
Reason as a Source of Law in Islamic Jurisprudence (10th–11th C.) by Professor Devin J. Stewart
Professor Devin J. Stewart delves into early Islamic legal thought, tracing how reason (ʿaql) evolved as a recognised source of law among Muʿtazilī and Twelver Shīʿī scholars. Through a historical journey from al-Jaṣṣāṣ to al-Ṭūsī, Prof. Stewart shows how theological debates on rational investigation shaped the very foundations of Islamic jurisprudence, revealing a vibrant intellectual culture neg
Jurisprudential Rationality vs. Conventional Rationality by Professor Ali Fanaei
Professor Ali Fanaei compares the logic of juristic reasoning with everyday rationality, arguing that misunderstanding this relationship leads to flawed religious verdicts. He proposes a reconstruction of fiqh grounded in a more accurate model of how humans reason and justify beliefs. This talk bridges analytic philosophy and Islamic jurisprudence to advocate for rational legal reform.
Combating Epistemic Injustice: Re-examining “Khudh mā khālaf al-ʿāmma” by Dr Yaser Mirdamadi
Dr Yaser Mirdamadi reinterprets the Shīʿī legal maxim “accept what contradicts the majority” through the framework of epistemic justice. Rather than a sectarian bias, he argues it functions as an early form of epistemic resistance—amplifying marginalised voices within Islamic tradition. This episode reframes classical jurisprudence as a site for contemporary reflection on inclusion and fairness.
Conflicted “Rationalisms” in Iran’s Legal System by Farzaneh Hosseini Hejazi
Farzaneh Hosseini Hejazi analyses the clash of three rationalities—religious, revolutionary, and modern state reason—in the legal structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Through this critical lens, she explains how philosophical and constitutional contradictions have undermined coherent legal authority, giving rise to a system where mystical authority, clerical rationality, and state pragmatism
The Scripture and Reason: The Case of Real Interests and Harms Thesis by Prof. Mohammad Rasekh
Professor Mohammad Rasekh investigates a classical theological problem: do divine laws derive from inherent benefits and harms, or from pure command? Engaging Shaykh Anṣārī and the principle of maṣāliḥ wa mafāsid wāqiʿīyya, he dissects the tension between reason and revelation in determining moral reality. His discussion challenges listeners to consider whether religious law is descriptive of trut
Reason, Rationality (‘aql), and Moral Action in the Qur’an by Dr Karen Bauer
Dr Karen Bauer examines how the Qurʾān unites intellect, emotion, and moral behaviour in a single vision of human virtue. Rejecting the modern separation between thought and feeling, she shows that Qurʾānic rationality is profoundly moral: to think rightly is to feel rightly and act justly. This podcast invites reflection on how the heart, mind, and ethics intertwine in Qurʾānic spirituality.
Bhakti & Sufism: Exploring Hindu–Muslim Spiritual Intersections by Dr Ankur Barua | Research Seminar
What happens when the language of love transcends religious boundaries?In this thought-provoking seminar, Dr Ankur Barua (University of Cambridge) explores the deep intersections between Hindu Bhakti (devotional love) and Islamic Sufism (taṣawwuf) in premodern South Asia.Through figures like Dārā Shukōh, Ras Khān, and Kazi Nazrul Islam, Dr Barua reveals how devotional poetry, music, and theology b
God’s Word or Muhammad’s? Revelation & Prophetic Experience with Dr. Soroush | Thinking Islam Ep. 8
Is the Qur'an truly the word of God, or does it reflect the creative imagination of Prophet Muhammad (s)? How do we understand revelation in a world governed by reason and science? In this episode of Thinking Islam, we grapple with these fundamental questions with Dr Abdolkarim Soroush, one of the most influential voices in contemporary Islamic intellectual reform.This wide-ranging conversatio
Models of Revelation in the Islamic Tradition by Prof. Mahmoud Morvarid | Research Seminar
Was the Qur’an revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) through divine speech, imagination, divine inspiration, or visions? In this seminar, Professor Mahmoud Morvarid, a Researcher at the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, examines four key models within the Islamic intellectual tradition that attempt to describe the mystery of divine revelation. Drawing on theology, philosophy, and mysticism,
Feeling Islam: An Emotional Journey of the Qur’an with Dr. Karen Bauer | Thinking Islam | Ep.8
Does the Qur’an only invite us to think, or does its message also create an emotional state? In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore the profound emotional trajectories within the Quranic paradigm with leading scholar Dr. Karen Bauer. From the roles of fear and hope in religious experience to the surprising emotional vulnerability of the prophets, we unpack how the Qur’anic text masterfully
Is the Qur'an Biased Towards Men? Divine Justice & Patriarchy with Dr Asma Barlas | Thinking Islam Ep.6
With verses like qiwamah and the so-called “wife beating” verse, does the Qur’an truly promote equality and egalitarian ideals, or does it embed a vision of hierarchy and male-dominance? In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr. Asma Barlas joins us to rigorously interrogate whether God, described as supremely just in the Qur’an, could be seen as biased towards men. We explore how anti-patriarchal re
Negotiating Biblical Narratives in Muʿtazilite Exegesis by Dr Doaa M. Baumi
In this podcast, Dr Doaa M. Baumi explores how the Muʿtazilite scholar al-Zamakhshari dealt with biblical narratives (Israʾiliyyāt) in his tafsīr. She shows how his rational framework allowed for careful inclusion and critical filtering of these sources.
The Aʾthari Tafsīr in Imami Thought by Dr Haidar Hobbollah
In this podcast, Dr Haidar Hobbollah analyses the Atharī tradition in Shīʿī tafsīr, tracing its roots in the Akhbārī movement and contrasting it with the Uṣūlī approach. He unpacks the epistemological and theological tensions between the two.
Exploring the Farahi School’s Exegetical Methodology by Dr Farhad Shafti
In this podcast, Dr Farhad Shafti provides a critical overview of the Farahi school, highlighting its focus on Qurʾānic coherence and its call to prioritise the Qurʾān over ḥadīth in legal reasoning—an area he believes warrants further attention.
