<p>Among the various Muslim communities that were articulating their doctrinal positions in the early Islamic centuries, one in particular was known derisively as the Ghulat ('extremists'). This was owing to their specific interpretation of Islam, which included an 'extreme' devotion to the Shi'i Imams and the family of the Prophet, and controversial religio ... Show More
Jan 26
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 histor ... Show More
40m 35s
Jan 15
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 S ... Show More
1h 41m
Sep 2025
Who were the Sabians? - The Lost Religion of the Quran
Who were the Sabians (Ṣābi’ūn) mentioned in the Quran? Were they a mysterious religious community, early monotheists, Mandaeans, star-worshippers, or something else entirely? In this video, we explore the fascinating question of the identity of the Sabians, drawing on Islamic sou ... Show More
26m 49s
Jan 2018
Al Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah
In our last episode of the season we wrap up the intellectual history of Islam by examining how the orthodoxies that we discussed in the previous episode were popularized. We talk about the emerging class of legal scholars called the ulema, the madhabs of Hanafi, Maliki, Shaif, a ... Show More
51m 27s
Jan 2024
Breaking Taboos: Temporary Marriage in Islam
Join us in a thought-provoking podcast series led by Sayed Jawad Qazwini as we navigate the intricate terrain of temporary marriage within the Islamic context. Sayed Jawad, a respected voice in the Muslim community, fearlessly addresses this often-taboo topic, drawing insights fr ... Show More
42m 16s
Nov 2010
Ibn 'Arabi's Joseph: Imagination as Holy Communion
Todd Lawson, PhD, teaches Islamic Thought at the University of Toronto. His interests include the Qur'an and its interpretation over time, Islamic Gnosis, Shi'ism and its later developments such as the Babi and Bahai religions. He has published numerous articles on these and othe ... Show More
39m 17s