Sep 30: Workshop on Arabic & Islamic Studies: John Zaleski

Date: 

Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location: 

Semitic Museum 201

Discussion of a pre-circulated paper by John Zaleski.

This Wednesday, Sept. 30, we will discuss a paper by John Zaleski called "There is No Monasticism in Islam": The Place of Rahbaniyyah and Celibacy in Ninth-Century Baghdadi Sufism (see below for details). We will gather in Semitic Museum 201 at 5:30pm for food, drink, and lively conversation.

If you would like a copy of the paper and/or to join our mailing list, please contact Caitlyn Olson (caitlynolson@fas.harvard.edu) or Arjun Nair (anair@fas.harvard.edu). We are also happy to respond to questions or comments and hope to see you at the workshop!

Paper details from John: "This paper considers the contested status of Christian monasticism and celibacy in early Islam, with a focus on the writings of al-Muhasibi and al-Junayd of Baghdad. The paper is part of a broader project to examine the ways in which early Muslims understood the relation of Muslim ascetic practice to Christian monasticism. It will form part of my dissertation on texts about asceticism in the late ancient and early Islamic Middle East."

Organized by the Mahindra Humanities Center