gives a fluent and concise introduction to Christian life prior and after the Arab-Islamic conquests of the Levant including the phenomenon of conversion and martyrdom of executed Christian converts from Islam. Sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Visit&nbsp;. Use discount code AHP15 for 15% off purchases. Terms and conditions apply.&nbsp;

EP018 Dr. Christian Sahner on Christianity under the Caliphate

speaks passionately about not imposing simple sectarian or ethnic identities onto the history of the 's relationship with the Abbasid caliphate. Funny, candid and insightful. Sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Visit&nbsp;.

EP012 Dr. Eric Hanne on the Buyid Dynasty 934-1062CE: Rise, Fall and Legacy📉

To discuss with us the life, works and legacy of Shaykh al-Mufīd is . Dr. Bdaiwi completed his PhD at Exeter on Islamic intellectual history and is currently the Cook-Crone Research Bye-Fellow in Ancient and Medieval History at the university of Cambridge. Timestamps 00.00 Introduction 01.50 Shaykh al-Mufid was born in Baghdad around 948CE during the Shia Buyid dynasty's de facto control of the Abbasid caliphate and fifty years before the so-called 'Sunni Revival' with the reign of al-Qādir billāh in 991CE. Tell us about the socio-political and intellectual context of his life. 09.00 Shaykh al-Mufīd had a tumultuous life being exiled from Baghdad three times. He is also known as Ibn al-Muʿallim, son of the teacher, owing to his father's occupation. He dies in Ramadan 1022CE and is buried beside the sixth Shia imam Mūsā al-Kāẓim. What do we know about the life and career of Shaykh al-Mufīd? 15.16 Shaykh al-Mufīd has nearly 200 works attributed to him although only 10 survive. He was known to debate opponents and left a lasting legacy upon Islamic jurisprudence. What do we know about these works? 26.53 Shaykh al-Mufīd's land of birth continues to experience tumult between those who regard themselves as heirs to the conflicts of his time. He is commemorated annually on 9th September in Iran's official calendar. How do you evaluate Shaykh al-Mufīd's lasting legacy? 30.11 You are a co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Shiʿi Islam with Prof. Sajjad Rizvi. What are any other current projects listeners can anticipate? Sponsors We are sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit IHRC bookshop at  and use discount code AHP15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC bookshop for details.  We are also sponsored by Turath Publishing. Buy in time for Ramadan a limited edition of Mufti Taqi Usmani's new translation of the Quran with explanatory notes in a deluxe thermo-leather bound hard cover. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit Turath Publishing at  and use discount code POD15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact Turath Publishing for details.

EP025 Dr. Ahab Bdaiwi on Shaykh al-Mufīd (c.948-1022): Life, Works and Legacy of a Seminal Shia Scholar

Literally meaning "speech, word, utterance" among other things, Kalām or philosophy of religion within the Islamic ecumene has divided Muslim believers about it scope, methods and even its validity in itself. To give us a brief history of Kalām is the presenter of a new podcast devoted to explaining Kalām to the uninitiated, . Dr. Erlwein completed her PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies on Arguments for the Existence of God in Classical Islamic Thought which is now published and she is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Das Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte or Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. Timestamps 01.45 The term Kalām appears in the formative Abbasid period of early Islamic doctrine. What is the socio-political and intellectual-cultural context of its birth and development? 07.13 The practitioner of Kalām is known as a mutakallim. Tell us about some notable figures in the tradition. 11.43 The Islamic scholastic tradition across different school has a culture of texts, commentaries, supra-commentaries and summaries. This is helpful to trace genealogies of thought. Tell us about the contents of the earliest extant Kalām works and subsequent texts. 15.30 What do you feel is the enduring legacy of medieval Kalām for our world today and where should listeners turn to next for more information? 19.27 You currently host Kalamopod, a new podcast dedicated to the history of Kalām. Before you tell us more about that and other current projects that listeners can anticipate, tell us about your book Arguments for the Existence of God in Classical Islamic Thought. Sponsors We are sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit IHRC bookshop at&nbsp;&nbsp;and use discount code AHP15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC bookshop for details.  We are also sponsored by Turath Publishing. Buy now&nbsp;An Introduction to Sahih al-Bukhari&nbsp;by Mustafa al-Azami. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit Turath Publishing at&nbsp;&nbsp;and use discount code POD15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact Turath Publishing for details. &nbsp;

🎟EP029 Dr. Hannah Erlwein from Kalamopod on a brief history of Kalām (philosophy of religion within the Islamic ecumene)

gives an introduction to the eponymous 'founder' of the Hanafi school of Sunni law. He tackles misconceptions about Abu Hanafi's standing as hadith transmitter and allegations of his Murjia heresy.  Sponsored by

EP014 Dr. Salman Younas on Abū Ḥanīfa (d. 767CE): Life, Works and Legacy

In and around 869CE, African slaves used to cultivate the salt marshes of Basra in present-day Iraq revolted against their master. Led by an ʿAlī b. Muḥammad, a charismatic messianic figure, their uprising would prove to very damaging to an already beleaguered Abbasid caliphate before being finally crushed in 883CE.  To explain the cause, details and significance of the Zanj revolt is , co-author of the "Chains of Finance" published by Oxford University Press. Timestamps 00.00 Introduction 02.09 The Zanj Revolt occurred in the salt marshes around Basra while the Caliphate was already preoccupied with their longtime Byzantine nemesis and other civil conflicts. What do we know about socio-political and economic context of the Zanj Revolt and the religio-cultural cauldron of the time? 09.55 There were prior unsuccessful revolts but the 869 revolt would prove devastating with siege and sacking of major cities. Narrate for us the contours of events. 28.07 An enigmatic leader emerges called ʿAlī b. Muḥammad who claims descent from the Prophet's household and other elements disenfranchised with the Caliphate join the revolt. What do we about this figure? 36.43 The long term consequences and analysis of events are disputed by historians some emphasising class over race, if it isn't anachronistic to use those term. The legacy of slavery is a sore point for many Muslims and Arabs today. How do you evaluate the Zanj revolt in the bigger scheme of things? 51.45 You are a co-author of "Chains of Finance" on a subject which seems a far call from medieval Iraq and Iran, that being contemporary investment management and you also translate Persian. What are other current projects our listeners can anticipate? Sponsors We are sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit IHRC bookshop at  and use discount code AHP15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC bookshop for details.  We are also sponsored by Turath Publishing. Buy in time for Ramadan a limited edition of Mufti Taqi Usmani's new translation of the Quran with explanatory notes in a deluxe thermo-leather bound hard cover. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit Turath Publishing at  and use discount code POD15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact Turath Publishing for details.

EP026 Dr. Philip Grant on the Zanj Revolt 869-883CE: A Slave Uprising against the Caliphate

Hayrettin Yücesoy is a historian with a specialization in the premodern Middle East. His scholarly interests revolve around the intricate realm of political thought and practice, covering themes such as political messianism, monarchy, republican practices, visions of social order throughout premodern literature, and the historiography of these subjects. In his written works and publications, Yücesoy delves into the convergence of discourse and political practice, unraveling the polyphonic and dialogic nature of texts. His research endeavors aim to uncover unconventional and dissenting voices, which act as a counterpoint to both contemporary and premodern "master narratives." Yücesoy is interested in discourse and social position and in the language's capacity not only to articulate but also to shape life-worlds. Throughout his career, Yücesoy has contributed to scholarship through publications in English, Arabic, and Turkish. His recent research revolves around the discourses of "good governance" as a point of entry for tracing the lineage of non-theological and non-ulema-centric political discourses in Middle Eastern history. His latest monograph, Disenchanting the Caliphate: The Secular Discipline of Power in Abbasid Political Thought from Columbia University Press is a significant contribution to the history of political thought in the Middle East. Closely reading key eighth-century texts, Yücesoy argues that the ulema’s discourse of religious governance and the political thought of lay intellectuals diverged during this foundational period, with enduring consequences. He traces how notions of good governance and reflections on prudent statecraft arose among cosmopolitan literati who envisioned governing as an art and illuminates the emergence and impact of a vibrant secular political thought tradition that spread across regions and over centuries. Disenchanting the Caliphate provides an insightful and thought-provoking reconsideration of key aspects of political discourse in the intellectual history of Muslim societies. In his previous monograph, Messianic Beliefs and Imperial Politics in Medieval Islam: The Abbasid Caliphate in the Early Ninth Century, Yücesoy embarks on an analytical journey to understand the interplay between ideology and practice, using the political actions of the early ninth century Abbasid caliph as a specific case study. In an earlier monograph, The Development of Sunni Political Thought: The Formative Period (published in Arabic), Yücesoy traces the emergence of Sunni political discourse against the backdrop of socio-political and theological developments between the 8th and 10th centuries. Going through a wealth of textual sources, he illuminates how the Sunnis developed a political awareness that treaded a fine line between monarchical rule and “electoral consent” in the context of their dialogic engagement with the caliphate, sectarian formations, and lay bureaucrat-scholars. Yücesoy's related scholarly work has also been featured in prominent journals and published volumes. The list of publications includes titles such as "Language of Empire: Politics of Arabic and Persian in the Abbasid World," "Translation as Self-Consciousness: The Abbasid Translation Movement, Ancient Sciences, and Antediluvian Wisdom (ca. 750-850)," "Ancient Imperial Heritage and Islamic Universal Historiography: Al-Dinawari’s Secular Perspective," "Political Anarchism, Dissent, and Marginal Groups in the Early Ninth Century: The Ṣufis of the Mu’tazila Revisited," and "Justification of Political Authority in Medieval Sunni Thought." Yücesoy's current academic responsibilities encompass teaching a range of courses, including premodern political thought and practice, &nbsp;the history of slavery, the life of the prophet Muhammad, the history of Islamic civilization, the history of food, and premodern Islamic history. His teaching methodology, much like his research, is in harmony with a critical...

🕸EP046 Prof. Hayrettin Yücesoy on his new book "Disenchanting the Caliphate"

It is often difficult to reconstruct the water infrastructure at historical sites due to recent building and patchy excavation and survival. In this episode we look at a site in which we can see a great deal of the water supply as a connected system, and how it developed over time: the great late antique White Monastery on the edge of the Egyptian desert. Speaker: Louise Blanke. Interviewer: Edmund Hayes. Louise Blanke is Senior lecturer in Late Antique Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, and has written extensively on late antique and early Islamic archaeology and the archaeology of Egyptian monasticism. This episode was produced by Edmund Hayes and Jouke Heringa. Further reading Louise Blanke, Archaeology of Egyptian Monasticism, Settlement, Economy and Daily Life at the White Monastery Federation (New Haven: 2019) Louise Blanke, “Life on the Desert’s Edge: The Water Supply of a Late Antique Monastery in Egypt.” In J. Kuhlmann Madsen, N.O. Andersen and I. Thuesen (eds.) Water of Life, 130-143 (Copenhagen: Orbis, 2016).  Edmund Hayes      Abbasid History Podcast is sponspored by IHRC Bookshop Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases online and in-store.&nbsp; Visit IHRC bookshop at&nbsp;&nbsp;and use discount code AHP15 at checkout.&nbsp; Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC bookshop for details.

💧EP051 GUEST EPISDODE (6/8) Water and the White Monastery: Water Management at a Single Site

Thomas Bauer's "A Culture of Ambiguity" stands out as one of the most important contributions to Islamic Studies in recent decades. First published in German in 2011, it wasn't until 2021 that it became available in English. Bauer's three decades of knowledge and expertise shine through in the work, which earned him the &nbsp;Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Award in Germany. It is rare for an academic book rich in insights for specialists to also be engaging enough for general readers, yet this is exactly what Bauer has achieved. However our guest today has an essay published in the Maydan journal online journal interogating Bauer's conceptualisation of "ambiguity" and its application in the history of islamic culture.  Faheem A. Hussain is an independent researcher. He has a BA (Hons.) in Arabic and Islamic studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, a PGCE in Religious Studies from Roehampton University, and an MA in philosophy from Heythrop College, University of London. His writings can be found at  and . Faheem's article:   Timestamps 02:11 You say in your essay:&nbsp; Now this does not pretend to be anything but a critical review of Bauer, interrogating his ideas of ambiguity, its coherence and implications, and despite my best efforts in civility, there’s no hiding my polemical intent. Even so, I wish to insist that this book is a product of a fine mind and generous soul, and that I have no doubt that if anyone reads the book, they will only leave more humbled, indebted as well as greatly enriched by reading it. Without a doubt, this is a book that should be read as well as kept on a shelf. Before we start why don't you give us an overview of the book and what he liked best about it. 16:23 At the heart of Bauer's work is this concept of Ambiguity. Tell us what he means by this and your reservations. 37:52 For me, my favourite parts were on the divergent readings of the Quran and the difference between the comfort of medieval scholars about that, particularly Ibn al-Jazari and the anxiety of modern Muslims. Though at first blush the late Saudi-Salafi cleric, Sheikh Ibn al-ʿUthaymin and the Pakistani activist al-Mawdudi, God be kind to their souls, might seem apart yet they share the same modern anxiety about ambiguity according to Bauer. It seems you are more on board with him on this then his other applications of ambiguity in the cultural history of Islam. 49:25 Like you, I wasn't convinced by his thoughts on the concept of foreigness in Islamic cultural history. You also take him to task on his take on homoerotica. I also feel that with current debate about gender and the like whether it makes sense to say there is a lack of ambiguity in contemporary culture. I feel if we had experts on medieval, early modern and modern Europe as Bauer is an expert on medieval Arabic whether we would have better insights on ambiguity as a concept. 01:03:52 And finally before we end tell us where listeners can turn next to learn more about today's topic and what are other current projects that listeners can anticipate?  Works mentioned in episode: , Did Modernity End Polyvalence? Some Observations on Tolerance for Ambiguity in Sunni&nbsp;tafsīr   Traditional Islam, Ideology, Immigrant Muslims, and Grievance Culture: A Review of Travelling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe by Abdal Hakim Murad    Frank Griffel, The Formation of Post-Classical Philosophy in Islam    Sponsored by&nbsp; Get 15% off with discount code AHP15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC Bookshop for details.

📖EP055 Faheem Hussain on Thomas Bauer's "A Culture of Ambiguity: An Alternative History of Islam"

Originally recorded 21 August 2019 via Zencastr. Produced by Talha Ahsan. 00.00 Introduction and biography 01.45  02.25  03.30 A survey of Arabic commentaries 04.20 Why look at paediatrics? 05.25 On the five aphorisms of paediatrics  06.55 Commentators disputing classifications within paediatrics 07.55 On the importance of Galen to the Arabic commentators  09.23 On how Galen can elucidate Hippocratic paediatrics 11.10 On translators as trained philologists as well as medics 12.39 Arabic commentators disputing Galen 14.45 Arabic commentators rejecting Galen 16.06 Gendered division of theoretical and practical medicine? 18.50 Resemblance to scriptural commentaries? 20.04 Arabic commentaries as historical sources of lost Greek commentaries 21.30 On learning Greek, Hebrew and Syriac as an Arabist     23.13 Introductory texts to medieval Islamic sciences Medieval Islamic MedicinePeter E. Pormann + Emilie Savage-Smith (Edinburgh University Press 2007) Islamic Science and the Making of the European RenaissanceGeorge Salibas (MIT Press 2007) 24.25 On studying a PhD for a topic not of your choosing 29.00 Forthcoming projects and on going from Manchester to New York Mighty Have Fallen by Ruth Dinosaur (c) Dr. Emily Selove (2019)  You can follow Dr. van Dalen on Twitter  &nbsp;

EP007 Dr. Elaine van Dalen on Arabic commentaries on Hippocratic paediatrics

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