In October IMES, in conjunction with the Alwaleed Centre, will be marking the 50th anniversary of W. Montgomery Watt’s inaugural address as the first Chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Scotland with an evening and day of events.
This promises to be a most memorable occasion and will provide an opportunity not only to assess the state of the field since Professor Watt’s pioneering work but will also emphasise the continuing strength of Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
Both events will be held in the Playfair Library at the University of Edinburgh and are open to the public.
The programme:
Friday, 23 October, 6-8pm
On Friday evening, we will feature two celebrated scholars of early Islam.
Professor Carole Hillenbrand of the University of Edinburgh will begin proceedings with a presentation on ‘Montgomery Watt, the man and the scholar’.
Professor Fred Donner of the University of Chicago will follow with a lecture on ‘The Study of Islam's Origins since W. Montgomery Watt's Publications'.
To conclude the evening's programme, Dr Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh, will offer a short talk on Professor Watt's religious life.
Saturday, 24 October, 9.30-5.30pm
The following day, Saturday, 24 October, we will be holding an academic colloquium titled, ‘Representations of Muhammad’. This will bring together scholars from both Edinburgh and abroad
Chair: Dr Andrew Marsham, University of Edinburgh
9.30-10.15am
Professor Wilferd Madelung, Institute of Ismaili Studies
Muhammad, Khadija and ‘Umar
Coffee: 10:15-10:45am
10.45-11.30am
Dr Nicolai Sinai, University of Oxford
Muhammad and the Prophetology of the Medinan Qur'an
11.30am-12.15pm
Dr Andreas Goerke, University of Edinburgh
Muhammad and Zaynab bint Jahsh: Between History and Exegesis
Lunch (12:15pm-1:30pm)
1.30-2.15pm
Dr Christiane Gruber, University of Michigan
Muhammad among the Great Men of the World: Enlightenment, Nationhood, and Early 20th-Century Iranian Carpets
2:15-3:00pm
Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz, University of Edinburgh
Representing Muhammad on Screen
Coffee (3:00-3:30pm)
3.30-4:15pm
Dr John Tolan, University of Nantes
The Ecumenical Turn: Massignon, Watt, and 20th-century European Scholarship on Muhammad
Roundtable with all Participants: 4:15-5:15pm
Photography & filming
This event may be photographed and/or recorded for promotional or recruitment materials for the University or University approved third parties.
For any further information contact the organiser
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Watt.Anniversary@ed.ac.uk