It is a fact that several of the foremost specialists in Islamic mysticism have been Catholic priests and religious, from Louis Massignon, Georges Anawati, and Louis Gardet in the last century to Giuseppe Scattolin, a Comboni missionary from the Province of Trento, who passed away on 27 April this year after devoting his entire life to the study of the Egyptian mystical poet Ibn al-Fārid (1181–1235). Father Scattolin was a member of our Institute. Almost instinctively, without relying on elaborate strategies or extensive resources, these religious recognized in Sufism a privileged gateway to understanding Islamic civilization and engaging with Muslims. Their interest, expressed through a vast body of critical editions, translations, and scholarly studies, raises several important questions. Is it possible to enter into the spirituality of another faith while remaining firmly rooted in one’s own? Or does one instead run the risk of unintentionally distorting it? Where should the boundary be drawn between academic research, pastoral ministry, and personal spiritual quest? And how have Muslims—and Sufis in particular—responded to this sustained interest in their doctrines and practices? These questions were at the heart of the conference Priests and Sufis, brilliantly organized by our friend Riccardo Paredi of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. The Anawati Chair gave the conference exceptional visibility by bringing together nearly ninety students and researchers involved in the Chair’s activities. The event demonstrated how this body of scholarship contributes to the advancement of Christian–Muslim dialogue.
Read Prof. Martino Diez’s article
Anawati Chair: “Of Priest and Sufis” conference
On June 6 and 7, under the scientific direction of Mr. Riccardo Paredi, researcher in Islamic studies at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, and in partnership with the University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, the conference “Of Priests and Sufis” was held. See the program…
Talks
On June 1, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave a presentation titled “Ecological Reflection in the Muslim Theologian ʿAbd al-Ǧabbar al-Rifaʿī and its Ethical Consequences for Interreligious Dialogue” as part of the “Religion and Ecology” study day held at the al-Mowafaqa Institute in Rabat.
On June 2, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave a lecture at the al-Mowafaqa Institute to mark the end of the academic year on the topic “Ecology, a New ‘Theological Locus’ for Christian-Muslim Dialogue”.
Framework Agreement
On June 8, IDEO signed a framework agreement with the Rector of the Omnia Omnibus University of Kinshasa.
Field research grants (1 to 3 months)
IDEO offers field research grants of one to three months for students in Islamic studies at the Master’s, PhD, or post-doctoral level, who are enrolled in a French university or institute.
For more information, see the call for applications (In French)…
Introduction to Islamic Studies
From June 22 to 26, Jean Druel, OP organized an introductory session on Islamic studies for a group of Jesuit and Elizabethan novices. He delivered a lecture on the history of the Arabic language. Aziz Hilal gave an introduction to the history of Arabic philosophy, and Adrien Candiard, OP presented an introduction to Muslim theology.
International Workshop
From 2 to 4 June, Matthieu Palayret, op took part in the workshop “Problem Areas, Disciplinary Boundaries, and Scholarly Practice in the Post-Formative Period”, held in Ghent, Belgium. The workshop was organized by Professor Islam Dayeh and his research team as part of the ERC KNOW project on polymathy in the premodern Islamic world.
Academic Collaboration
On 12 and 13 June, Matthieu Palayret participated in the inaugural events marking the launch of the academic collaboration program between Algeria and the United Kingdom, as well as the inauguration of the Emir Abdelkader Al-Jazairi Chair at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
Conferences
On June 30 and July 1, Matthieu Palayret, together with Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP and Marie-Dominique Minassian, organized a two-day conference at the Dominican convent of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, on the topic “The Testimony of the Monks of Tibhirine”. The conference marked the thirtieth anniversary of the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine.
Visits
From June 4 to 7, we welcomed Mr. Andreas Lammer, Director of the Avicenna Center in Bochum.
From June 7 to 12, we welcomed Dr. Christian Ngazain, Rector of the Omnia Omnibus Catholic University of Kinshasa.
Scholars’ House
During the month of June, we had the pleasure of welcoming the following researchers to the Scholars’ House:
- Ms. Hanane Raoui, a Moroccan researcher specializing in Islamic thought and Christian-Muslim dialogue;
- Mr. Mehmet Balsever, a Turkish researcher in Islamic studies, whose work focuses particularly on Sufism and Islamic philosophy;
- Mr. Naveed Sheikh, a professor of international relations at Quaid-i-Azam University, specializing in the relations between religion, politics, and Islam;
- Mr. Christian Krokus, a theologian and professor of theology, specializing in interreligious dialogue, particularly relations between Christianity and Islam;
- Mr. Mathis Pineau and Mr. Benoît Lemesle, history students from the University of Angers, as part of their Master’s internship. They were accompanied by Mr. Sami Benkherfallah, their director.