The Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo (Tobunken) will host a lecture by Dr. I-Wen Su (National Chengchi University) on “ ‘Who I was his master, ʿAlī is his master’: The Narrative Development of a Shīʿī Hadith and Its Transmitters in the Eighth Century” on December 4 (Wed). Those who are interested in participating in the event online are cordially invited to register in advance by December 1 (details below).
Lecture Title :
‘Who I was his master, ʿAlī is his master’: the Narrative Development of a Shīʿī Hadith and Its Transmitters in the Eighth Century
Speaker :
Dr. I-Wen Su (Professor in Islamic Studies at Department of Arabic Language and Culture, National Chengchi University; https://arabic.nccu.edu.tw/PageStaffing/Detail?fid=6949&id=2472)
Chair :
Dr. Kazuo Morimoto (Professor in Islamic and Iranian History, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo)
Date and Time : December 4 (Wed), 2024, at 18:00-19:40 (JST)
Venue :
Conference Room No. 1, The Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia 3F, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo (東京大学東洋文化研究所3階、第一会議室), and online via Zoom.
Lecture Abstract:
This lecture addresses a Prophetic tradition, ‘Who I was his master, ʿAlī is his master’ (man kuntu mawlāhu fa-ʿAlī mawlāhu). This hadith is cited by Shīʿī and Sunnī Muslims alike to articulate ʿAlī’s exclusive legitimacy to rule or his privileged standing in the first Muslim community; however, its origins remain understudied. The lecturer will present the results of an analysis of this Prophetic hadith through the isnād-cum-matn method, which not only pinpoint the time of its circulation or creation, but also identify the key transmitters responsible for the circulation of its variants. The sectarian tendencies of the pivotal figures in the dissemination of this hadith as depicted in early Arabic biography also provide valuable insights which can help to navigate the ambiguous sectarian boundaries in early Islam.
How to Participate:
Pre-registration is required for online participants.Please fill in the form at https://tinyurl.com/yphprp2h, by Dec 1, at 24:00 JST. In-person attendance does not require registration.
Contact Person: Naoki Nishiyama (nishiyama[at]ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp)
This event is organized by the JSPS Kakenhi Project “ ‘Sunnis’ and ‘Shi'is’: Historical Inquiries into Confessional Identities and Mutual Perceptions” (23H00674) based at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo.