The Chair for Hadith Studies and Prophetic Tradition presents its research in UK conferences
In May and June 2023, the Chair for Hadith Studies and Prophetic Traditions at the Center for Muslim Theology at Tübingen University participated and presented its work in a number of conferences in the United Kingdom. On May 16, the second day of the annual conference of the British Association of Islamic Studies, held this year at the Agha Khan University in London, the team participated in an organized panel, presenting its work on hadith hermeneutics, sira, and problematic hadiths. Prof. Ruggero Vimercati Sanseverino emphasized in his presentation the scholarly potential of the methods of Islamic theology in European academia, reflecting on the experience of Islamic theology centers in Germany. He illustrated this potential through his own research on hadith hermeneutics. Besnik Sinani, on the other hand, addressed debates and contestations in modern sira hermeneutics. Hossam Ouf concluded the panel with a paper on problematic hadiths.
In June, the team participated in the European Academy of Religion Annual Conference, held at the University of St. Andrews. Prof. Sanseverino was the representative Muslim theologian at the opening ceremony, held at the Younger Hall. In his opening remarks, Prof. Sanseverino argued that the academic study of Islamic Theology in Europe offers refreshed potential in addressing the question over the role of religion in facing the challenges of preserving and developing an European identity in the context of a progressively multi-polar world, located between giants like the US, China, Russia, and India. Given the diverse Muslim populations of Europe, what role should Islam play in addressing such questions of identity? He spoke, likewise, of the importance of the project of the St. Andrews Encyclopedia of Religion in providing a common theological source of reference. Finally, he spoke of the inspiring role of the late Prof. Christof Schwöbel, mentioning his own learning experience in his encounters with the late Prof. Schwöbel, “who showed me what it means to do theology in an academic way, with both clarity and depth”.
As contributors to the forthcoming St. Andrews Encyclopedia of Religion, Prof. Sanseverino and Sinani spoke of their research in recorded interviews, which will be used to promote the content of the new Encyclopedia. The three scholars presented other aspects of their work on hadith hermeneutics, sira, Sufism and problematic hadiths at St. Mary’s College, which hosted the majority of presentations focusing on Islamic theology.
These conference participations were not only occasions to promote the work of the Chair, but also an opportunity to bring the research of the Chair into conversations with scholars of different institutions, with publishers, and theologians of different faith traditions.
