Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism

The Hadith and History research area at Al-Mahdi Institute is delighted to open registration for its upcoming conference: "Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism" on 9th - 10th July 2026.

The history of Islam is not limited to prominent political movements as the sole driving force behind its trajectory. Intellectual and religious movements have also played a significant role in shaping the course of Islamic history. Among them were the ghulāt movements within the Shia milieu, particularly in Kufa during the early period of Islam. Although these movements did not acquire political power, their impact on political, social, and cultural life was profound.

A careful study of Shiism’s history reveals that ghulāt movements were not entirely marginal within the Shia community in the early Islamic centuries. Rather, they had a considerable influence on shaping cultural dynamics and religious consciousness. There was an ongoing struggle among different factions surrounding the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, leading to the emergence of multiple forms of Shiism and competing interpretations of religious authority and doctrine.

Despite their historical significance, the study of ghulāt movements in early Shiism has not received sufficient academic attention. Their historical image remains obscure, and prevailing perceptions have often been shaped by later theological developments. This conference provides a platform to examine ghulāt movements through historical, theological, and contextual approaches, exploring their interaction with the transmitted Imāmī tradition and their influence on the development of Islamic thought and scholarship.

Tickets cost £35 per day or £60 for both days. Tickets include lunch and dinner for the chosen day(s).

Student tickets include a 20% discount on ticket prices. Please choose the correct ticket type at checkout.