Call for Papers: Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism

Al-Mahdi Institute invites submissions for its second international Hadith and History conference titled, ‘Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism’ to be held on 9th – 10th February 2026 at Al-Mahdi Institute.

The deadline for abstract submissions is Monday, 3rd November 2025.

Introduction

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, which led to the emergence of multiple forms of Shiism. The ghulāt generally favoured a more esoteric, allegorical interpretation of Shiism, whereas other factions sought to present Shiism in a way that aligned more closely with the broader Islamic milieu. As a result, two distinct trends emerged: a Shiism that was symbolic, esoteric, allegorical, and anagogical versus a Shiism that was legal, historical, and theological. This struggle was settled in the fourth and fifth centuries AH within the Baghdad school, which formulated a version of Shiism that remained dominant for many centuries.

The study of ghulāt movements in early Shiism has not received enough academic attention. The Shiite tradition has often approached the issue of ghuluww through jurisprudential works, biographical evaluations (ʿilm al-rijāl), and sectarian studies (al-firaq). However, the historical image of these movements remains obscure, and the prevailing attitudes towards them have been shaped by the version of Shiism established by the Baghdad school. This version was preceded by the critical Qom school, which waged a broader battle against the ghulāt.

Thus, there is a need for rigorous historical studies on early Shiism, focusing on the interplay between the so-called ghulāt factions and those inclined toward theological and jurisprudential discourse. Such research would aim to trace the formation of Shiism in its earliest stages and thereby determine which of the two schools had more influence on contemporary Shiite heritage. Additionally, it would seek to assess the extent to which these currents are present in the existing body of Imāmī hadith literature.

This conference provides a platform to examine ghulāt movements and their related dimensions through historical, theological, and contextual approaches. It seeks to examine the interactions between ghulāt movements and the transmitted Imāmī tradition, explore whether the prevailing narrative of ghuluww today is genuine, and investigate whether the ghulāt influenced the Islamic sciences among the Imāmīs, such as the legal sciences, hadith studies and early Islamic historiography. The papers presented at this conference will be published in an edited volume. This two-day conference invites abstracts related to – but not exclusive of – the following topics:

• The role of the ghulāt in Shi’a political thought
• The relationship between ghulāt factions and early Shi’a dynasties.
• Defining ghuluww, and its historical roots. What are the reasons behind the emergence of ghulāt movements and their ideas among the Shi’a in Kufan society?
• The role of ghulāt in shaping the compilation of Shi’a hadith.
• The influence of ghulāt figures in the development of Shi’a hadith criticism.
• Analysing the authenticity of narrations attributed to ghulāt
• The ghulāt origins of mainstream Twelver beliefs and practices
• The impact of ghulāt on the perception of Imamate in Shi’a thought.
• Historical interactions between the Imams and the ghulāt
• Ghulāt interpretations of the Qur’an.
• The methods of the ghulāt in interpreting the Qur’an and their views on its distortion.
• The unique theological positions of the ghulāt and their impact on Shi’a Kalam.
• Ghulāt views on free will, predestination, and the nature of divine knowledge.
• Criticism of the Qom/Baghdad/Rayy school of thought of the ghulāt
• The influence of the ghulāt on the development of Shi’a mystical traditions.
• A historical overview of the rise and fall of various ghulāt
• Key figures in the ghulāt tradition and their long-lasting impacts on Shi’a culture.
• The decline of ghulāt influence in the modern Shi’a world.
• How did the Sunni scholars perceive the phenomenon of the ghulāt and their relationship with Shi’ism?

We also welcome proposals that offer innovative theoretical frameworks or comparative analyses that can shed light on the phenomenon of ghulāt across Islamic sectarian boundaries.

The Conference

This conference is organised by Al-Mahdi Institute in collaboration with AMI Press. Shortlisted abstracts are expected to be developed into a full academic paper. Upon successful completion of all publication requirements, contributors will be awarded an honorarium. Al-Mahdi Institute will cover all reasonable travel and accommodation costs. The proceedings of the workshop will be published in the form of an edited book in 2027. The language of the workshop (and published papers) will be English only. The workshop will run over two days, each having 6–8 papers, and includes lunch, refreshments, and dinner. Each paper should last no more than 20 minutes. All presenters are required to stay for the full two days.

Schedule for Submissions

• Abstracts: The deadline for abstracts is Monday, 3 November 2025. Abstracts should be 300–500 words and should be submitted along with a CV (maximum 2 pages, with a listing of the applicant’s publications and recent work experience) in either MS Word or PDF format. Authors should also provide a short biography of themselves.
• Shortlisting Abstracts: Abstracts shortlisted for the workshop will be notified by Monday, 24 November 2025.
• Workshop: Selected abstracts will be invited for a two-day workshop on 9-10 February 2026 at the Al-Mahdi Institute, 60 Weoley Park Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6RB. The workshop co-ordinator will arrange travel and accommodation for you.
• Full papers: Final papers must be submitted by Monday 13 July 2026. Papers should be presented in line with the house style of AMI Press and have a word count between 8,000–12,000 words maximum, excluding bibliography.
• The final submissions will undergo a peer review and editing process and subsequently will be published in an edited volume in partnership with Brill.

Submission of Abstracts

An abstract of no more than 500 words should be submitted in the form of a MS Word document or PDF attached to haidar.hobbollah@almahdi.edu by 17:00 UK time, 3 November 2025. Applicants should submit a CV with a listing of publications and recent employment history.

Submissions Process (Full papers)

Full papers should be submitted in the form of a MS Word document attached to an email to haidar.hobbollah@almahdi.edu no later than 17:00 UK time, 13 July 2026.

The first page of the manuscript should contain the following:

• The title
• The name(s) and institutional affiliation of the author(s)
• Short biography
• The address, telephone, and email address of the corresponding author(s)
• An abstract of 300 words maximum
• A bibliography
• 6 keywords.

Final submissions should be 8,000–12,000 words, excluding the bibliography, and written in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style. Any specific conventions adopted by AMI Press will be communicated to authors in due course.