Date: 25–27 October 2027
Location: Tunis, Tunisia
Abstract: Approximately 300 words
Abstract deadline: 16 November 2026
Languages: Arabic, French and English
Travel & accommodation: Provided by Leiden University
Submit to: f.c.lindo-dunn@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Leiden University is organizing an international conference titled “Literary Topographies: Storied Landscapes of the Premodern Muslim World c. 650–1650 CE”, which will take place in Tunis, Tunisia, from 25 to 27 October 2027. The conference explores how literary and narrative traditions shaped the way places were remembered, imagined and understood across the premodern Muslim world, from the Atlantic coast to Sindh.
Rather than viewing landscapes simply as physical settings for historical events, the conference examines how stories, memories and literary traditions gave places cultural and historical meaning. It will consider cities, forts, battlefields, shrines, cemeteries, ruins, rivers, deserts and mountains as sites shaped by narratives including hagiographies, chronicles, biographies, poetry, geographical writings, religious literature, epics and legends.
The organizers invite papers addressing questions such as how literary topographies contributed to local identities, how ancient civilizations were remembered, how political and dynastic interests influenced representations of places, and how stories circulated across different regions. Contributions may also examine the ways landscapes expressed claims to power, ancestry, holiness and belonging, as well as interactions between local and transregional geographical traditions.
The call is open to senior and junior scholars, advanced graduate students and independent researchers. Selected papers will have 20 minutes for presentation followed by 20 minutes of discussion, and the organizers plan to publish the papers in a collected volume. The conference languages are Arabic, French and English. Importantly, Leiden University will provide travel and accommodation for participants.

Date: 1 May 2027
Location: The Islamic College, London, UK
Format: In person
Abstract submission deadline: 20 November 2026
Contact: conference@islamic-college.ac.uk

The Islamic College in London is organizing its annual Islamic Studies Conference on 1 May 2027, bringing together scholars and researchers to examine contemporary challenges through the framework of Islamic ideas and ideals. The 2027 conference will focus on the question: “What does it mean to live well in the 21st century in accordance with Islamic ideas and ideals?”
The conference invites academic contributions exploring how Islamic thought can engage with both longstanding and emerging challenges of the 21st century. Suggested areas include:
• artificial intelligence
• environmental issues
• social media
• religion and science
• capitalism and economic structures
• socioeconomic inequality
• biotechnology
• geopolitical instability
• globalization
• global health
• education
• changing social norms
• faith and secularism
• sectarianism and ideological conflict
• Islamic futurisms
• new trends in Islamic thought.
The conference will be held in person at The Islamic College in London, UK. Researchers and scholars interested in contributing are invited to submit an abstract by 20 November 2026. The organizers encourage submissions that critically explore contemporary issues and consider how Islamic intellectual traditions and perspectives can contribute to addressing the challenges of modern life.

The Gerda Henkel Foundation is a German foundation supporting research in the historical humanities. Its priority areas include history, archaeology, history of art, history of law, history of science and Historical Islamic Studies. Its funding programs cover researchers at different stages, from doctoral candidates to postdoctoral scholars.
The Foundation’s PhD Scholarship supports highly qualified doctoral candidates whose research shows exceptional academic promise. Historical Islamic Studies is explicitly listed among the priority fields. Applicants must have been admitted to a doctoral program, and the scholarship is intended for the research phase of the dissertation rather than for completing a PhD after other funding has ended.
The scholarship provides a €1,920 monthly base stipend for 12–24 months, with a possible extension of up to 12 additional months in justified cases. Additional support may include travel funding, research materials, an overseas allowance and family allowances. Around 50 PhD scholarships are currently awarded each year.
The PhD program is aimed at exceptionally qualified early-career researchers in the historical humanities. Applicants must already have admission to doctoral studies. The Foundation’s current requirements also include an age and academic-performance criterion: candidates must not yet have turned 28 at the time of the qualifying degree, and the overall degree grade generally must be 1.5 or better under the German grading system.
For scholars who have already completed a PhD, the Foundation offers Research Scholarships for independent research projects. Historical Islamic Studies is again explicitly included among the priority fields. Postdoctoral researchers receive €2,760 per month, with funding normally lasting 1–24 months. Applicants with a PhD generally must have received it within the previous 10 years.
The Foundation also supports larger or more specific research projects through its Research Grants program. Funding can support research-related personnel, travel, materials and other project costs. Smaller grants of up to €30,000 can be submitted at any time, while larger applications are considered through the Foundation’s regular selection process.

Call for Papers
Date: January 24-25, 2026
Venue: Boğaziçi University, South Campus, Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract Submission Deadline: October 17, 2025 @ 5pm GMT
Organizers: The British Association for Islamic Studies (BRAIS), and Boğaziçi University Development Foundation (BUVAKIF)

The British Association for Islamic Studies is co-hosting a landmark international winter symposium at Boğaziçi University, Istanbul. The purpose of this symposium is to dissolve barriers in the Global Majority and transcend structural boundaries to academia often experienced by scholars in Europe and North America. As a means knowledge exchange, submissions from scholars who face economic constraints and structural barriers from attending the Annual International Conference are especially welcomed.

To expand knowledge exchange with Global Majority scholars and diversify Anglosphere academia, this unique Istanbul symposium facilitates exchange amid legalized genocide in Gaza, inequality, and academic silencing. Scholars globally, from all Islamic Studies disciplines, are invited to present research. Proposals for individual papers or whole panels are welcomed from senior, early-career, and non-academic experts.

Within the Symposium’s theme of Islamic Studies research during global crisis and injustice, Islamic Studies is broadly understood to include all topics and disciplinary approaches relating to the study of Islam and Muslim societies. This includes all time periods from the formative to the classical, and pre-modern to the contemporary. Subjects and approaches include, but are not limited to, the following suggested areas:

• Blackness, Islam and African Diaspora Studies
• Cultural Studies, Critique and Postcolonial Studies
• Decolonizing the Curriculum, including New Periodization and (Inter)Disciplinary Approaches
• Capitalism and Islamic Finance
• Climate Change, Islamic Approaches to Ecology and Environmental Humanities
• Ethics (Medical & Finance) and Islam
• Genocide Studies, Scholasticide and Epistemicide
• History of the Premodern Islamicate:
  • Arab/Ottoman/Persianate worlds
  • Indian Ocean, trans-Saharan, Mediterranean, and Atlantic trade and slavery
  • Genocide, migration, and diaspora formation
• Indigenous and Islamic Epistemologies
• Intellectual History, the History of Science, the History of Political Thought
• Islam and Muslims in the Media, Critical Film Studies
• Islamic liberation theology and theologies of resistance
• Islamophobia and Racism Studies
• Peacebuilding, Violence and Social Movements in the Muslim World
• Postcolonial Muslim Societies and Subaltern Studies
• Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology
• Religious praxis, family, and relationships in Muslim Societies
• Traditional Islamic Studies Fields, including:
  • Hadith Studies
  • Philosophy, Theology and Ethics
  • Qur’anic and Tafsir Studies
  • Sufism and Mysticism

Abstract Submission:

For individual papers, a 200-word abstract of the paper should be submitted along with your details using the form available via this link.

Panel Proposal Submission:

BRAIS particularly welcomes proposals for whole panels curated around certain themes or methodologies. Panels will ideally include four individual papers, but panels of three individual papers will also be considered. For panels, a 200-word outline of the theme of the panel, together with 200-word abstracts of each individual paper and the biography of each presenter should be submitted using the form available via this link.

Submission Deadline:

The deadline for paper and panel submissions has been extended to Friday 17 October 2025 at 5pm GMT.

If you have any questions, they might be addressed on FAQ page. For any other questions, please contact the BRAIS directly: brais@ed.ac.uk

In the spirit of inclusivity and transcending barriers to knowledge exchange, BRAIS will provide Fee Waivers to a number of scholars whose papers are accepted, based on structural financial disadvantage.

Important Dates:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: October 17, 2025
• Registration Start: November 5, 2025
• Bursary Application Deadline: November 30, 2025
• Symposium Presentation: January 25-26, 2025

More information at:  The British Association for Islamic Studies (BRAIS)

The 3^rd International “Muallem Prize”
Recognizing teachers, instructors, and educators with outstanding achievements in the field of education

Call for Registration
Registration Deadline: November 21, 2025

The Muallem Prize is awarded by the Borhan Non-Profit Educational Foundation to individuals who have played an effective and significant role in the field of education and societal training. This award is presented in various categories, including Best Teacher, Best Film with an Educational Theme, and more. It aims to honor and elevate the social status of teachers and may be granted to one or more recipients jointly.

Eligible Participants

Teachers and educators with at least five years of prior experience who plan to continue their educational work for at least the next three years.

Candidates must be directly involved in educational and developmental activities for individuals aged 18 or younger in settings such as schools, mosques, training centers, clubs, charitable organizations, or other relevant institutions.

How to Nominate a Candidate

1. Teachers may nominate themselves for the award.
2. Others (educational and training center administrators and colleagues, adults, parents, students, etc.) may also nominate impactful teachers.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Personal and professional qualifications;
2. Problem-based innovation in the field of education and training;
3. Impact on students’ lives and futures;
4. Constructive engagement with the local community in students’ learning and development;
5. Positive and exemplary social influence.

Awards

The award amount is determined annually based on the funds provided by sponsors and endowments. The prize for the 3^rd round of the “Muallem Prize” is 10,000 dollars.

Important Dates

The registration deadline is November 21, 2025, and the closing ceremony will take place in January 2026.

For registration and more information, please visit: https://muallemprize.ir/en/muallem-prize-call/

Call for Papers
Date: February 4-5, 2026
Venue: Global Studies Centre, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait
Proposal Submission Deadline: October 1, 2025

The new age of artificial intelligence (AI) presents many opportunities and challenges to methodology in all disciplines of Social Sciences and Humanities including in Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies. AI technologies, such as data analysis, machine learning, and natural language processing, can uncover hidden patterns, automate repetitive tasks, and provide deeper insights into the topic of study.

However, these benefits also come with some significant ethical challenges such as concerns about data privacy, algorithmic bias, and human responsibility and accountability in the use and application of AI technologies. This research conference is focused on the use and application of AI in the methodology of all disciplines of Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies broadly defined.

Overarching questions to be addressed include: What is the difference between the types of uses of AI: are some more acceptable than others? Are there some fields in which the use of AI presents huge opportunities and others in which it causes major issues? Can we speak of AI in terms of being a “net-good” in Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies?

Conference themes include but are not limited to the following:

1. Opportunities/Challenges/Ethics in incorporating AI in the methodology of the Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines including in Islamic Philosophy, History, Religious Studies, Literature, Anthropology, Theology, Sociology, Communications.
2. Specific Social Sciences or Humanities research projects or applications with significant use of AI or other digital technologies in Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies.
3. AI applications in religious law, textual commentary and prophetic traditions.
4. AI applications in the cultural heritage of the Middle East and Islamic World.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

• David Wrisley, Professor of Digital Humanities, New York University Abu Dhabi
• Shoaib Malik, Lecturer in Science and Religion, University of Edinburgh

Limited travel funding may be available for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty from low-income countries and institutions. We aim to publish the revised papers as articles/chapters in either a refereed special issue of a journal or as an edited volume.

Individual Submissions: Individual proposals should include an abstract (250-word maximum), and the email, and the affiliation and short biography (max. 100 words) of presenter(s).

Email submissions to both Dr. Ismail Lala (Lala.I@gust.edu.kw) and Dr. Jennifer Lofkrantz (Lofkrantz.J@gust.edu.kw).

Papers will need to be completed prior to the research conference for pre-circulation. Date to be announced after acceptance of proposals.

Important Dates

Deadline for submission of proposals: October 1, 2025

Notification of acceptance: October 15, 2025

More information at: Gulf University for Science & Technology

Call for Applications
Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Vienna, Austria
Application Deadline: September 17, 2025

At the Faculty of Catholic Theology, in the Department of Islamic-Theological Studies, the University of Vienna seeks to appoint a full professor of Islamic Religious Education. The advertised professorship covers the subject area of Islamic Religious Education. The successful candidate will represent the subject in its entire breadth as well as in its historical and contemporary development in research and teaching.

The candidate will be actively involved in all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Islamic Religious Education and Theology. In addition, the professor is expected to contribute to the internal and external networking of the Institute of Islamic-Theological Studies and to initiate and co-develop interdisciplinary research projects. Cooperation with the Faculty of Protestant Theology and the Faculty of Catholic Theology in teaching and research is an important component for this professorship. Active collaboration with the Research Center Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society as well as with the Vienna Doctoral School of Theology and Research on Religion is also expected. A habilitation or an equivalent academic qualification is desired.

Pursuant to § 24 para. 4 Islam Law 2015, before this position is filled, “contact on the respective candidate is to be made with the Religious Societies, whereby in the theological core area it is to be considered, that the person be a follower of the doctrinal theology (school of law) affiliated to the respective Religious Society recognized by this federal law.” By applying, candidates declare that this requirement is met.

Academic Profile:

• Doctoral degree/PhD
• Outstanding research achievements, excellent publication and funding record, and international reputation
• Proven leadership qualities
• Gender and diversity competence
• Experience in designing and managing large research projects
• Enthusiasm for excellent teaching and supervision at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level
• Willingness to take on organizational and administrative responsibilities within the Faculty

The University of Vienna requires the successful candidate to acquire, within three years, proficiency in German sufficient for teaching in bachelor’s programs and for participation in university committees.

The University of Vienna Offers:

• A dynamic research environment
• A wide range of research and teaching support services
• Attractive working conditions in a city with a high quality of life
• An attractive salary according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Staff (§98 UG, level A1, negotiated individually) and an organizational retirement plan
• A “start-up package,” particularly for the initiation of research projects
• Comprehensive relocation support

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file (LastName_FirstName.pdf) in English via email to the Dean of the Faculty, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andrea Lehner-Hartmann (andrea.lehnerhartmann@univie.ac.at) and Faculty Manager Mag. Dr. Rudolf Kaisler, BSc (rudolf.kaisler@univie.ac.at) by September 17, 2025. The application should include: a letter of motivation, a research statement, an academic curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and a teaching and supervision statement.

The University of Vienna follows an anti-discriminatory employment policy and places great importance on equal opportunities, the advancement of women, and diversity. Special emphasis is placed on increasing the number of women in senior and academic positions among the academic and general university staff. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

More information at: University of Vienna

Call for Applications
Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Vienna, Austria
Application Deadline: September 25, 2025

The Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Vienna invites applications for a tenure-track Professorship in Intercultural Philosophy of Religion. This tenure-track position promotes the innovative project of intercultural philosophy of religion, based on systematic discourses of justification and a solid knowledge of non-Christian philosophies of religion in research and teaching. Core issues include the philosophical clarification of the concept of religion, the relationship between religion and philosophy, philosophical reflection on possibilities for dialogue between different religions, and current questions concerning the relationship between religion and politics, especially with regard to human rights and democracy.

Requirements include an extensive knowledge of the tradition of continental European philosophy, taking into account the Jewish and Christian traditions, and a research focus in a non-Christian philosophy of religion, preferably Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam. Proven academic publications in the field of current intercultural philosophical discourse are a prerequisite for a successful application.

The appointee is expected to contribute significantly to the profile and teaching program in Intercultural Philosophy of Religion and to the Research Center Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society. Active participation in the Vienna Doctoral School of Theology and Research on Religion is also expected.

The tenure-track position is anchored in the Institute for Intercultural Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, where questions of philosophy of religion have long been addressed with intercultural openness, and in the interfaculty research center Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society, which has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary religious research. In addition, cooperation with the cultural studies departments of the University of Vienna and with the Austrian Academy of Sciences is possible.

Academic Profile:

• Doctoral degree/PhD
• Two years of international research experience during or after doctoral studies
• Outstanding research achievements, an excellent publication and funding record, international reputation
• Gender and diversity competence
• Experience in designing and participating in research projects; ability to lead research groups and acquire third-party funding
• Enthusiasm for excellent teaching and supervision at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels

The successful candidate is expected to acquire, within three years, proficiency in German sufficient for teaching in bachelor’s programs and for participation in university committees.

The University of Vienna Offers:

• The opportunity to obtain a permanent position and eventual promotion to full professor; the initial contract as Assistant Professor is limited to six years, after a positive evaluation of a qualification agreement the contract becomes permanent as Associate Professor; Associate Professors may be promoted to Full Professor through an internal competitive procedure
• A dynamic research environment
• A wide range of research and teaching support services
• Attractive working conditions in a city with a high quality of life
• An attractive salary according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Staff (level A2) and an organizational retirement plan

Applications must be submitted online by September 25, 2025. Required documents include: a letter of motivation, a research statement, an academic curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and a teaching and supervision statement.

For inquiries, please contact: tenuretrack.personal@univie.ac.at.

More information at: University of Vienna

Call for Applications
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Erfurt, Germany
Application Deadline: September 25, 2025

In the Department of Religious Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Erfurt, Professorship of Religious Studies with a focus on Religious Media Practices, the following full-time position (40 hours per week) will be available as of March 1, 2026:

Research Assistant (post-doc) (f/m/x)
Pay category E 13 TV-L (100 %)

Re-founded in 1994 as a reform university, the University of Erfurt considers itself as a research-oriented university that is highly committed to international cooperation as well as innovation in teaching and learning, with a special focus on teacher-training programs. With its strong profile in the humanities, cultural studies as well as social sciences and education, it is a cosmopolitan place for academic debate on key social and cultural challenges.

Current research of the professorship of Religious Studies with a focus on Religious Media Practices at the Department of Religious Studies systematically examines processes of convergence in Muslim religiosity and media usage. Particular attention is currently given to texts, images, and videos produced by contemporary Muslim actors on social media platforms, as well as to their reception.

Area of Responsibility

• Research on the entanglements of religious and media practices of contemporary Muslims
• Independent academic qualification (post-doc / habilitation)
• Collaboration in the research contexts of the Professorship, particularly the Research Group Islam and Digitality and the Graduate Centre Glocal Religiosities
• Teaching (4 semester hours / 2 courses per semester)
• Preparation of a third-party funding application in the above-mentioned field
• Collaboration on publications and other knowledge transfer activities
• Participation in the organization of guest lectures, workshops, and conferences

Expectations

• An academic university degree and an above-average doctorate in Religious Studies, Islamic Studies, or a related field
• Academic visibility through publications, guest lectures, organization of workshops, etc.
• Proficiency in ethnographic methods, particularly participant observation and media ethnography, or the willingness to acquire these skills quickly
• Ability to work in a team and contribute to collaborative, project-oriented research; strong commitment to departmental collaboration, and a high degree of intercultural and social competence
• Experience in acquiring third-party funding appropriate to career stage
• Knowledge of German at C1 level
• Knowledge of English at C1 level
• Proficiency in the source languages relevant to the candidate’s own research
• Commitment to equity and inclusivity

The University of Erfurt promotes the compatibility of career and family/private life and supports flexible working hours. For academic staff, it offers a wide range of further training opportunities as well as coaching and mentoring as part of academic staff development (www.uni-erfurt.de/go/akademische-pke). In addition, there are numerous health and prevention programs as part of university health management.

Applications should include the following supporting documents: a cover letter, a brief research statement outlining current and future projects, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, list of publications and university courses (if applicable), and two journal articles or dissertation chapters. Applications must be submitted exclusively online by September 25, 2025, via the application management system of the University of Erfurt. Applicants should also provide the names and contact information of two referees who may be contacted during the selection process.

More information at: Erfurt University

Call for Applications
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA
Application Deadline: October 1, 2025

The Department of Religious Studies at DePaul University invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning September 2026. The department seeks a candidate who specializes in Contemporary Islam in the Americas. Scholars employing critical approaches to gender and/or race are especially encouraged to apply. The department welcomes applicants from Religious Studies and allied disciplines whose research and teaching complement the interests and strengths of its interdisciplinary program.

Preference will be given to candidates with a Ph.D.; however, advanced ABDs will be considered if they expect to defend by the start date.

For full consideration, please submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, research statement, recent writing sample, one sample syllabus, and the names and email addresses of three referees to the Search Committee by October 1, 2025. Confidential letters of recommendation will be requested for shortlisted candidates.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and preliminary interviews with shortlisted candidates will be conducted via Zoom.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Khaled Keshk, the chair of the search committee at kkeshk@depaul.edu.

The salary range for this 10-month position is $69,000 – $71,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

More information at: DePaul University