• seminar

    Alwaleed bin Talal Seminar in Islamic Studies 

    Bringing world-class experts on topics ranging from Islamic law and theology to contemporary politics and Islam in America and West Africa to Harvard

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  • studies

    Research Methods in Islamic Studies

    A workshop series designed to support the research of Harvard students, faculty and visiting fellows

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  • work from home

    Spring 2021 Courses

    Explore courses related to Islam and the Muslim world offered this spring

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  • 2020 Thesis Prize Winners

    Undergraduate and Doctoral Thesis Prizes

    Congratulations to Murat Eczacıbaşı and Dr. Mary Elston, winners of the 2020 Alwaleed Bin Talal Thesis Prizes!

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  • conference

    Thinking Islam Within Religious Studies Conference

    Convened by Professor Ahmed Ragab in honor of Professor William A. Graham on the occasion of his retirement

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The Alwaleed Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University is dedicated to furthering the scholarly study of Islam and the Muslim world on an interdisciplinary, global basis.

About the Islamic Studies Program

News

Ep. 7 | Seeking What Is Good: Harvard Law Review, Islamic Law, and Legal Studies Across Traditions | Dr. Hassaan Shahawy

April 12, 2021
In spring 2021, Hassaan Shahawy (A.B. '16, J.D. '22) was elected the 135th president of the Harvard Law Review, making him the first Muslim and first expert in Islamic law in the position. In the first half of our conversation, Hassaan talks about his background in Islamic law and how it contributes to his studies at Harvard Law School and work at the... Read more about Ep. 7 | Seeking What Is Good: Harvard Law Review, Islamic Law, and Legal Studies Across Traditions | Dr. Hassaan Shahawy

Ep. 6 | Giving Voice to Silenced Islams | Prof. Ali Asani

April 10, 2021
Professor Ali Asani tells the Alwaleed Program team about his scholarly trajectory, beginning with his experiences coming to Harvard College as an international student from Kenya and entering Islamic studies as an Ismaili student in the early 1970s. He also discusses the importance of expanding perspectives in Islamic studies to include different interpretations of Islam, his interest in studying Islam as a living tradition in the lives of ordinary believers, especially through the arts, and his commitment to education beyond the walls of the university. 

Ep. 5 | Establishing Islamic and Comparative Religious Studies at Harvard | Prof. William A. Graham

April 6, 2021
Professor William Graham talks about his scholarly journey and how he "stumbled" into Islamic studies after pursuing other subjects including Classics and Sanskrit and Indian studies. He also shares his memories of his advisors at Harvard, Wilfred Cantwell Smith and Muhsin Mahdi, and other scholars who shaped Islamic studies including Josef van Ess, Abdelhamid Sabra, Harry Wolfson, Annemarie Schimmel, and George Makdisi.  Finally, Professor Graham reflects on his involvement across the different homes of Islamic studies at Harvard including Near Eastern Languages and... Read more about Ep. 5 | Establishing Islamic and Comparative Religious Studies at Harvard | Prof. William A. Graham
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Promoting Scholarship

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Alwaleed Bin Talal Seminar in Islamic Studies

Bringing experts from an array of fields within Islamic studies to Harvard.

 

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Faculty Research Grants

Supporting the cutting-edge research of Harvard’s early-career faculty in Islamic studies

 

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Alwaleed Bin Talal Thesis Prizes

Recognizing undergraduate and doctoral students who make original contributions to current scholarly discourse on Islam and Muslim societies, past and present.

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Research Methods Workshop

A workshop series that allows Harvard students, faculty and visiting fellows to develop skills to enhance their Islamic studies research.