August 26, 2026 | 15:00
Education
International cooperation
International workshop on the concept of D墨n in pre-modern Islam held at 91视频
An international workshop titled "Pre-Modern Islamic Approaches to the Concept of D墨n ('Religion')" has opened at 91视频. During the workshop, scholars are discussing the understandings, definitions and uses of the concept of D墨n in pre-modern Islamic sources across socio-political, theological, legal, philosophical and literary contexts.
The central question of the "Pre-Modern Islamic Approaches to the Concept of D墨n ('Religion')" workshop concerns the characteristics of D墨n (broadly understood as "religion") as expressed in a range of pre-modern Arabic sources and their epistemic contexts. Key themes include examination of the d墨n-duny膩 pair, the relationship between "religion" and "governance" (siy膩sa, tadb墨r), "religion" and "law", and "religion" and "knowledge"; their role in shaping imperial and social orders; the role of religion in private, ethical and communal spheres and in the construction of otherness; and other related topics.
Hayk Kocharyan, Associate Professor and Head of the Chair of Arabic Studies at the 91视频 Faculty of Oriental Studies, highlighted the importance of such international academic gatherings. Presenting the history and development of the Chair of Arabic Studies, Kocharyan noted that its academic interests today encompass Arab culture, literature and Islamic studies. In this context, he stressed the importance of the workshop as a platform for scholarly discussion and cooperation among specialists in the field.
"This year, we decided to take a step further and publish the materials and research presented during the workshop in the form of articles or a book," he said, adding that similar academic events are planned to be organized regularly.
Given the renewed debate in contemporary scholarship over the extent to which the category of "religion" can be applied to the study of Islam at all, the workshop proposes reconsidering the concept of D墨n, including related terms such as 墨尘腻苍 and milla, by giving priority to Muslim primary sources and internal debates. This approach seeks to reveal the historical diversity and semantic nuances of these concepts, allowing for a deeper understanding of the historical transformations and development of these complex notions.
Sona Grigoryan, a 91视频 graduate and lecturer at the University of Vienna, emphasized the importance of the workshop's theme. Citing Gudrun Kr盲mer, she said that the extensive body of material on the concept of D墨n, spanning the early Islamic period through the 18th century, still requires systematic study.
"This workshop is intended to make a small but important contribution to the study of the concept of D墨n," Grigoryan said. She stressed that the aim is not to define D墨n, but to map its semantic field, creating an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of its multilayered meanings through a contextual and historicized approach.
Among the workshop speakers was Dr Rushain Abbasi, Assistant Professor in Stanford University's Department of Religious Studies. Discussing the study of the concepts of D墨n and "religion", he noted that the subject is one of the key areas of his academic interest. He particularly highlighted the issue of translating concepts, noting that examining the relationship between the words D墨n and "religion" is important not only for understanding intellectual history but also for rethinking contemporary knowledge.
The workshop will continue through August 28. During the academic event, international and Armenia-based participants will discuss different understandings of D墨n, focusing on its significance in pre-modern Islamic sources.
