Summary:
Among Muslims, the study of the Prophet Muhammad’s life (sīra) has traditionally had three main purposes: understanding him as the embodiment and moral example of Islam; better understanding the Qur’an through the historical context in which its verses were revealed; and providing a central foundation for studying and reconstructing the history of early Islam. For this reason, Muslims began recording and studying his life from the earliest centuries. However, sīra scholarship has never been straightforward: as with hadith, historical reports contain sectarian differences, contradictions, questions about individual narrators, and debates over the reliability of sources.

In the West, writing about the Prophet’s life began in the Middle Ages, initially largely in the context of religious polemics. Academic Western study emerged in the mid-19th century, moving from broad confidence in Islamic historical and hadith sources to extensive skepticism, especially in the late 20th century, when scholars increasingly turned to non-Islamic sources, inscriptions, coins, and other physical evidence. Since roughly the second decade of the 21st century, a more balanced approach has emerged, combining critical use of Islamic sources with non-Islamic and material evidence. These sessions examine the history of Western scholarship on the Prophet, the Qur’an, material and non-Islamic sources, the history of early Islam, and the sīra-maghāzī literature.

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🏴 8 Rabi al-Awwal (Aug. 22): Martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari (p), 260 A.H.

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَوْلايَ يَا أَبا مُحَمَّدٍالْحَسَنِ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ الْهادِي الْمُهْتَدِي وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَ لِيَّ اللّٰهِ وَابْنَ أَوْ لِيَائِهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ اللّٰهِ وَابْنَ حُجَجِهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا صَفِيَّ اللّٰهِ وَابْنَ أَصْفِيَائِهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا خَلِيفَةَ اللّٰهِ وَابْنَ خُلَفائِهِ وَأَبا خَلِيفَتِهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ خاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ سَيِّدِ الْوَصِيِّينَ، السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ،

خدای عادل و انسان مکلف از ديدگاه متکلمان، دکتر حسن انصاری

جلسه اول: در اين جلسه کلياتی درباره موضوع عدالت و همچنين فهم متکلمان درباره عدالت خدا سخن گفتيم و در دنباله به موضوع تکليف و انسان مکلف از ديدگاه متکلمان به بحث پرداختيم. در همين چارچوب از عقل و تعريف آن نزد متکلمان بحث کرديم و اينکه آيا ارزش های اخلاقی از ديدگاه عقل و درک انسانی واقع‌نما هستند و يا صرفا اعتبارات عقلی اند؟ آيا می توان از اخلاق خدا سخن گفت؟ (۲۴ فوریه، ۲۰۲۶)

#الهیات_اسلامی_ساختار_عدل
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https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT

Special Event, Dedicated to the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) & Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (p)

🌐 Hybrid, EN Lecture

Speaker: Dr. Sadik Kassim
Lecture: "Nūrun ʿAlā Nūr: From Madina to Microchips"

Date
Friday August 28th, 2026
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Location
MIT Tang Center, E51-395, 2 Amherst St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Schedule
7:30-7:40 Quran Recitation
7:43-8:00 Prayer
8:00-8:45 Lecture and Q&A, in English
8:45-9:00 Ziyarat
9:00-9:30 Dinner

Zoom Participation (hybrid):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/95948516788

- About Speaker (Bio)

https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT

Abstract:
The Qur’an describes the Prophet as سِرَاجًا مُنِيرًا (an “illuminating lamp”). But what is prophetic illumination? If the Prophet is described through the language of light, what can light itself teach us about his mission?

Over the past century, modern physics has transformed our understanding of light. Could those discoveries offer a fresh way to reflect on the Qur’an’s greatest metaphor of guidance, نُورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ (“Light upon Light”)?

On the shared birth anniversary of the Prophet and Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq, we will explore what it means to be illuminated rather than merely informed, awakened rather than merely persuaded, and ultimately, what it means to live in the light of the Prophet.

In previous lectures of The Religious Landscape of Pre-Islamic Arabia, we analyzed the presence of Judaism and Christianity, drawing primarily on epigraphic evidence, pre-Islamic Arabic poetry, and early literary fragments.

Building on that foundation, we now turn to the non-Jewish and non-Christian populations of Arabia, commonly categorized as polytheists, idolaters, or Gentiles. Our discussion also encompasses indigenous monotheistic currents, such as the Ḥanīfs highlighted in the Qur'anic text.

Methodologically, we will continue grounding our inquiry in epigraphy and pre-Islamic poetry, while incorporating the Qur'an as a central primary source. Although we omitted the Qur'an from earlier discussions to maintain a tighter focus, it offers vital contemporary testimony regarding polytheistic doctrines and practices. To complement these primary records, we will evaluate secondary literary materials—including historical chronicles, sīrah, and ḥadīth literature—while addressing the historiographical challenges they present.

Throughout this discussion, we will have an eye on the ongoing scholarly debate surrounding late pre-Islamic Arabian religion. Specifically, we will examine the tension between modern critical models—pioneered by some western scholars who argue for an overarching monotheistic environment based on their reading of the primary sources—and traditional Islamic literary accounts that depict a landscape of rampant polytheism. Ultimately, we will explore whether this scholarly tension can be resolved.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/boston?iso=20260828

Lunar Eclipse — Boston, MA, USA

Begins: Thu, Aug 27, 2026 at 9:23 pm
Maximum: Fri, Aug 28, 2026 at 12:12 am
Ends: Fri, Aug 28, 2026 at 3:01 am

Special Event, Dedicated to the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) & Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (p)

🌐 Hybrid, EN Lecture

Speaker: Dr. Sadik Kassim
Lecture: "Nūrun ʿAlā Nūr: From Madina to Microchips"

Date
Friday August 28th, 2026
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Location
MIT Tang Center, E51-395, 2 Amherst St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Schedule
7:30-7:40 Quran Recitation
7:43-8:00 Prayer
8:00-8:45 Lecture and Q&A, in English
8:45-9:00 Ziyarat
9:00-9:30 Dinner

Zoom Participation (hybrid):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/95948516788

- About Speaker (Bio)

https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT

🔻Lectures 1-3

🔸Lec01:
In the first session, we examined the religious, theological, and intellectual conditions during the first two centuries of Islam, with particular emphasis on the era of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him). We also presented a brief overview of the history of thought during this period.

🔸Lec02:
In the second session, we presented a brief overview of the history of theological thought during the time of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), as well as the contributions of the Imam and his students to the development of theology during that period.

🔸Lec03:
In the third session, we examined the legal thought of the various schools of jurisprudence during the time of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), as well as how Islamic jurisprudence and the class of jurists developed during that period. We also discussed the most important characteristics of Imam al-Sadiq’s school of jurisprudence and the issue of legal authority.

@azbarresihayetarikhi
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT

🌿17 Rabi al-Awwal (Aug. 31): Birth Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp), 53 B.H.

🌿17 Rabi al-Awwal (Aug. 31): Birth Anniversary of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (p), 83 A.H.

upcoming events, 2026-2027

🔸Hybrid
Our biweekly programs (hybrid) for 2026-2027 will begin on Friday, September 11 with Quran Study, followed by Dua Kumayl & Lecture on Thursday, September 17, inshaAllah.

🔹Virtual
We will also be hosting virtual Lecture Series, on Sundays, from September 13.

visit us:
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT

upcoming events, Sep 11, 2026

🔸Hybrid
▫️Fri, Sep 11, 7:30-9:30 pm
Quran Study, Surah Ta-Ha.

visit us:
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT

Quran Study, Surah Ta-Ha [20:99-112], Part III

🌐 Hybrid, EN Lecture

Date
Friday September 11th, 2026
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm (US Eastern Time)

Location
MIT Tang Center, E51-376, 2 Amherst St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Schedule
7:30-7:40 Ziyarat Ale-Yasin
7:40-8:45 Exegesis (Tafsir), in English, Dr. Taghi Sahraeian
Topic: "Chapter 20, Surah Ta-Ha, Verses 99-112," Part III
8:45-9:00 Q&A
9:00-9:30 Dinner
(prayer will be performed at Maghrib)

Zoom Participation (hybrid):
https://mit.zoom.us/j/95948516788

- About Speaker (Bio)

https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT

upcoming events, Sep 13-17, 2026

🔹Virtual
▫️Sun, Sep 13, 11:15 am-1:00 pm
Lecture Series, 02, "The Just God and the Human Moral Agent," Hassan Ansari, IAS, Princeton.

▫️Sun, Sep 13, 7:15-8:45 pm
Special Topics, 07, "Religious Landscape of Pre-Islamic Arabia," Farhad Ghoddoussi, Wayne State University, Michigan.

🔸Hybrid
▫️Thu, Sep 17, 7:15-9:30 pm
Dua Kumayl & Lecture.

visit us:
https://sites.mit.edu/zekrmit/
@zekrMIT