The Reports of the special lecture “Rūmī’s criticism of Awḥad Al-Dīn Kirmānī’s shāhid-bāzī”

Special Lecture “Rūmī’s criticism of Awḥad Al-Dīn Kirmānī’s shāhid-bāzī”
Dr. Lloyd Ridgeon (University of Glasgow)

Date: January 16, 2024, Tuesday, 16: 00-18: 00
Venue: Meeting Room [AA447], 4th floor, Research Bldg. No. 2, Yoshida Campus, Kyoto University

Report
Dr. Lloyd Ridgeon of the University of Glasgow gave a lecture entitled “Rūmī’s criticism of Awhad al-Din Kirmani’s shāhid-bāzī “ at Kyoto University on 16 January, 2024. Kermani is famous for his emphasize on “shāhid-bāzī,” which is sometimes identified with paedophilia. Dr. Ridgeon analysed how the famous Sufi poet Rūmī, who flourished half a century later than Kermani, assessed this notion based on his poetry. This word has the meaning of not only paedophilia but also “witness” and “the one who witness God’s Beauty” in Sufism. Rūmī is generally believed to think about the latter meaning, while we cannot deny the first in some cases. Dr. Ridgeon is preparing a new work about Rūmī which will include the discussion based on this presentation.

The Reports of the 2nd Research Meeting (2023) of “Research on Moderate Islam in the Non-Arab World”

The 2nd Research Meeting (2023) of “Research on Moderate Islam in the Non-Arab World: From the Cases of Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey (22H00034, JSPS)” (“Moderate Islam”)

Date: November 12th Sunday, 2023
Venue: Through online

Report 1: SASAKI Takuo (Kurume University) “Religious Pluralism in Indonesian Islam: From Kartini to Nurcholish Madjid”

In Indonesian Islam, where interreligious harmony is an issue, “religious pluralism,” which advocates the plurality and equality of religions under a transcendent God, has developed as a trend of thought. It can be traced back to Kartini during the Dutch colonial period, and was also reflected in the founding ideals of the country by Sukarno. What is even more important is that from the end of the 1960s onwards, it was inherited by some “Muslim intellectuals,” including Ahmad Wahib, Johan Effendi, Gus Dur, and Nurcholish Madjid. Although it cannot be denied that the patronage of the Suharto regime existed in the background of their intellectual endeavors, religious pluralism may have survived due to the depth of their religious/theological thinking itself.

The Reports of the 4th Joint Research Meeting “Moderate Islam in Non-Arab World”

The 4th Joint Research Meeting of “Research on Moderate Islam in the Non-Arab World: From the Cases of Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey” (JSPS22H00034, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A), JSPS: TONAGA Yasushi, Kyoto University) and “An Attempt of Moderate Islam to Counter the Islamism: Focusing on “Religious Moderation” Policy of Indonesia” (Heiwa Nakajima Foundation, Aids for the Academic Research in Asia Region). (The 4th Joint Research Meeting “Moderate Islam in Non-Arab World”)

Date: February 15th, 2023, 16:00-18:00
Venue: Building No. 2, 6th Floor, Room 2-615a, Sophia University (Face-to-face and Zoom “hybrid format”)

Report 1: INOUE Aeka (Shujitsu University) “Jinnah, the ‘Minority’ Father of the nation”

Jinnah has been called ‘Father of the Nation’ in Pakistan. He fought for Indian Muslims’ peaceful life in Hindu dominant India. However, we must pay attention to the fact that he was the minority of Muslim society in colonial India, for instance, he was from Shi’ite family and got married with Farsi lady. But Indian Muslims never see it as a problem and have accepted him as Quaid-e-Azam. I believe this fact shows the diversity and the tradition of generosity among Indian Muslims.

Report 2: YAMANE So (Osaka University) “Literary Space and Religion in Late 19th-century Urdu Sources: Masnavi in the Cow Protection Movement”

This presentation focuses on an Urdu pamphlet, ‘The Lamentation of the Cow’, published in the early 1880s in Lahore. The journal was published by Arya Samaj, a Hindu reformist organisation. It is written in Urdu and contains articles and poems calling on Muslims to stop slaughtering more cows than necessary. Many of the descriptions are in a tone in which the Hindu side calls on the Muslims, and in an article some Muslims appear and speak in sympathy with the Hindu side.
Previous studies have spoken of the disconnection between Hindus and Muslims being aggravated by the late 19th-century movement for the protection of the cows, but the fact that there was such a move to avoid conflict peacefully and rationally points out the need for further research into sources from the period and a re-examination of the issue.

The field survey of “Religious Facilities and its Fusion with Urban Spaces: Coexistence of Mosque-gathering Muslims with Japanese Society” was conducted

On December 26-27, 2022, the field survey of “Religious Facilities and its Fusion with Urban Spaces: Coexistence of Mosque-gathering Muslims with Japanese Society” (Research Grants, Kajima Foundation) was conducted at mosques in Kanazawa City (Ishikawa Prefecture) and Toyama City (Toyama Prefecture).

 

The cooperative field research by JSPS Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B)) “Comprehensive Study of Sufism: Through Metaphysics, Literature, Music and Rituals”

The cooperative field research by JSPS Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B)) “Comprehensive Study of Sufism: Through Metaphysics, Literature, Music and Rituals”( 21KK0001) was conducted with cooperation of Institute for Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University (Istanbul, Turkey).


1. The project meeting in Üsküdar Unıversity

2. The meeting was hosted by Prof. Elif Erhan (Directoror of Institute for Sufi Studies, Üsküdar University) as representative from Turkey side for the cooperative research project.

3. Dr. Cemâlnur Sargut (President of Kerim Foundation) attended and gave a message for the research project (Dr. Sargut and Prof.Yasushi Tonaga).

4. Prof. Masayuki Akahori (Sophia University) talked about the cooperative research project as one of researcher from Japan side.

5. Ms. Esin Çelebi (Representative for Mevlevi order) gave a message for the research ploject.

6. To commemorate the project, Dr. Cemâlnur Sargut presented a souvenir to the Japanese project members (Dr. Sargut and Prof.Tonaga).

7. To commemorate the project, Dr. Cemâlnur Sargut presented a souvenir to the Japanese project members (Dr. Sargut and Prof. Akahori).

8. Prof. Tonaga presented a souvenir to Ms. Esin Çelebi

9. Commemorative photo in the project meeting (from left, Dr. Hatice Dilek  Güldutuna, son of Dr. Sargut, Prof. Emine Yeniterzi, Prof. ****, Dr. Manami Suzuki, Prof. Yasushi Tonaga, Prof. Masayuki Akahori, Dr. Cemâlnur Sargut Ms. Esin Çelebi, Mr. Ahmet Özhan, daughter of Ms.Çelebi, Prof. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar, Prof. Reşat Öngören, ****, Prof. Elif Erhan)

10. Prof. Tonaga presented a souvenir to Prof. Nevzat Tarhan (President of Üsküdar University).

11. Tomb at Veysel Karani Hırka-i Şerif Camii Hizmet Vakfı of Rifai order in Istanbul.

12. Exercise of musical performance for religious ritual in Veysel Karani Hırka-i Şerif Camii Hizmet Vakfı of Rifai order.

13. Exercise of Zikr performance for religious ritual in Veysel Karani Hırka-i Şerif Camii Hizmet Vakfı of Rifai order.

14. Semâ Practice in Ayin-i Şerif at headquoeters of Mevlevi order in Konya.

15. Musical Practice in Ayin-i Şerif at headquoeters of Mevlevi order in Konya.

16. Interview with semâzen (semâ performer) after Ayin-i Şerif at headquarters of Mevlevi order in Konya

17. Interview with Nadir Dede at headquarters of Mevlevi order in Konya

18. Commemorative photo after interview with Nadir Dede at headquarters of Mevlevi order in Konya (from left, husband of Dr. Ayad, Prof. Yasushi Tonaga, Prof. Masayuki Akahori, Ms. Esin Çelebi, Nadir Dede, Prof. Elif Erhan, Dr. Omneya Ayad)

November 6, 2022: The Third Joint Research Meeting of “Moderate Islam” was held

The Third Joint Research Meeting of “Moderate Islam” was held
Date: November 6 (Sunday), 2022, 14: 00-18: 00
Venue: Building No. 2, 6th Floor, Room 2-615a, Sophia University
Program:
TAKAO Kenichiro “Discourses and initiatives on ‘moderate Islam’ in the Arab world”
IKEHATA Fukiko  “Public transmission of ‘moderate Islam’ and political legitimacy in contemporary Jordan”

This Research Meeting was co-hosted by:
“Research on Moderate Islam in the Non-Arab World: From the Cases of Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey” (JSPS22H00034, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A), JSPS: TONAGA Yasushi, Kyoto University )
“An Attempt of Moderate Islam to Counter the Islamism: Focusing on “Religious Moderation” Policy of Indonesia” (Heiwa Nakajima Foundation, Aids for the Academic Research in Asia Region)