Call for applicants

Interdisciplinary Masterclass on:

Ali ibn-Musa al-Reza’s Sacred Mortuary Complex:

Shiite Pilgrimage, Devotional Practices, and Religious Healing

18-24 April 2020- Mashhad, Iran

Conveners:

Pedram Khosronejad (Adjunct Professor, Religion and Society Research Cluster, Western Sydney University, Australia)

Majid Fouladiyan (Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran)

Ali ibn-Musa al-Reza’s shrine and its related mortuary complex have been used for centuries by devotees as one of the most important healing sites of the Muslim world. Although pilgrimage to Imam Reza’s shrine should be considered as one of the oldest religious rituals in Shiite Iran, it remains and continues its vibrant movement in the twenty-first century. Pilgrims to this sacred site have and combine different traditional and modern motivations, but most importantly seeking healing for physical disease or spiritual issues. The existence of a huge number of national and international pilgrims to the city of Mashhad for the visitation of this holy Shiite saint’s shrine is testimony to the power that Imam Reza continues to hold for those devotees who undertake these sacred journeys.

In this masterclass, for the first time, through the use of anthropological and interdisciplinary research methods, we aim to examine different and persistent forms of Persian Shiite rituals and practices to expand our understanding of the role of Imam Reza and his holy shrine in the traditional and modern practices of Ziyarat (physical and digital). By focusing on the different dimensions of pilgrimage to the shrine of the eighth Shiite Imam, we aim to perform selected case studies grounded in different research methods to help participants to understand the many ways in which pilgrimage provides help and support to the pilgrims.

During the seven-day program (30 h) participants will be introduced to:

The history of the martyrdom of Imam Reza and the establishment of his shrine,

The importance of Imam Reza’s shrine and related sacred sites in the construction of a holy Shiite site,

Methodologies for studying Imam Reza’s shrine from different aspects of Shiite doctrine,

The importance of pilgrimage to Imam Reza’s shrine and its social, cultural and political influence at the personal, local, national, and international levels,

Rituals and ceremonies related to Imam Reza’s shrine and its sacred and religious sites.

The entire masterclass will be organized under the governance of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and will primarily be held in the shrine of Imam Reza and its research institute.

Complementary to the theory classes and fieldwork will be the private visitation of the research institute, library and archive of Imam Reza’s shrine (Astan-e Qods), visitation of other saints’ shrines and cemeteries of Mashhad and neighbouring cities for further comparative studies.

Participants:

This program is only open to university-based scholars, registered students, and official researchers.

Visa:

The Ferdowsi University will issue an official invitation for all participants, who should apply for their own visas individually. The Ferdowsi University has no responsibility in this regard and cannot guarantee the result of related applications.

Accommodation:

For the duration of the masterclass, all participants will stay in the hotel booked by the Ferdowsi University.

The registration fee (including: program fee, accommodation, food, and transportation for the duration of the masterclass)

Registered students: $ 600

University scholars and researchers: $ 1000

* The registration fee should be paid in cash during the first day of arrival at the university campus.

Deadline for preliminary registration:  

15th January 2020.

For further enquiries, to complete your preliminary registration and reserve your place, please contact Dr. P. Khosronejad ().