Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies Exeter

Centre for the Study of Islam at the University of Exeter presents a weekly Monday Majlis. This is an online event at 17:00-18:30 UK time on each Monday during term time.

Invited speakers present on aspects of their current research. This may be a book that they have recently published; a new project they are working on; or an exciting new potential avenue of Islamic Studies research.

In the spirit of the label ‘Majlis’ and also to make the talks even more interesting, we are experimenting with a new format presenting the topic discussed by our speaker as embedded in their own research journey.

You can access the whole series of Monday Majlis recordings here or via the link in our bio: https://tr.ee/LtCtQ4Rs2R

⚽Maziyar Ghiabi, Associate Professor of Social Sciences and the Director of the Centre for Persian & Iranian Studies at the University of Exeter, has published an article today in Middle East Eye: 'World Cup 2026: For Iran, this is a battle on an unequal field'.

⚽You can read the article here or via the link in our bio: https://tr.ee/GnlFqcQ-km

🏰Student field trip report!🏰

MA Magic and Occult Sciences students travelled to Powderham Castle for a day of explorative writing to prepare for their dissertations.

You can read about the field trip here: https://tr.ee/beqXoJ0h5s or via the link in our bio.

For details about the Magic and Occult Sciences programme, please reach out to Dr Emily Selove or read about the programme here: https://tr.ee/Mk0Lj6zuR-

Professor Timothy Insoll, Founding Director of the Centre for Islamic Archaeology at the University of Exeter is currently in eastern Ethiopia.

Tim and his team are excavating medieval burials (c. 11th to 14th c. AD date) at the abandoned trade centre of Harlaa.

The aim of the research is to collect dental samples from the burials, which are otherwise undisturbed and re-buried, for ancient DNA and Strontium Isotope dietary analysis.

Online event today!

Centre for the Study of Islam presents a Monday Majlis with:

Bilal Orfali
Monday 8th June
17:00-18:30

All are welcome!

Please register here or via the link in our bio. : https://tr.ee/GizKLfZpp0

In-person event on Tuesday!

DAME (Digital Archive of the Middle East) and the Centre for Gulf Studies invite you to an in-person event.

Michael Field, author of 'The Merchants' will give a talk entitled: ‘Power in the Gulf’: Ruling families and Governments charts’ presentation & Fieldwork-based reflections on the GCC states’ reactions to the war on Iran.

Tuesday 9 June 2026
2 pm – 3 :30 pm
AWDU (Arab World Documentation Unit), lower ground floor, IAIS

All welcome!

DAME (Digital Archive of the Middle East) and the Centre for Gulf Studies invite you to an in-person event.

Michael Field, author of 'The Merchants' will give a talk entitled: ‘Power in the Gulf’: Ruling families and Governments charts’ presentation & Fieldwork-based reflections on the GCC states’ reactions to the war on Iran.

Tuesday 9 June 2026
2 pm – 3 :30 pm
AWDU (Arab World Documentation Unit), lower ground floor, IAIS

All welcome!

All are welcome to a Centre for the Study of Islam Monday Majlis!

8th of June 2026
17:00-18:30 (UK time)

BILAL ORFALI
PROPHETS, TRICKSTERS, AND THE YELLOW COW:
QURʾĀNIC ECHOES IN AL-HAMADHĀNĪ’S AL-MAQĀMA AL-MAWṢILIYYA

Please register here or by using the link in our bio: https://tr.ee/GizKLfZpp0

Bilal Orfali is a scholar of Islamic thought and Arabic literature, distinguished by his close engagement with rare manuscripts and the critical editing of early texts. His work reflects a sustained effort to combine rigorous philological scholarship with a nuanced understanding of the conceptual frameworks of early Arabic intellectual heritage.

This lecture reads al-Maqāma al-Mawṣiliyya of Badīʿ al-Zamān al-Hamadhānī as a sustained meditation on sacred language and its transformation. Drawing on a new critical edition based on forty manuscripts, I examine how the maqāma reworks Qurʾānic motifs, biblical resonances, legal norms, and medical discourse into a tightly structured narrative of performance and deception.

We are really pleased to announce that IAIS has moved up to 3rd place for African and Middle Eastern Studies in the Complete University Guide 2027, the latest national league table, published today.

Each year, the Complete University Guide publishes its UK university and subject league tables to help prospective students make informed choices about their future.

The Guide is based on ten measures of quality, including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects, and includes more than 160 universities from across the UK.

IAIS achieved 84% for student satisfaction and 87% for research quality. These scores are higher than any other university in the top 5 for these categories.

Read more about the University of Exeter's Complete University Guide league table positions here or via the link in our bio: https://tr.ee/JN4S6eVY0n

✈️ Student travel report ✈️

Storm Carr-Barney, a student at IAIS, was a recipient of The Prince Alwaleed Award, a prestigious scholarship providing students with the unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Arabic-speaking world through immersive experiences. It aims to enhance students' Arabic language proficiency and cultural knowledge.

Storm travelled to Egypt. Here's what she said about her experience:

"Studying at the International House Cairo greatly benefitted my Arabic language learning in the month I was there. By the end of the first week, I had noticed a significant improvement in both my confidence in speaking Arabic and my listening skills due to my constant exposure to the language both inside and outside the classroom. My vocabulary and writing also improved meaning that I was able to communicate with people much more effectively. Although I was studying MSA and had no previous experience with ECA, I was still able to communicate easily and effectively in everyday situations.

The teaching at IH Cairo was incredibly supportive and encouraging, and the immersive environment helped me progress quickly. The Alwaleed scholarship gave me the opportunity to experience learning Arabic in a native-speaking environment, which was invaluable for my development and motivation.

This confidence I gained in my Arabic also meant that I had a much more meaningful cultural experience. I felt comfortable and confident enough to start conversations with the people around me, whether they were taxi drivers, shopkeepers, or people I met while exploring Cairo. Because the Arabic language is closely intertwined with the culture, I felt that studying and using the language allowed me to have a deeper understanding of Egyptian culture and daily life.

Overall, the Alwaleed scholarship was an extremely rewarding experience that strengthened both my Arabic language ability and my cultural awareness."

✈️The Prince Alwaleed Award can be applied for by students of IAIS and is generously funded by Alwaleed Philanthropies. ✈️