Al-Mahdi Institute (AMI), through its Islamic Mysticism and Spirituality research area, is convening an international conference titled “Ways of Knowing in Sufism: Epistemology, Authority, and Contemporary Implications” to be held on 1st to 2nd June 2026 at Al-Mahdi Institute.
The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday, 6th February 2026.
Introduction:
The Islamic mystical tradition has developed a rich epistemology centred on experiential and divinely-inspired forms of knowledge that stand alongside—and sometimes in tension with—rational and textual modes of apprehension. Unveiling, tasting, inspiration, presential knowledge, and dreams represent some of the different modalities through which Sufis have claimed access to religious truth. These experiential ways of knowing supposedly transcend rational inquiry into the truth and reality of the fundamentals of religion and open pathways to what Sufis regard as superior forms of comprehension, placing Sufi epistemology at the height of religious understanding and at the heart of scholarly discussions about religious experience, mystical consciousness, and the nature of the sacred.
The epistemological status and proof value of mystical experience have been subjects of intense debate. Can unveiling, inspiration, or spiritual tasting serve as valid sources of religious knowledge? Can they ground legal rulings, theological claims, or scriptural interpretation? Many jurists and rational theologians questioned whether subjective experiences could constitute reliable proof, arguing that such claims were unfalsifiable and potentially led to innovation. Yet other scholars argued for the validity of experiential knowledge within specific parameters, often positing hierarchies of knowledge in which experiential certainty represented the highest form of understanding. Historical debates also centred on the relationship between inspiration and prophetic revelation, and on whether dreams could serve as valid evidence in jurisprudence. These tensions illuminate ongoing questions about religious authority, the boundaries of orthodoxy, and the validation of subjective experience.
In contemporary theology, religious experience has enjoyed renewed attention as a foundation for faith and a response to secular critiques. Muslim theologians have drawn on experiential epistemology both to ground reformist interpretations and to reinforce traditional positions. Questions also arise about distinguishing mystical states from mental health crises, about the therapeutic dimensions of Sufi practice, and about who has access to mystical knowledge—particularly regarding gender, social hierarchies, and the democratisation of spiritual authority.
The study of Sufi epistemology carries profound implications for understanding contemporary religious dynamics. Claims to direct divine knowledge continue to function as sources of religious authority in modern Muslim societies, but these same epistemological frameworks raise critical questions about the potential for manipulation and the formation of problematic groups. Claims to privileged experiential knowledge can facilitate cult-like structures, financial exploitation, or psychological manipulation when charismatic leaders invoke divine inspiration to establish unquestionable authority, justify violence, or bypass traditional scholarly consensus. Understanding how experiential epistemology functions in such contexts is crucial for analysing new religious movements and cases where spiritual authority is weaponised or when there are genuine contemporary attempts to reform the way people connect with the Divine.
This conference seeks to explore the nuances of the ways of knowing in the Islamic mystical tradition through scholarly inquiry into the nature of mystical knowledge claims, the history of their interpretation, and their implications for contemporary Islamic studies and Muslim communities. We invite papers that engage with both traditional Islamic approaches and contemporary scholarly methodologies.
Applicants are invited to consider the following questions:
- How do experiential ways of knowing challenge or complement rational approaches to knowledge in Islamic thought?
- How do different interpretive frameworks shape the understanding and description of unveiling experiences?
- How do different interpretive frameworks shape the understanding and description of unveiling experiences?
- How are mystical experience and revelation linked and distinguished?
- What role do experiential ways of knowing play in the hermeneutics of mystical commentary on the Qur’an and other Islamic texts?
- What can we understand about unveiling from the ḥadīth corpus?
- How do findings from research on meditation, altered states, and neuroscience inform our understanding of Sufi epistemology?
- How have different Sufi orders and thinkers conceptualised and practised approaches to mystical unveiling?
- How does experiential epistemology function in problematic groups, cults, and extremist movements?
- What mechanisms exist to distinguish authentic spiritual experience from delusion or manipulation?
- What role does religious experience play in modern Islamic theology, reform movements, and interfaith dialogue?
- How do gender, power dynamics, and social position influence access to and interpretation of mystical knowledge?
- What is the place of unveiling and religious experience in the occult?
The Conference:
By applying to this Conference, applicants also commit to submitting a 9,000- to 12,000-word article four months after the Conference, in accordance with the schedule below.
This conference is organised by Al-Mahdi Institute. Shortlisted abstracts are expected to be developed into full academic papers following the Conference, which will take place on 1-2 June 2026. The Al-Mahdi Institute will arrange and cover the accommodation and board of presenters in Birmingham, UK, for the duration of the Conference. The conference proceedings will be published in an edited volume by Brill Academic Publishing. The language of the conference (and published papers) will be English only. The conference will run over two days, including lunch, refreshments, and dinner. Each presentation will be 20 minutes long, followed by a Q&A session and discussion with fellow delegates and presenters.
Schedule for Submissions:
- Abstracts: The deadline for abstract submission is Friday, 6th February 2026. Abstracts should be a maximum of 400 words and should be submitted along with a CV (maximum 2 pages, with a listing of the applicant’s publications and recent work experience) in either MS Word or PDF format. Applicants should also provide a short biography of themselves. All submissions should be made to: [email protected]
- Shortlisting Abstracts: Abstracts shortlisted for the workshop will be notified by Friday, 21 February 2026.
- Conference: Selected abstracts will be invited for a two-day conference on 1-2 June 2026 at Al-Mahdi Institute, 60 Weoley Park Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6RB. The conference co-ordinator will arrange travel and accommodation with you.
- Full papers: Final papers must be submitted by Friday, 2 October 2026. Papers should be presented in line with the house style of AMI Press and have a word count between 9,000–12,000 words maximum, excluding the bibliography.
- The final submissions will undergo a peer review and editing process and will be published in an edited volume in partnership with Brill.
