Dr Hasan Ali Khan on ‘Constructing Islam on the Indus’

On 12 September we were delighted to host a lecture by Dr Hasan Ali Khan (Habib University, Karachi) to mark the launch of his book, Constructing Islam on the Indus: the material history of the Suhrawardi Sufi Order, 1200-1500 AD. The lecture was introduced by Professor Francis Robinson, Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Constructing Islam on the Indus represents the first serious consideration of Ismaili-Shia esotericism in material and architectural terms, as well as of pre-modern conceptions of religious plurality in rituals and astrology. The monuments of the Suhrawardi Order, which are derived from the basic lodges set up by Pir Shams in the region, constitute a unique building archetype. Using archaeological evidence, Dr Hasan Ali Khan showed the metaphysical commonalities between Shi’ism/Isma’ilism and the Suhrawardi Sufi Order.

The lecture was followed by a discussion and reception.

Our events calendar is about to enter full swing with the advent of our 2016-2017 lecture series. Tomorrow, Tuesday 27 September at 6.30pm, Dr Rose Kerr (Victoria and Albert Museum) will lecture on ‘Zhenwu, the Dark Warrior: Daoist Beliefs and Imagery in China.’ This lecture celebrates and marks the Society’s loan of the statue of Zhenwu from the Horniman Museum, which will be here until early December. So that visitors can see the statue before the lecture, the Library Reading Room will be open until 6.30pm.

We hope that you will be able to join us for what promises to be a fascinating evening.