# Event Details - **Event Name**: Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 09 Jul, 2026 at 10:15 am – Fri, 10 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm - **Event Description**: Research Conference organised by the Hadith and History research area at Al-Mahdi Institute.About this EventThe Hadith and History research area at Al-Mahdi Institute is delighted to open registration for its upcoming conference: "Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism" on 9th - 10th July 2026.The history of Islam is not limited to prominent political movements as the sole driving force behind its trajectory. Intellectual and religious movements have also played a significant role in shaping the course of Islamic history. Among them were the ghulāt movements within the Shia milieu, particularly in Kufa during the early period of Islam. Although these movements did not acquire political power, their impact on political, social, and cultural life was profound.A careful study of Shiism’s history reveals that ghulāt movements were not entirely marginal within the Shia community in the early Islamic centuries. Rather, they had a considerable influence on shaping cultural dynamics and religious consciousness. There was an ongoing struggle among different factions surrounding the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, leading to the emergence of multiple forms of Shiism and competing interpretations of religious authority and doctrine.Despite their historical significance, the study of ghulāt movements in early Shiism has not received sufficient academic attention. Their historical image remains obscure, and prevailing perceptions have often been shaped by later theological developments. This conference provides a platform to examine ghulāt movements through historical, theological, and contextual approaches, exploring their interaction with the transmitted Imāmī tradition and their influence on the development of Islamic thought and scholarship.Conference ProgrammeRegistrationTickets cost £35 per day or £60 for both days. Tickets include lunch and dinner for the chosen day(s).Student tickets include a 20% discount on ticket prices. Please choose the correct ticket type at checkout. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859 - **Event Categories**: fitness, Workshops - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 28, max: 60, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Birmingham - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: Al-Mahdi Institute - **lat**: 52.4378454 - **long**: -1.9533563 - **full address**: Al-Mahdi Institute, Al-Mahdi Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/08e119ffa6ced167f222897d6418dbdd6fc343fccf735941bbdd6e33f688ac69-rimg-w1200-h675-dc050604-gmir.jpg?v=1782023957 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulat in Formative Shiism being held? - **A:** Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulat in Formative Shiism takes place on Thu, 09 Jul, 2026 at 10:15 am to Fri, 10 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm at Al-Mahdi Institute, Al-Mahdi Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Who is organizing Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulat in Formative Shiism? - **A:** Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulat in Formative Shiism is organized by Al-Mahdi Institute. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Esoteric Currents and Intellectual Tensions: The Ghulāt in Formative Shiism", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/08e119ffa6ced167f222897d6418dbdd6fc343fccf735941bbdd6e33f688ac69-rimg-w1200-h675-dc050604-gmir.jpg?v=1782023957", "startDate": "2026-07-09", "endDate": "2026-07-10", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Al-Mahdi Institute", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Al-Mahdi Institute", "postalCode": "B29 6RB", "addressLocality": "Birmingham", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "52.4378454", "longitude": "-1.9533563" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Research Conference organised by the Hadith and History research area at Al-Mahdi Institute.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-05", "availabilityEnds": "2026-07-10", "validFrom": "2026-09-05", "lowPrice": "28.00", "highPrice": "60.00", "price": "28.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859", "price": "60.00", "name": "Day 1 & 2 (Adult Ticket)" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859", "price": "35.00", "name": "Day 1 ONLY (Adult Ticket)" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859", "price": "35.00", "name": "Day 2 ONLY (Adult Ticket)" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859", "price": "48.00", "name": "Day 1 & 2 (Student Ticket)" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859", "price": "28.00", "name": "Day 1 ONLY (Student Ticket)" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/birmingham/esoteric-currents-and-intellectual-tensions-the-ghulāt-in-formative-shiism/100001991916829859", "price": "28.00", "name": "Day 2 ONLY (Student Ticket)" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Al-Mahdi Institute", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/al-mahdi-institute/23478657", "description": "The Al-Mahdi Institute was established in 1993 with the objective of contributing to Muslim religious scholarship and learning, with particular emphasis on the Twelver Imāmī (Ithnāʿasharī) tradition, through engagement with both historical and contemporary discourses. The Institute’s activities are marked by its non-dogmatic, open philosophy, coupled with an attention to scholarly rigour. This facilitates the pursuit of excellence across a range of perspectives that are not necessarily confined to the theological and religious heritage of any particular tradition. The Al-Mahdi Institute seeks to explore the relationship of religious ideas to all dimensions of contemporary thought and culture in a spirit whereby the human face of Islam, epitomised in the teachings of the Prophet Muḥammad and his impeccable progeny, can inform the holistic development of all individuals and societies." } ] } ] ```