International Conference: "Takfi-r: A Diachronic Perspective"

Main Hall - CCHS

 

The present workshop deals with a series of cases, from different periods and different parts of the Muslim world, of individuals or groups that used the instrument of 'takfir' to brand their opponents—again, either individuals or groups—as unbelievers who could, or should, be combated. Each case presented will be placed in the socio-political and religious milieu in which the condemnation was first voiced and, though not nearly always, put into practice.

 

Speakers will address questions such as: What were the beliefs and/or practices that gave rise to accusations of unbelief, and what was objectionable about them in the eyes of the ones who condemned them?

 

How was the 'takfir' publicized, and how was it justified?

 

To what extent was 'takfir' sanctioned by religious and/or political authorities? (or, conversely, to what extent were the latter themselves the object of 'takfir'?)

 

What sources and precedents are cited by the accusers?

 

What were the practical consequences for individuals or groups hit by accusations of intolerable unbelief?

 

How did they defend themselves against the accusations?

 

Were there any third parties who defended them?

 

Who were the ones who carried out the punishment incurred for 'kufr'?

 

What were the practical consequences of their actions (e.g., were they, in turn, punished by the authorities?)

 

Did the condemners or the condemned receive a hero-like status in the eyes of (sections of) the population?.

 

 

receive a hero-like status in the eyes of (sections of) the population.Organized by Camilla Adang, Hassan Ansari, Maribel Fierro and Sabine 

Schmidtke*

 

***Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales (CCHS-CSIC) salón de Actos

*

 

The present workshop deals with a series of cases, from different 

periods and different parts of the Muslim world, of individuals or 

groups that used the instrument of /takfir/ to brand their 

opponents—again, either individuals or groups—as unbelievers who could, 

or should, be combated. Each case presented will be placed in the 

socio-political and religious milieu in which the condemnation was first 

voiced and, though not nearly always, put into practice. Speakers will 

address questions such as: What were the beliefs and/or practices that 

gave rise to accusations of unbelief, and what was objectionable about 

them in the eyes of the ones who condemned them? How was the /takfir/ 

publicized, and how was it justified? To what extent was /takfir/ 

sanctioned by religious and/or political authorities? (or, conversely, 

to what extent were the latter themselves the object of /takfir/?)/ 

/What sources and precedents are cited by the accusers? What were the 

practical consequences for individuals or groups hit by accusations of 

intolerable unbelief? How did they defend themselves against the 

accusations? Were there any third parties who defended them? Who were 

the ones who carried out the punishment incurred for /kufr/? What were 

the practical consequences of their actions (e.g., were they, in turn, 

punished by the authorities?) Did the condemners or the condemned 

receive a hero-like status in the eyes of (sections of) the population.