Sep 27, 2021The Sultan Bayezid II KülliyeThe Sultan Bayezid II Külliye Prior to becoming sultan, Bayezit II (r. 1481–1512) was governor of the town of Amasya where he met and was taught by members of the Helveti tariqa. The Helvetiyya were incredibly active in the city of Amasya and Bayezit would later invite his shaykh Çelebi…3 min read3 min read
Sep 21, 2021Three Letters of CounselThree Letters of Counsel By Ibtisaam Ahmed During the Russian conquest of Central Asia in the 19th century, the Russian administration in Central Asia found 32 000 villages, lands and estates that were established as waqf. The documents bear the name of Khwaja Ahrar (d. 1490) and the awqaf supported…4 min read4 min read
Sep 12, 2021Who is the just leader?Who is the just leader? An introduction to the course KINGS AND MYSTICS by Ibtisaam Ahmed. Political leaders seeking advice is a common motif in the premodern world and for Muslim political leaders, counsel would often be sought from the people of tasawwuf. …5 min read5 min read
Jul 12, 2021The Right Time?The Right Time? By: Ibtisaam Ahmed The historian E.P. Thompson once wrote “In Madagascar time might be measured by a ‘rice-cooking’ (about half an hour) or ‘frying of a locust’ (a moment). …3 min read3 min read
May 30, 2021Images of the Unconscious by Zulfiqar Awan- Lesson IVImages of the Unconscious by Zulfiqar Awan- Lesson IV Last week we examined the “ History of Violence ” film. We looked at the connection between events and genetics. We learned that we can find our own demons i n some way. Something can activate our genes. So we went…4 min read4 min read
May 21, 2021Images of the Unconscious by Zulfiqar Awan — Lesson IIImages of the Unconscious by Zulfiqar Awan — Lesson II We dealt with the “repression” topic this week. It is a big psychological defense mechanism. Understanding this defense mechanism is very important to understand how the psyche works. We examined 2 main movies for that topic. When you repress a…4 min read4 min read
May 5, 2021City and Soul by Zulfiqar Awan (Lecture 1- Introduction)Making sense of yourself is very important today as it has always been because society shapes family, family shapes the individual. So if you want to have a better understanding of the world you live in, start to explore yourself first of all. We are living in a sick society…6 min read6 min read
Apr 26, 2021“Images of the Unconscious” by Zulfiqar Awan — Lesson 1“Images of the Unconscious” by Zulfiqar Awan — Lesson 1 In that lecture series, we will be analyzing the films which are the mirrors of the unconscious. Hitchcock is a director who understood the human psyche and the psyche of frightening. So his films will be analyzed in that lecture…7 min read7 min read
Apr 19, 2021Making A Man Happy Is Quite Different From Making Him Good”Making A Man Happy Is Quite Different From Making Him Good” (Reflections on the study of happiness by Ibtisaam Ahmed) Thus wrote Immanuel Kant in his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals first published in 1785. Kant was using the term “happy” in its eighteenth-century sense, as pleasure or good…3 min read3 min read
Mar 29, 2021Are We Epicurean? Not Quite.Are We Epicurean? Not Quite. (Reflections on the study of happiness by Ibtisaam Ahmed) Say the word “epicurean” and what comes to mind is luxury, self-indulgence, gourmet food and a life of endless pleasure. There is of course much more to this school of philosophy and the stereotype does indeed…3 min read3 min read
