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About the Encountering Islam through Rabi’a of Basra course

The poetry attributed to Rabi’a is foundational to the story of Sufism, the mystical tradition within Islam.

Yet the stories about Rabi’a – and speculation about how these stories came to be told – are equally important to appreciate the power of her poetry and overall legacy. Together, Rabi’a’s poetry and the stories about her life offer valuable insights into lesser-known aspects of early Islam, including some interesting observations about gender.

We can also explore some correspondences between Rabi’a and women mystics in other faith traditions – the legacy of Julian of Norwich for Christians comes to mind.

In this course, we will read and enjoy some of the best-loved poetry attributed to Rabi’a. We will also delve into some of the miracle stories associated with her life. We will situate Rabi’a’s poetry and life within the larger tradition of Sufism and reflect on how this can enrich spiritual sharing and learning within and between different faith traditions.

About the Tutor
Dr Shanon Shah is director of Faith for the Climate, a UK-based charity that aims to encourage, equip, and inspire people of faith to take effective action to address the climate crisis. He is also Tutor in Islam at the University of London’s Divinity Programme and conducts research at the Information Network Focus on Religious Movements (Inform), affiliated with King’s College London. He writes and publishes widely on the intersections of religion, popular culture, and social justice and holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from King’s College London.

Now based in London, he was a multiple award-winning singer-songwriter, playwright, and journalist in his native Malaysia.

Book Event

In person early bird discount ticket course #2835 £55

This is a discounted early bird ticket offering the course for £55.00 rather than the normal £60.00. This offer expires 60 days prior to the event and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount. This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments.

Available Tickets: 5

The In person early bird discount ticket course #2835 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

In person Early Bird ticket # 2835 with B&B the night before £113

This is a discounted early bird ticket offering the course for £113.00 rather than the normal £118.00. This offer expires 60 days prior to the event and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount. This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments. The extra B&B on 28th November 2023 includes accommodation in an en-suite room and breakfast the morning of the course. If the ticket you wish to purchase is showing as not available, please contact me on bclover@sarum.ac.uk, as we may be able to accommodate your request.

Available Tickets: 4

The In person Early Bird ticket # 2835 with B&B the night before ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

In person ticket course #2835 £60

This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments.

Available Tickets: 6

The In person ticket course #2835 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

In person ticket #2835 with B&B the night before the course £118

This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments. The extra B&B on 28th November 2023 includes accommodation in an en-suite room and breakfast the morning of the course. If the ticket you wish to purchase is showing as not available, please contact me on bclover@sarum.ac.uk, as we may be able to accommodate your request.

Available Tickets: 3

The In person ticket #2835 with B&B the night before the course ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Details

Dates & Times

29 Nov 2023

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Course code

2835

Other Notes

This course will be held at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments.

Early bird discount tickets available until 60 days prior to the event. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount

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What our students say

PhD Research Programmes

Visual Artist Claire Reed

The complex and sometimes fractious relationship between contemporary art and religion has intrigued me throughout my art career, informing my direction as an artist. It has led me to work in sacred spaces with their immediate and wider communities, to study an MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture at Sarum College, and recently to become artist–researcher at Leo Baeck College of Jewish scholarship and learning.

My aim is to examine the extent to which this creative approach might generate fruitful inter-religious theological insights within a Jewish and Christian ministry training context.

Sarum College combines an open-minded embrace of the imagination and the arts with a supportive, questioning and diverse community. Crucially for me, the Sarum-Winchester PhD programme is one of the very few UK university programmes to offer a hybrid thesis in art and theology in which the creative process and resulting art output along with a written critical component are presented for examination.

This PhD research is a key part of my development as an artist engaged with theology and inter-religious dialogue.

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Stimulating and Challenging

What is Successful Ageing? led by James Woodward

I enjoyed the course immensely from beginning to end – the seamless interweaving of knowledge, ideas and research and the linking with belief and faith.

The content was stimulating, challenging, thought provoking and I was greatly appreciative of the contributions and questions from other participants, your considered and sensitive responses and integration with your presentations.

Thank you!

Netflix, Theology and Pastoral Practice

Peter Butchers on his MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture student experience

How do cultural tropes, like those found in Black Mirror, help bridge the gap between what academic theology espouses and what the everyday Christian believes? In his research as a student on the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture, Peter Butchers explored platonic philosophy, digital theology and eschatology, and pastoral practice around death and dying.

Rewarding Sabbatical Stay

The Revd Greg Syler, is Rector of Ascension & St. George’s, Resurrection Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC USA, spent part of his ministry sabbatical at Sarum College in spring 2022.

His account of the experience begins: ‘I loved spending nearly three weeks of my ministry sabbatical at Sarum College earlier this year.

Not only did I rest, and rest well in the comfortable care of the Sarum College staff, I experienced very significant renewal and fresh insights.’

The Road Not Taken

Sarum Graduate Mike Truman

January 2022

Five years ago, I told my Warden of Readers that I would not be renewing my licence when it expired in 2019, as I thought my faith was becoming too unorthodox for a Church of England licensed lay minister. As someone who knew me well, she challenged me to actively explore what I did still believe. Thus started the journey that ended last August with the dissertation completing my MA in Theology Imagination and Culture (MATIC) at Sarum College.

Clergy Study Breaks

The opportunity for clergy to get away occasionally from their own context, to have an overnight stay in the beautiful setting of Sarum College and all that the Salisbury Cathedral Close offers is hugely valuable. All the clergy I have suggested who have spent 24hrs at Sarum College have benefit greatly from the experienced mentoring where they can talk, reflect, think, plan and pray.

The support and encouragement they receive is excellent and has a positive on their on going ministry. This is something the Diocese of Rochester encourages and supports financially in preparation for their clergy preparing for Extended Ministerial Development Leave (Sabbatical).

— Canon Christopher Dench, Diocese of Rochester Director of Formation and Ministry

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When I arrived, exhausted and sensitive, I was grateful not to be asked by Reception were I came from, whether I had had a good journey etc. That was the kind of hospitality I needed: a non-intrusive welcome that was found in ancient cultures and still survives in some societies today, where the host asks questions about a stranger and his journey only when the visitor has rested and been given food and drink.

— guest on a private stay

Biblical Study Breaks

I just found it very refreshing – as a leader of a church I don’t get as many opportunities to step out and do courses (my fault, not the church!) and so I loved it. I think it was run really well online – which is a difficult medium to work with.

Pádraig Ó Tuama (pictured) was outstanding in his balance of getting us to engage and sharing his learning. Also the quick availability of resources provided by Sarum College Librarian Jayne Downey was excellent.

— course participant, Story Theology: Narrative Approaches to Scripture

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Encountering Islam through Rabi’a of Basra