Attending the May 2026 Shaykhi and Babi-Baha’i Conference at Oxford
Upcoming Projects and Life Updates
Greetings!
If you haven’t heard from me in a while, it’s been for a good reason!
For those who don’t know, for the last six months I have been engaged in intensive Arabic study, immersion, and travel with my family.
It’s been an incredible and rewarding experience, but has wholly preoccupied my time. As a result, I’ve mostly put a pause on my public-facing projects, including longer posts here and publications I’ve been working on in the background. I have even had little time for the intensive deep dives of the Writings that are necessary for projects and posts here ~ not to mention I’ve not had access to my library back home.
Soon that will change, as I will be returning home and will begin posting more regularly, and transitioning my study plans back towards long-term research interests. They will no doubt be aided by the advances I’ve made in my Arabic study (alas, it is a lifelong journey).
The rest of the year is also shaping up to be an exciting period for Babi-Baha’i Studies projects and events. Here is a sneak-peak of some upcoming events I am involved with:
Attending the 2026 Shaykhi and Babi-Baha’i Conference at Oxford at the end of May in Oxford, United Kingdom
Attending and Presenting at the 2026 Conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies North America, in Ottawa Canada
Presenting for an Online Webinar ‘On the Divine Ipseity’ hosted by the Corinne True Center for Baha’i History, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. Eastern
The 2026 Shaykhi and Babi-Baha’i Conference
The Shaykhi and Babi-Baha’i Studies conference at Oxford is a recurring scholarly gathering focused on the historical and theological study of the Babi and Baha’i faiths, their texts, and their roots in the Shaykhi movement. It is a continuation of a long-standing seminar series that has been held in the UK for the last few decades, and involves some of the outstanding scholars in the field.
The selection of topics this year looks excellent. Some highlights:
Fereydun Vahman, “The Origins and Historical Development of the Babi-Baha’i Religions”
Steven Phelps, “Update to the Partial Inventory of the Works of the Central Figures of the Bahá’i Faith”
Stephen Lambden, “The Bible and the Baha’i Religion with special reference to the Israelite Prophet Isaiah (Heb.) 17;7W, (8th cent. BCE and later), the Gospel of John and the Revelation of John of Patmos (Ist - 2nd cent, CE)”
Todd Lawson, “Messianic Secrecy in Baha’u’llah’s Seven Valleys”
Alyssa Gabbay, “Alchemy of the Soul: A Comparative Approach to the Concept of Fragrance in Baha’i Prayer”
There are also two panels, including one in honor of E.G. Browne, and one on the topic of Islam and Baha’i Studies.
I will be attending as a participant and will share thoughts and impressions here during and after the two days of the conference. If I’m lucky enough to make it across the pond again in future years, I’d like to present on some of my long-term projects focused on the Writings of the Báb. Are you attending the conference? Send me a message so that we can meet. I will be in London for the week surrounding the 2 conference days.
Presenting at the 2026 Conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies North America
This August, I will be attending the 50th Annual ABS conference in Ottawa, Canada. Last year’s conference was incredible, with over 2,000 people in attendance and an awesome range and depth of presentations. This year, I will be adding to the mix, contributing a presentation focused on the fruits of the seminar I hosted last fall “Secrets Veiled in Secrets” on the Báb’s Qayyúm al-Asmá’.
The presentation is titled “Towards a Provisional Hermeneutics of the Qayyúm al-Asmá’”. Here is the presentation abstract:
This presentation reflects on an eight-session seminar devoted to a systematic survey of the Báb's Qayyúm al-Asmá, described by Bahá’u’lláh as “the First, the Greatest and Mightiest of all books.” Through systematic study of a provisional compilation of all available English translations, participants engaged the historical and theological significance of this seminal text and the hermeneutical challenges it poses. This presentation will introduce hermeneutical insights drawn from a systematic survey of the text, historical contours situating the text within 19th-century religious ferment, and methodological reflections on engaging profound and intricate sacred texts.
I will look into recording the presentation and making it available in some or another venue. Will you be attending the conference this year? Let me know so we can say hello.
Online Webinar ‘On the Divine Ipseity’ for the Corinne True Center for Baha’i History, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. Eastern
This one is a bit further out, but time seems to fly by faster these days! In October, I will be presenting an online webinar on my project “On the Divine Ipseity” that was the subject of a post here last December:
The presentation will be an adaptation, expansion on, and distillation of that important theological and philosophical theme. The presentation abstract is here.
“Huwíyyah” (Divine Ipseity) is a central concept of Bahá’í theology, critical to its doctrine of the Unknowability of God. Derived from the Arabic pronoun Huwa (“He”), it functions as a technical theological term indicative of God as the absolutely Hidden, Unknowable Essence, beyond all conception and qualification. The Bahá’í Writings feature a range of stunning and radically apophatic formulations on the nature of the Divine, insisting that the gates of knowledge of the Divine Essence are irrevocably closed. Nonetheless, the doctrine of ‘Manifestationhood’ provides a model for how reality and revelation do, indeed, exist, emerging from that Unknowable Reality. Despite the importance of the ‘Hidden Essence’ as a feature of Bahá’í theology, Huwíyyah has received only modest attention in Bahá’í scholarship. This presentation introduces this concept to supplement familiar passages wherein it is found to open a dialogue on its mystical and philosophical import. We will grapple with the paradox of absolute Divine Inaccessibility, and the prospects for resolution via the Primal Will (Mashíyyah), the notion of emanation, and the Manifestation of God. Particular attention is given to Bahá’u’lláh’s articulation of the twofold station of the Manifestations—their absolute unity and complete servitude—which accounts for their ability to speak both from the positionality of “He is” (huwa) and “I am” (aná), without violating divine unity (tawḥíd). Key passages from the Kitáb-i-Íqán, Seven Valleys, Gems of Divine Mysteries, and Súriy-i-Haykal are explored to trace the lexical and philosophical weight of this concept. The presentation situates Bahá’í metaphysics within broader philosophical and religious contexts, drawing on selective comparisons with Islamic mystical terminology and Neoplatonic apophaticism (especially Plotinus). By clarifying the distinction between ipseity, quiddity, and manifestation, the presentation aims to illuminate the coherence, rigor, and philosophical significance of Bahá’í teachings on divine transcendence, revelation, and the limits of theological language.
Special shoutout to Ney Grant for recommending me to submit this project for the Corinne True webinar series. Check out some of his fascinating presentations with the Corinne True Center:
Ney Grant, “The Last ‘First Philosophy,’ Part III: The Postmodern Turn,” Sunday, March 15
Ney Grant, “The Last ‘First Philosophy,’ Part II: The Hermeneutic Turn,” Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m. Eastern
You can find the Corinne True Center’s youtube channel here. It is a treasure trove of excellent presentations, discussions, and lectures.
Conclusion
If you’re a regular around here and have been wondering what I’ve been up to, now you know! I am looking forward to being back in a place where I can devote more time to projects here and in related venues ~ I have a lot in the wings I want to work on! I hope to see you at all or some of the upcoming spaces. Comment below or message to let me know where and what you’re up to the next six months.
I’m incredibly jealous, Aaron! I’d love to be able to attend that Oxford conference. There are so many wonderful scholars giving presentations. Have fun and let us know how it goes. It’s possible I might be able to attend the conference in Ottawa. Maybe I’ll see you there! Afterwards, in October, I’m supposed to give a presentation at the annual conference of the Sir Richard Francis Burton Society in Ljubljana. Inshallah, I’ll be visiting Florence and Ravenna to visit Dante’s resting place. And in December, I’m giving a little web talk on the Battle of Haifa (1918) for the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in WW1 discussion group.