Oxford Hosts Global Conference on Imam Ali’s Enduring Legacy

Oxford Hosts Global Conference on Imam Ali’s Enduring Legacy
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The University of Oxford held an international academic conference from July 9 to 11, 2025, exploring the intellectual and cultural heritage of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). Hosted at the historic St John’s College, the event brought together distinguished scholars from around the world to examine the far-reaching influence of Imam Ali’s teachings on Islamic civilization.

The conference featured diverse papers highlighting the Imam’s contributions to ethics, theology, politics, and Quranic exegesis. Dr. Omar Ali de Unzaga (Institute of Ismaili Studies) discussed depictions of Imam Ali in the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity as a symbol of moral and spiritual authority. Dr. Hassan Ansari (Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton) analyzed Imam Ali’s discourse on divine attributes in the Nahj al-Balagha and its impact on early Islamic theology.

Other notable presentations included Professor Sean Anthony’s (Ohio State University) study on Imam Ali’s caliphate and Dr. Maria Dakake’s (George Mason University) paper on his lasting role in Quranic interpretation. The conference underlined a growing global scholarly interest in re-examining Imam Ali’s legacy as an enduring beacon of justice, knowledge, and spiritual leadership within Islamic history.