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Summer 2026
Newsletter
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It has been a full year so far. Below is a round-up of everything since our last newsletter — new courses now open for enrolment, conferences from Toronto to Najaf, and the latest from our podcast. Thank you for being part of it.
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Study With Us — 2026–27
New Courses & Programs
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Online • Open to everyone
Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies
A rigorous yet accessible introduction to Islamic thought, spirituality, and history — offered with the University of St. Michael’s College Continuing Education Division. Fully online, with no prior background required.
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Two new graduate courses at the University of Toronto, taught by SRI Academic Director Dr. Vinay Khetia. Enrolling now for the 2026–27 year.
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Fall 2026
Islam, Christianity and Modernity
How modern Muslim and Christian thinkers reconcile faith and belonging within pluralist, secular societies — human dignity, peace-building, spirituality, and advances in science and technology. Tuesdays, 5–7 PM, Downtown Toronto campus.
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Winter 2027
Contemporary Topics in Islamic Theology
Belief and atheism, theodicy, political theology, war and peacebuilding, the ecological crisis, and artificial intelligence — classical Islamic theology in dialogue with contemporary Muslim thinkers. Tuesdays, 4–6 PM, Downtown Toronto campus.
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Annual Conference • May 2026
Shiʿism and the Safawids
A major annual conference co-hosted by the University of Toronto, McGill University, and SRI, tracing the evolution of Shiʿi thought during the Safawid era. Photos are now up, with talk recordings coming soon.
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International • Feb 2026
1000 Years of the Najaf Hawza
SRI co-hosted a landmark gathering in Najaf, Iraq marking the millennium of the Najaf seminary and the contributions of al-Ṭūsī — a bridge between traditional seminary learning and modern academic research.
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Interfaith • Jan 2026
Sainthood in Islam and Christianity
An interfaith evening co-hosted with Wycliffe College, where SRI Academic Director Dr. Vinay Khetia and Dr. Justin Stratis explored how each tradition understands holy persons — the awliyāʾ, sanctity, intercession, and divine proximity.
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Interfaith • Apr 2026
Our Common Home
SRI co-hosted the Annual Scarboro Missions Lecture, “Our Common Home: Christian & Muslim Perspectives,” featuring Farhana Mayer of the Laudato Si’ Research Institute and Fr. Roberto Jaramillo, SJ, on the shared call to care for the earth.
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Fellowship Program • Mar 2026
Reconciling Slavery with the Prophet’s Legacy
As part of our Distinguished Scholar Fellowship, Dr. Nebil Husayn presented “Reconciling Slavery with the Prophet’s Legacy as a Teacher of Ethics.” A full recording is available on our website.
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In Print • Jun 2026
SRI in ‘The Compass’
Academic Director Dr. Vinay Khetia is featured in an interview in the first-ever English edition of The Compass, the journal of the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali.
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32
episodes and counting
Recent conversations — on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and everywhere else.
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Supporting SRI
If you’ve read this far, you clearly care about this work. Your support makes the courses, conferences, and conversations above possible.
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Copyright © 2026 Shi'a Research Institute. All rights reserved.
47 Queen's Park East, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto
shiaresearch.ca
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