LUCITH runs a number of initiatives and programmes. Below you will find a list of initiatives and activities by the Centre for Islamic Thought and History.

Arabic Humanities Blog (official launch in September 2021)

Online, you will find our Arabic Humanities Blog, intended as a critical space to discuss provocative and contemporary ideas in the humanities as they relate to Islam, Arabic thought, and the Muslim world. The goal is to provide intellectual spaces for candid conversations and showcase the latest research and discoveries of Leiden Arabic and Islamic humanities.

Leiden University Shi'i Studies Initiative (LUSSI)

The Leiden University Shiʿi Studies Initiative (LUSSI) addresses the unfortunate neglect of Shiʿi Islam and its various learned traditions in the broader field of Arabic and Islamic thought and aims to highlight its significance to modern Western scholarship. 

Arabic reading sessions

For those interested to engage more with the Arabic Language, we host Arabic reading sessions of medieval and modern texts in history, theology, and philosophy. These sessions are aimed at PhD candidates and early career scholars of Arabic and Islamic studies. They take place regularly throughout the academic year.

Summer school (with Exeter University)

LUCITH aims to hold summer schools that will be hosted bi-annually at Leiden University and which will be aimed at PhDs and early career scholars. (more information later)

Arabic philosophy series and annual lecture (with Exeter University)

In the past we have held lecture series on themes within Islamic thought and history, such as our lecture series on apocalypticism and eschatology in early Islam in 2021. We endeavour to hold at least one thematic lecture series per academic year.