The colloquium in the Study of Religion at the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences is pleased to host a talk on “Islamic theological debates on the possible salvation of atheists and polytheists” by Dr Nebil. A. Husayn.

Abstract:

A common assumption among classical Muslim theologians is that all those who reject monotheism are doomed to eternal punishment in Hell. However, there were also theologians who theorized that God would forgive some polytheists and atheists for their rejection of monotheism and shield them from the fire of Hell or offer them salvation in Heaven. This presentation considers some of these alternative theories of salvation.

Speaker’s bio:

Dr. Husayn is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Miami. His research broadly considers the development of Islamic theology, historiography and debates on the caliphate. Husayn obtained his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University and an M.A. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Harvard University. Husayn is the recipient of a Fulbright award and the University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts and Humanities. He is the author of Opposing the Imam (2021) and Caliphate and Imamate (2023).