Doctor Milad Milani
Senior Lecturer,
Humanities (Arts)
Biography
Dr Milad Milani is a Senior Lecturer in religious studies at Western Sydney University. He specialises in the study of Sufism and Islam through a comparative religious studies lens. Dr Milani’s research draws on Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology and more broadly on other thinkers such as Kierkegaard and Nietzsche for analysis, paying special attention to how the history of religion is understood in present-day thinking about religion. A central part of his research concerns the phenomenon of "Persian Sufism" and "Sufi poiesis," with special reference to Attar of Nishapur. He is broadly interested in the ontology of Islam. Dr Milani is an internationally published academic and has authored three books on Sufism: The Nature of Sufism (Routledge 2021), Sufi Political Thought (Routledge 2018), and Sufism in the Secret History of Persia (Routledge 2014). He has one co-edited book: Islam, Civility and Political Culture (Palgrave Mcmillan 2020). For a full list of Dr Milani’s publications please visit the Research Direct site.
This information has been contributed by Doctor Milani.
Qualifications
- PhD University of Sydney
- BA(Hons) University of Sydney
Professional Memberships
- Sufi Studies Network of Australia (2020)
- Religion and Society Research Centre (2013)
Awards
- Honours - First Class, Religious Studies (The University of Sydney) 2004-03-05
- Australian Post Graduate Award 2004-04-02
- Certificate Award - Principles and Practice of Certificate Award, University Teaching and Learning, Institute for Teaching and Learning (University of Sydney) 2006-05-05
Interests
- Comparative Religion
- History of Ideas in World Religion
- Islam and the West / Modernity
- Philosophy of History
- Religion and Politics
- Sufism
Organisational Unit (School / Division)
- Humanities (Arts)
Committees
- First Year Committee
- Sufi Studies Network of Australia
- Course Management Committee
- Chaplaincy
Contact
| Email: | M.Milani@westernsydney.edu.au |
|---|---|
| Phone: | (02) 9685 9428 |
| Mobile: | |
| Location: | EQ.1.46 Parramatta |
PLEASE NOTE: obtaining information from this Directory must be for the legitimate purposes of doing business with and within Western Sydney University, and must not be used for unsolicited bulk e-mailing (spamming) or similar purposes.
Teaching
Current Teaching Areas
- 102184 History of Muslim Civilisations and Ideas
- 102585 What is Islam?
- 102734 History of Religion
- 102823 Islam: Past, Present and Future
Previous Teaching Areas
- 102495 Mystical Islam: The Emergence of Sufism in World History, 2020
Publications
Books
- Milani, M. and Adrahtas, V. (2021), 'Islam, Civility and Political Culture', : Palgrave Macmillan 9783030567606.
- Milani, M. (2018), 'Sufi Political Thought', : Routledge 9781138787643.
- Milani, M. (2013), 'Sufism in the Secret History of Persia', : Acumen 9781844656776.
Chapters in Books
- Milani, M. (2021), 'Introduction : Eschaton and civility in Islamic history', Islam, Civility and Political Culture, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030567606.
- Milani, M. and Adrahtas, V. (2021), 'The quandary of modernity : Islam and civility', Islam, Civility and Political Culture, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030567606.
- Milani, M. and Adrahtas, V. (2021), 'Islam divided : the underlying political culture of the conflict between the Sunni and the Shi'a', Islam, Civility and Political Culture, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030567606.
- Milani, M. and Krok, M. (2021), 'The paradox of gendered holiness in Islamic mysticism', Islam, Civility and Political Culture, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030567606.
- Milani, M. (2021), 'Javad Nurbakhsh and the Ni'matullahi 'Khaniqahi' Order', Handbook of Islamic Sects and Movements, Brill 9789004425255.
- Milani, M. (2020), 'The "Sufism" of Monsieur Ibrahim', Cultural Fusion of Sufi Islam: Alternative Paths to Mystical Faith, Routledge 9781138615038.
- Milani, M. (2020), 'Shariati, Ali', The SAGE Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Religion, Sage Publications 9781473942202.
- Milani, M. (2020), 'Neo-Sufism', The SAGE Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Religion, Sage Publications 9781473942202.
- Milani, M. (2020), 'Sufism', The SAGE Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Religion, Sage Publications 9781473942202.
- Trompf, G. and Milani, M. (2019), 'From "Zurvanism" to Mazdak', The Gnostic World, Routledge 9781138673939.
- Milani, M. (2019), 'Classic Sufism and Gnosis', The Gnostic World, Routledge 9781138673939.
- Milani, M. (2017), 'The Sufism of Iran : regional indigeneity and Islamic mysticism', Religious Categories and the Construction of the Indigenous, Brill 9789004324411.
- Milani, M., Possamai, A. and Wajdi, F. (2017), 'Branding of spiritual authenticity and nationalism in transnational Sufism', Religions, Nations, and Transnationalism in Multiple Modernities, Palgrave 9781137592385.
- Milani, M. (2017), 'Ali Shariati', The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory, Wiley-Blackwell 9781118430866.
- Milani, M. (2017), 'The cultural Muslim, secularization and the academic study of Islam', Religious Encounters in Transcultural Society: Collision, Alteration, and Transmission, Lexington Books 9781498569187.
- Milani, M. (2017), 'Sufi politics in the contemporary West : the role and definition of Sufism in the works of Javad Nurbakhsh (1926-2008)', Sufism, Pluralism, and Democracy, Equinox 9781781792209.
- Milani, M. (2015), 'Sufism and the challenge of modernity in the twenty-first century', Sufism and Social Integration: Connecting Hearts, Crossing Boundaries, ABC International Group 9781567444322.
- Milani, M. (2013), 'The subtle body in sufism', Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West : Between Mind and Body, Routledge 9780415608114.
- Milani, M. (2012), 'The cultural products of global Sufism', Handbook of New Religions and Cultural Production, Brill 9789004221871.
- Milani, M. (2012), 'The cultural repository of Persian Sufism : medieval chivalry and mysticism in Iran', Intercultural Exchange in the Early Medieval Mediterranean, Continuum 9781441139085.
- Milani, M. (2006), 'Mystical experience and its critique of pure reason in the spiritual epistemology of Suhrawardi and Rumi', Through a Glass Darkly : Reflections on the Sacred : Collected Research, Sydney University Press 9781920898540.
- Milani, M. (2005), 'Cyclical history, gnosis, and memory : a study in the role and significance of mystical poetry as a medium of popular culture for Persian Sufism', The Buddha of Suburbia: Proceedings of the Eighth Australian and International Religion, Literature and the Arts Conference 2004, RLA Press 1864877529.
Journal Articles
- Milani, M. and Taheri, Z. (2021), 'An inquiry into the nature of the female mystic and the divine feminine in Sufi experience', Religions, vol 12, no 8 .
- Milani, M. and Adrahtas, V. (2020), 'Modern thinking in Islam : a study of religion and ideas in Muslim thought', Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, vol 33, no 2 , pp 113 - 118.
- Milani, M. (2020), 'Shahab Ahmed and the hermeneutics of Islam', Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, vol 33, no 2 , pp 185 - 203.
- Milani, M. (2019), 'Reflections on an academic pursuit of religion', Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, vol 32, no 2-3 , pp 182 - 195.
- Milani, M. and Adrahtas, V. (2018), 'Modern talking : Sufi socio-political discourse', Journal of Religious and Political Practice, vol 4, no 2 , pp 175 - 194.
- Milani, M. and Cottle, D. (2018), 'Quest for justice : Islamism, social justice, and civility in Islamic history', Journal of Religious and Political Practice, vol 4, no 3 , pp 368 - 388.
- Milani, M. and Possamai, A. (2016), 'Sufism, spirituality and consumerism : the case study of the Nimatullahiya and Naqshbandiya Sufi orders in Australia', Contemporary Islam, vol 10, no 1 , pp 67 - 85.
- Milani, M. (2016), 'Metaphysics of love in Sufi writings', Eremos: Exploring Spirituality in Australia, vol 2016 , pp 13 - 17.
- Milani, M. (2016), 'William Gervase Clarence-Smith : Islam and the Abolition of Slavery', Journal of Religious History, vol 40, no 2 , pp 284 - 285.
- Milani, M. and Possamai, A. (2013), 'The Nimatullahiya and Naqshbandiya Sufi orders on the Internet : the cyber-construction of tradition and the McDonaldisation of spirituality', Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, vol 26, no 1 , pp 51 - 75.
- Milani, M. (2013), 'Umar Khayyam : a paradigm of the secular and religious', Threskeiologia: Hiera/Vevela = Studies in Religion: Sacred/Profane, vol 8, no 9 , pp 50 - 78.
- Milani, M. (2011), 'Representations of Jesus in Islamic mysticism : defining the 'Sufi Jesus'', Literature and Aesthetics, vol 21, no 2 , pp 45 - 64.
Conference Papers
- Milani, M. (2019), 'Shahab Ahmed and the hermeneutics of Islam', Religion and Ideas Roundtable, Parramatta, N.S.W..
- Milani, M. (2018), 'Indefinable mysticism : Sufism in the Persian cultural style', Iranica Conference, Sydney, N.S.W..
- Milani, M. (2018), 'Some remarks on Islamism, social justice, and civility in Islamic history', Studies in Religion Seminar Series , University of Sydney.
- Milani, M. (2012), 'The question of multiple modernities in Islam : examining methodology and approach to Islamic studies', Australian Association for the Study of Religion. Conference, Parramatta, N.S.W..
- Milani, M. and Possamai, A. (2011), 'The changing face of Sufi orders : the neo-Sufi aspects of two traditional orders in Australia : Nimatullahiya and Naqshbandiya', Sufism for a New Age, Bankstown, N.S.W..
Currently working on:
- Islam and Hermeneutics (the hermenuetic impasse)
- Sufism and Existentialism (the crisis of self)
- Muslim World Classics (the forgetfulness of the origin of Islam)
Early Career Researcher Award 2016:
TItle: Sufism: religious pluralism and the alternative narrative in Islam (oral history of Sufi groups and organisations in Australia).
Chief Resaercher: Milad Milani
Supporting Institution: School of Humanities and Communication Arts
Project Code: 20111. 87611
Publication Output: 1 book and 1 peer reviewed journal article – Sufi Political Thought (Routledge 2017) and Journal of Religious and Political Practice (2018)
Research Pilot Study 2011-2013:
Title: Belief Systems of Sufi Groups in Australia (historical and sociologial analysis of traditional Sufi groups in Australia)
Researchers: Adam Possamai and Milad Milani
Supporting Institution: Religion and Society Research Centre, School of Social Sciences and Psychology
Publication Output: 2 peer reviewed journal articles with Journal for the Academic Study of Religion (2013) and Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life (2016)
This information has been contributed by Doctor Milani.
Supervision
Current Supervision
| Thesis Title: | The Balkans Unplugged (1991-2008): Serbia, Geopolitics, and the Ideal of a Russian "New Byzantium" |
|---|---|
| Field of Research: | Political Science; History; Religious Studies |
| Thesis Title: | Gender Sufism: An Anthropological Study on Sufi Women within Sufi Orders in Indonesia |
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | Continuity and Change within the Persian-Sufi tradition in later Timurid Iran: a study of Shamsudd?n L?h?j? and his Commentary upon the Gulshan e-R?z |
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | RESPECTING DIVERSITY AND CULTIVATING A RECOGNITION OF OUR INTERDEPENDENCE: CHAPLAINCY IN AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY |
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | Soul of the Sub-Continent: Islamic religiosity through the poetry of Bulleh Sha |
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | The Bureaucracy and Standardisation of Non-obligatory Pilgrimage (UMRA) and Personal Piety among Muslims in Indonesia. |
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | Searching for Origins: Joseph Smith and the Church of Christ |
| Field of Research: |
Previous Supervision
| Thesis Title: | Politics, Poetry and Pluralism: Bulleh Shah in the Late Mughal Empire |
|---|---|
| Field of Research: | Studies In Human Society Not Elsewhere Classified |
| Thesis Title: | The Emergence and Development of the Shi'ite Hadith Canon |
| Field of Research: | Society And Culture Not Elsewhere Classified |
