Doctor Milad Milani
Senior Lecturer,
Humanities (Arts)
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, historical, hermeneutical, and phenomenological lens. A key area of his research is Persian Sufism and Sufi Poiesis, with special reference to Attar of Nishapur and Jesus in the mystical imagination of the Sufis. He is broadly interested in the hermeneutics and ontology of Islam and Sufism as the mystical element in Islam. His research draws on Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology, paying special attention to how historical religion is understood in present-day thinking about religion. Having been trained in the history of ideas, it is always ideas that are the guiding principle in his exploration of the past. He has published in internationally peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes and is the author of The Nature of Sufism: An Ontological Reading of the Mystical in Islam (Routledge 2021), Sufi Political Thought (Routledge 2018), and Sufism in the Secret History of Persia (Routledge 2014). He has also co-edited Islam, Civility and Political Culture (Palgrave Macmillan 2020). For a full list of Milad’s publications please visit the Research Direct site.
At Western, Milad is Academic Lead in the newly established Humanities Religious Studies Research Collective and is part of the faculty of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry with the School of Humanities and Communication Arts (SoHCA). He coordinates subjects of study in Islamic Studies, History and Political Thought, and Studies of Religion Programs based in the SoHCA. Milad is also an honorary member of Western’s Chaplaincy and Inclusive Communities (CIC), where he represents non-denominational spiritual care as a key aspect of the inclusivity of faith experience and has run regular reading and meditation groups for the student cohort in concert with Chaplaincy. He shares in the vision of CIC that student academic success can be enhanced by social, emotional, and spiritual factors.
Beyond Western, Milad is Co-Editor of Journal for the Academic Study of Religion (JASR), the President of the Australian Association for the Study of Religion (AASR) and is the co-founder of the Sufi Studies Network of Australia with the Ibn Arabi Interreligious Research Initiative, based at Monash University.
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)
- Humanities Religious Studies Research Collective (2023)
- Religion and Society Research Centre (2013 - 2022)
- The Australian Association for the Study of Religion (2014)
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
- History of Religion
- Islam and the West / Modernity
- Philosophy of History
- Philosophy of Religion
- Religion and Politics
- Sufism
Organisational Unit (School / Division)
- Humanities (Arts)
- Humanities (Arts)
Committees
- First Year Committee
- Sufi Studies Network of Australia
- Course Management Committee
- Chaplaincy
- Academic Programs Advisor – BA Bankstown
Contact
| Email: | M.Milani@westernsydney.edu.au |
|---|---|
| Phone: | (02) 9685 9428 |
| Mobile: | |
| Location: | EQ.G.15 Parramatta |
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Teaching
Previous Teaching Areas
- 102184 History of Muslim Civilisations and Ideas, 2021
- 102495 Mystical Islam: The Emergence of Sufism in World History, 2020
- 102585 What is Islam?, 2021
- 102734 History of Religion, 2021
- 102823 Islam: Past, Present and Future, 2021
Publications
Books
- Milani, M. (2022), 'The Nature of Sufism: An Ontological Reading of the Mystical in Islam', : Routledge 9781138328334.
- Milani, M., Taheri, Z. and Kars, A. (2022), 'Female Mystics and the Divine Feminine in the Global Sufi Experience', : MDPI 9783036534435.
- 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. (2023), 'Mysticism in the Islamicate world : the question of neoplatonic influence in Sufi thought', Later Platonists and Their Heirs among Christians, Jews, and Muslims, Koninklijke Brill 9789004450264.
- Milani, M. (2023), 'Sufism in Oceania (Australia and New Zealand)', Sufism in Western Contexts, Brill 9789004392625.
- 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 International Publishing Group 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. (2020), 'Harry Potter and the way of truth : reflections on where we are as standing towards religion', Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review, vol 11, no 2 , pp 235 - 247.
- 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. 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. (2021), 'The Nature of Sufism: An Ontological Reading of the Mystical in Islam', Sufi Studies Network of Australia. Meeting, online.
- 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..
Current book projects:
Islam and the question of hermeneutics—Islam's "renaissance" and "reformation": case studies from 9th to the 20th century.
Islam and the ontological question—provisionally titled "Fundamentals of Islam."
Sufi Poiesis—an inquiry into metaphysics, asceticism, mysticism, and poetry in relation to "Sufism."
Translation of the poetic corpus of Attar, Mosibatnameh ("The Book of Suffering") a 12th/13th century Persian manuscript.
Blacktown Arts Community Grant 2022:
Title: The Creative Feminine
Principal: Narjis Mirza
Research and Development: Milad Milani
Research Infrastructure Funding (RIF) Scheme 2019:
Title: Modern thinking in Islam: a study of religion and ideas in Muslim thought.
Chief Researcher: Miald Milani
Supporting Institution: School of Humanities and Communication Arts
Project Code: 20111.82998
Publication Output: 1 co-edited book, 1 peer reviewed article, and 1 special issue journal publication—Islam, Civility and Political Culture (Palgrave MacMillan, New Directions in Islam Series, 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, and Shahab Ahmed and the hermeneutics of Islam, Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, vol 33, no 2 , pp 185 - 203.
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 Modern talking: Sufi socio-political discourse, Journal of Religious and Political Practice, vol 4, no 2 , pp 175 - 194.
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
Previous Supervision
| Thesis Title: | Searching for Origins: Joseph Smith and the Church of Christ |
|---|---|
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | <p>Continuity and Change Within the Persian Sufi Tradition in Later Timurid Iran: a Study of Shams al-Din Lahiji and His Commentary upon the <em>Gulshan e-Raz</em></p> |
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | Politics, Poetry and Pluralism: Bulleh Shah in the Late Mughal Empire |
| Field of Research: | Studies In Human Society, N.e.c. |
| Thesis Title: | The Balkans Unplugged (1991-2008): Serbia, Geopolitics, and the Ideal of a Russian "New Byzantium" |
| Field of Research: | Political Science; Religious Studies; History |
| Thesis Title: | The Emergence and Development of the Shi'ite Hadith Canon |
| Field of Research: | Society And Culture, N.e.c. |