Ilyass Amharar
FRENع
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In pictures

Gallery

Pulpits and lecterns, study halls, television studios, the houses of masters, old bindings: what research looks like once it leaves the study.

These images are not decoration. They show where this work is actually made: in classrooms, before audiences, beside old masters whose words are written down nowhere, and in front of manuscripts no one has read for centuries.

They are gathered here in the order of gestures rather than of dates.

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Teaching

The class, the lecture, the pulpit: the text read aloud, then explained.

A public lecture: presenting a text before commenting on it.
A public lecture: presenting a text before commenting on it.
A lesson given from the pulpit, between zellige tilework and carved wood.
A lesson given from the pulpit, between zellige tilework and carved wood.
Speaking: the voice carries the text, the hand accompanies it.
Speaking: the voice carries the text, the hand accompanies it.
A study hall beneath the dome: teaching takes place where it always has.
A study hall beneath the dome: teaching takes place where it always has.
The hall seen whole: painted ceiling, chandelier and rows of desks.
The hall seen whole: painted ceiling, chandelier and rows of desks.
An examination session: students at work beneath the dome.
An examination session: students at work beneath the dome.
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In the studio

Carrying research beyond the university, without oversimplifying it.

The programme al-Masāʾil on Assadissa television: an hour devoted to the Nukat al-maḥṣūl fī ʿilm al-uṣūl.
The programme al-Masāʾil on Assadissa television: an hour devoted to the Nukat al-maḥṣūl fī ʿilm al-uṣūl.
Another studio: explaining a doctrine to an audience of non-specialists.
Another studio: explaining a doctrine to an audience of non-specialists.
A portrait before an enlarged page of an Arabic manuscript.
A portrait before an enlarged page of an Arabic manuscript.
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Receiving transmission

A chain of transmission (isnād) is not read: it is received, seated before the one who holds it.

With a master: transmission is received in person, never from books alone.
With a master: transmission is received in person, never from books alone.
A reading session with a shaykh, hand in hand.
A reading session with a shaykh, hand in hand.
After the session, in the master's house.
After the session, in the master's house.
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Assemblies and awards

Conferences, institutional meetings and prize ceremonies.

A scholarly conference: an audience of ulama.
A scholarly conference: an audience of ulama.
An institutional meeting on the religious sciences.
An institutional meeting on the religious sciences.
A prize ceremony on stage, diploma in hand.
A prize ceremony on stage, diploma in hand.
Certificate of the International Naat al-Sharif Poetry Competition — second prize, French category.
Certificate of the International Naat al-Sharif Poetry Competition — second prize, French category.
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Objects and documents

What one holds in the hand: a binding, a model, a poster.

A red morocco binding with a gilt mandorla: the cover of a manuscript, consulted as a digital facsimile.
A red morocco binding with a gilt mandorla: the cover of a manuscript, consulted as a digital facsimile.
Models of turned-wood minbars, shown at a gathering.
Models of turned-wood minbars, shown at a gathering.
Emblem of the Maison de la Connaissance — دار المعرفة: an arch, a reed pen, an open book.
Emblem of the Maison de la Connaissance — دار المعرفة: an arch, a reed pen, an open book.
Poster for a community iftar at the Blackhall Mosque in Edinburgh.
Poster for a community iftar at the Blackhall Mosque in Edinburgh.

Some captions describe what the image shows without naming the place or the date, for want of reliable information. Send them over and they will be completed.

A project, a question, an invitation?

Lectures, seminars, manuscript expertise, research supervision: let us take the time to talk it through.

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