ISIC 2025
The Eighth International Conference on Islamic Civilisation
Call for Papers
Sects, Sectarianism, and Sectarian Identities in Islam
Dates: 1–2 November 2025
Venue: National Chengchi University (Taipei, Taiwan) and Online
Organized by
Department of Arabic Language and Culture, National Chengchi University (Republic of China)
Institut Islam Hadhari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malaysia)
Sectarian divisions within the Islamic world have long been misunderstood by both the media and the general public. While communal violence and conflict in modern Muslim-majority countries are often framed in sectarian terms, attributing these conflicts solely to historical sectarian divides —such as the Sunni-Shiʿa split — is misleading and reductive. Medieval Muslim sources and heresiographical literature use terms like firaq, niḥal, ṭāʾifa, or madhhab to refer to religious communities, groups, or schools of thought. These are often translated as “sects,” a term that carries connotations of schism and heresy in the Christian tradition, implying a division from an established orthodoxy. However, applying this conceptualization of sects and sectarianism to the Islamic context can be problematic. Over the past fourteen centuries, medieval Islamic societies have largely been tolerant—and at times even appreciative—of diverse, sometimes contradictory, interpretations of revealed truth. The existence of multiple sects and schools of thought within Islam highlights the richness and diversity of Islamic expressions of faith.
While the formation of groups based on shared qualities is a universal human phenomenon, what distinguishes the Islamic world—both past and present—is the ubiquity of sectarian identities, symbols, and ideas, which permeate various genres of literature, daily rituals, and art forms. Beyond the major sectarian alignments of Sunnis and Shiʿas, Muslim sects or schools are often subject to further divisions and subdivisions throughout history. Sectarian identity is frequently entangled with other social, political, and cultural affiliations, making any attempt to define an Islamic sect or sectarian identity inherently complex and multi-faceted.
Due to the nature of available sources, the formation of Muslim sects and sectarian identities during the first three centuries of Islam remains an underexplored field that warrants systematic and rigorous study. Furthermore, the historical development of Islamic sects and schools in the post-formative period should be considered in order to reassess the validity and utility of classifications based on sectarianism.
ISIC 2025 invites paper submissions on a wide range of topics related to sects, sectarian identities, and sectarianism in both pre-modern and modern Islamic contexts. Topics include, but are not limited to:
Proposals for pre-arranged panels dedicated to the above themes are also welcome.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit anonymized abstracts (250-300 words) in English, along with a one-page CV, to isu@nccu.edu.tw by 15 May 2025. Both the abstract and CV should be submitted in Word docx format. The conference will take place in a hybrid format on 1-2 November 2025 at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. The official language of the conference is English.
Panel Proposals
Panel proposals should include a 600-word abstract with the following details:
Introduction to the topic
The number of presenters
Short biographical information about the presenters and convenor (the person submitting the proposal)
Contact Email:
isu@nccu.edu.tw
Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 May 2025
Notification of acceptance will be sent by mid-June 2025.
