Abbas Zahabi

There are many ways to approach conversations between different religions. Some focus on shared social and political goals, while others explore common ground through religious practices and ceremonies. A less common but deeply insightful method involves the careful study of sacred texts. My particular interest lies in the writings of early Islamic scholars who used both the Qur'an and the Bible to foster respectful and genuine dialogue. They aimed to create conversations where insights and perspectives flowed freely in both directions, demonstrating how textual engagement can deepen interfaith understanding. My research, titled *Classical Interreligious Studies between Islam and Christianity: The Case of Abū Ḥātim al-Rāzī (d. 322 AH/934 AD)*, reconstructs a coherent model of interreligious dialogue from the scattered writings of this tenth-century Isma'ili scholar. Although al-Rāzī himself never presented his ideas as a systematic framework—his thoughts instead appear across three major works: The Ornament (al-Zīnah), Prophecy Signs (Aʿlām al-nubuwwah), and The Correction (al-Iṣlāḥ)—my project brings these elements together and shows how they form a unified approach to engaging doctrinal differences between Islam and Christianity. What makes al-Rāzī particularly remarkable is that, in an era dominated by polemics and mutual hostility between Muslim and Christian scholars, he chose a different path: defending Christian perspectives on key doctrinal issues and interpreting Islamic teachings in ways that align more closely with Christian theological principles.

I am pleased to share that I successfully defended this dissertation proposal on Colloquium Day before the faculty committee. Also, my proposal was awarded a SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) scholarship to support this research. My work seeks to recover an early Islamic model of interreligious thought and explore its relevance for contemporary discussions on religious pluralism. Beyond its historical value, al-Rāzī's approach demonstrates how a religious tradition can maintain its theological identity while engaging in respectful and constructive dialogue with others—a challenge that remains central to modern interreligious studies. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Emma Anderson, and my co-supervisor, Professor Aaron Hughes, for their unwavering guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the development and defense of my proposal. Their encouragement has been instrumental in shaping this project and helping me reach this milestone. I look forward to continuing this research and to contributing to the field in the years ahead.