N1C Area Guide

What emotions have been understood to shape human wellbeing? Today, many in the English-speaking world would readily point to happiness, a concept now both positively felt and positively valued. Yet this association is historically contingent. The meaning and moral status of happiness have long been subjects of debate, especially in early religious discussions of the relationship between virtue, the state of being good, and pleasure, the feeling of goodness. Surprisingly, there have been few comparative investigations of emotional flourishing before the ideal of pursuing happiness became dominant, and none that examine this theme across the major religious traditions of the western world. This conference brings together leading international scholars of early Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to explore the ideals that shaped emotional and moral life in these traditions. Participants will consider how these ideals developed over time, how they intersected across communities, and what social functions they served. In doing so, the conference offers a significant contribution to the study of human happiness, flourishing, and wellbeing, illuminating a rich and understudied intellectual history. Conference convenors Dr Karen Bauer,The Institute of Ismaili Studies Professor Francoise Mirguet,Arizona State University Dr Daniel An Speakers Darrin McMahon, Keynote speaker Andrew Crislip David W. Little David Lambert Erez deGolan Eyad AbuAli Julia Bray Han Hsien Liew Hava Tirosh-Samuelson Katherine Hockey Katharina Heyden Kylie Crabbe Nancy Khalek Sara Kipfer

The Fatimid Caliphate is widely recognised as a formative period in the development of Ismaili intellectual and legal traditions. Central to this process was al-Q al-Numn, whose extensive writings established the textual and doctrinal foundations of Fatimid law and served as authoritative references for jurists, judges, and administrators across the Ismaili world. This lecture examines the textual foundations of Fatimid legal thought through a close analysis of al-Q al-Numns engagement with earlier Shii materials and traditions. Drawing on Medinese and Kufan sources, many of which are no longer extant, al-Q al-Numn collected, transmitted, and reformulated inherited traditions into a systematic legal framework suited to the institutional and doctrinal requirements of the Fatimid state. Rather than functioning solely as a compiler of earlier hadith traditions, his works reveal a deliberate process of selection, reinterpretation, and legal systematisation shaped by broader political and intellectual concerns. By situating al-Q al-Numn within wider scholarly networks that included al-Mals, Ibn al-Haytham, and al-Maward, the lecture will explore the movement of knowledge from Medina and Kufa to North Africa through Yemen and Egypt, and the mechanisms through which these traditions were incorporated into Fatimid legal discourse. The lecture argues that al-Q al-Numns enduring contribution lies not simply in legal codification, but in the transformation of early Shii textual traditions into a coherent and state-oriented legal system. About the speaker Dr Kumail Rajani is Imam Sajjad Chair in Shii Studies and Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter. His primary research focuses on the origins and development of hadith corpora, with broader interests in Quranic exegesis, Islamic law and legal theory, South Asian studies, Ismaili studies, and Shii studies. He has published widely, edited and co-edited scholarly volumes, and is the recipient of several fellowships, including the Zahid Ali Fellowship. Discussant: Dr Aslisho Qurboniev

Curiosa: Lost & Found Tunes When: Friday 17 July 2026| 7:00 pm 8:30 pm Jorge Jimenez - violins and medieval vielle Joy Smith - harps, percussion and storytelling Step into a cabinet of musical curiosities. In CURIOSA, violinist Jorge Jimnez and harpist and storyteller Joy Smith take audiences on a journey across five centuries from medieval laments and Renaissance dances to the brilliance of Bach and the fire of the Spanish Baroque. Performed on period instruments, the programme blends iconic composers with forgotten and traditional melodies, brought to life through improvisation and original arrangements. Featuring baroque violin, vielle, historical harps, and percussion, CURIOSA offers an intimate and atmospheric concert experience that feels both ancient and strikingly immediate. A vibrant exploration of sound, memory, and imagination music rediscovered, reimagined, and shared anew.

Step into the world of SABRAGE, where theatrical edge meets decadent Southern charm. Hosted at the luxurious Lafayette in London's King's Cross, this unforgettable circus-theatre experience delivers everything from seductive spectacle and razor-sharp humour to world-class acrobatics. Arrive early to enjoy curated cocktails and Southern-style bites! Looking for an extra dash of luxury? SABRAGE isn't just a show — it's your next obsession. Don't miss it!

About the event Join us at Camley Street to learn survival skills in the wild. Try your hand at lighting a fire, building a mini-shelter and learning clues for survival from the natural world. The workshop costs £10 per family. We do not want the cost to be a barrier to accessing this event, if it is not affordable for you, please email [email protected] for a place. Meet at the Education room at the back of the Visitor Centre. The session will be led by a member of our Learning & Engagement team. Aimed at 6- 12 year olds but younger siblings welcomed. All children must be accompanied throughout the session by a responsible adult. Donations are welcome. All profits are invested into London Wildlife Trust’s conservation and education work and the care of its nature reserves.

Acclaimed composer and cellist Peter Gregson offers a creative response to the work of David Bowie, Brian Eno and their contemporaries in the Berlin era. Surrounded by bespoke new visuals crafted from David Bowie: You’re Not Alone, alongside live camera work, Gregson will play a unique programme which will offer an intimate and immersive concert experience. Alongside striking visuals, Lightroom’s powerful Holoplot spatial audio system presents a sonic canvas for a one-of-a-kind musical experience with sound design by Brett Cox. Gregson will play a programme featuring a mesmeric, newly arranged version of Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint for the electric cello; Brian Eno’s Music for Airports; and Gregson’s own recomposed Bach Prelude, alongside newly composed pieces. In addition, he will perform a Bowie covers section, unique to every show. Presented by Lightroom. This is a 14+ event