Philology and Manuscripts from the Muslim World

Date: 17 August - 29 August 2026
Costs: €600
Level: The course is meant for graduate students (MA and PhD) and researchers.
Language: English. Non-native speakers are required to have a command of English equivalent to at least TOEFL 550.
Scholarships: There are two scholarships to cover the tuition for students who don't have access to funding from their home institutions or otherwise. To be considered for this scholarship, please provide an official letter from your institution stating that they cannot provide the tuition fee. 

Introduction

This summer school is for graduate (MA and PhD) students and researchers who have an interest in handwritten materials, editing, and the tradition of editing in the Muslim world. It offers theoretical lectures as well as hands-on practice with samples from the world-famous collections of the Leiden University Library.

Over the course of two weeks, specialists from Leiden University and beyond will provide instruction on issues of editing, paleography, conservation and other material aspects of oriental manuscripts. They will also speak about philology, literacy and orality and the transmission of knowledge in the Islamic manuscript culture, presenting case-studies from various parts of the Muslim world. Participants can use this information to practice their skills in producing a sample critical edition of a manuscript of their choice, under the supervision of experts.

Since the first contributions of scholars such as Scaliger, Golius and Warner, the Leiden University Library has housed one of the most important collections of oriental manuscripts in Europe. It includes thousands of Arabic, Persian and Ottoman manuscripts, not only from the historic heartlands of Islam but also from Asia, al-Andalus and Africa. Each participant will have full access to this collection as well as other library services.

Application

Graduate (MA and PhD) students and researchers who have an interest in handwritten materials and text editing are encouraged to apply for participation in the summer school. Applications should include:

• A letter of motivation specifying what research language(s) the applicant masters;
• A curriculum vitae;
• If you are a non-native speaker of English: a certificate testifying command of the English language (TOEFL 550 or equivalent).

Applications can be submitted to: m.van.der.linden@hum.leidenuniv.nl

The deadline for applications is the 5th of May. 

For questions please email: m.van.der.linden@hum.leidenuniv.nl

About the instructors

This year’s programme offers a wonderful line-up of lecturers covering topics from codicological concerns of Arabic manuscripts to South-Asian manuscript collections in postcolonial and digital perspectives and Hebrew manuscript traditions.

Prof. dr Gabrielle van den Berg is the indefatigable leader of research projects on the relationship between Persian literature and politics. She has published extensively on manuscript traditions related to the Shahnama, and she appreciates Persian poetry as an insider. She teaches cultural history of Central Asia and Iran at Leiden University.

Dr Jelle Bruning can decipher the most difficult handwriting on papyri and ancient documents. He uses his talent to teach at Leiden University and for research on the (early) social history of the Middle east, with a focus on Egypt.

Dr Dorrit van Dalen’s academic work is based on manuscripts from West and Central Africa. She has also written on the study of oriental languages in the Dutch Republic (17th century) and created the Mouse & Manuscript website.

Dr Angela Isoldi has just completed (august 2025, Radboud University, Nijmegen) her dissertation on water management in Mamluk Cairo. She has studied dozens of waqf documents and passes her knowledge of them onwards, with much insight in the field of manuscript studies. 

Nicolien Karskens is a staff member of the Special Collections department of Leiden University Libraries, who enjoys sharing her expert understanding of the endless but intricate possibilities of exploiting them.

Prof. dr Christian Lange holds the chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Utrecht University. His interest in intellectual and cultural history has led to wonderful work for instance on ideas of the hereafter, of justice or of the senses in Islam.

Dr Verena Meyer teaches Islam in South and Southeast Asia at Leiden University. This summer she obtained a prestigious grant for her research into the ritual value of Islamic manuscripts in Indonesia today and the influence of digitisation on the formation of heritage.

Narges Pourmohammadian is a student at the University of Göttingen (Germany). Inspired by her participation in this Summerschool in 2023, she applied for and obtained a Juynboll Fellowship in Leiden in 2024, which enabled her to do original research on a literary tradition related to the Shahnamah.

Dr Kate Pukhovaia is the Curator of Oriental Manuscripts & Printed Works at Leiden University Libraries. She is also a specialist on state-building under Ottoman rule, notably in Yemen. At Utrecht University she is assistant professor of Ottoman Studies.

Dr Marijn van Putten is a leading scholar on the history of the readings of the earliest Qur’ans. He teaches at Leiden University and is head of the research programme The Canonisation of the Quranic Traditions.

Godelieva van der Randen divides her time between Leiden University Libraries and the National Library in The Hague to restore books, codices, prints and other materials. She had the opportunity to take care of one of the most famous Arabic codices in Leiden.

Prof dr Emile Schrijver holds the chair for History of the Jewish Book at Amsterdam University.  He is also the general director of the Jewish Cultural Quarter (musea and synagogue) in Amsterdam, and as such a careful contributor to a sensitive public debate.

Dr Hans Theunissen inspires students of Turkish history and culture at Leiden University.  He is a fascinating teller of stories relating late Ottoman architecture or decoration to social development in the region.