Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada In brief Date - 23 March 2026Venue - Room LG.09, 40 George SquareSpeakers - Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada (IMES PhD candidates)Titles - Sultan Selim III ‘Pulling a Long Bow’: Foreign Observations of Ottoman Archery at the Turn of the 19th Century (Rik Janssen); Proliferation of the Printing of Salafī Theological Treatises in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and the Levant in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries through Transnational Trade Networks (Reem Al-Sada) Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventSultan Selim III ‘Pulling a Long Bow’: Foreign Observations of Ottoman Archery at the Turn of the 19th CenturyIn the 1790s, British and Ottoman archery styles came into direct contact when the Ottomans established their first embassy in London. The secretary of the ambassador, Mahmud Raif Efendi (c.1760-1807), joined the British archers and displayed his prowess by launching arrows over 450 yards, about 1.5 times further than any British contemporary had ever reached or witnessed before.This technological feat sparked British fascination with Ottoman archery, and this interest was further amplified when Raif praised his sultan, Selim III (r. 1789-1807), as one of the best archers in the Empire, culminating in the circulation of an alleged record shot of 972 yards. As such, Selim has become the most well-known archer-sultan in European and American archery circles. While the record’s factuality has been questioned before, no satisfactory answer has been given.To find an answer, this presentation first explores the roles and contributions of Mahmud Raif as well as the previous British ambassador to the Sublime Porte, Robert Ainslie (1730-1812), in shaping the British fascination with Ottoman archery and the subsequent reputation of the sultan as a superhuman marksman.Second, it continues with Selim’s image as a marksman in British and Ottoman sources. By critically reading archery books and manuscripts, and travelogues, it can be argued that Selim’s ‘American-European’ record was likely drafted as propaganda specifically for a British audience.Proliferation of the Printing of Salafī Theological Treatises in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and the Levant in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries through Transnational Trade NetworksThis thesis examines the circulation of religious theological ideas across the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Indian Ocean world during the nineteenth century, with a particular focus on the Gulf region. It explores how merchant networks, mobility, and emerging print practices shaped theological debate, especially between Ashʿarīs and arrising Salafi currents. By foregrounding the role of Gulf merchants and their printing and patronage activities, the thesis aims to offer a new understanding of how theological and intellectual debates were produced, transmitted, and contested across a transregional and transnational landscape.About the seminar seriesThe Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies research seminar series, taking place during the spring semester 2026, draws upon theories and methodologies from the Humanities and Social Sciences to study Palestine through temporal and spatial narratives.The series aims to bring together academics, writers, and artists, both in person and online, to engage critically with knowledge production in Palestine Studies. Our guest speakers will unpack timely questions about colonial violence and various creative counternarratives in academia, literature, music, cinema, and the digital world.Some of the events are co-badged with: The Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, and The School of Social and Political Sciences. We welcome you all to join us for these timely debates and discussions!How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Mar 23 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada Join us for a hybrid seminar by Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada, two IMES PhD candidates, who will respectively give presentations on foreign observations of Ottoman archery, and the proliferation of religious theological ideas across the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean world. Room LG.09 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada In brief Date - 23 March 2026Venue - Room LG.09, 40 George SquareSpeakers - Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada (IMES PhD candidates)Titles - Sultan Selim III ‘Pulling a Long Bow’: Foreign Observations of Ottoman Archery at the Turn of the 19th Century (Rik Janssen); Proliferation of the Printing of Salafī Theological Treatises in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and the Levant in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries through Transnational Trade Networks (Reem Al-Sada) Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventSultan Selim III ‘Pulling a Long Bow’: Foreign Observations of Ottoman Archery at the Turn of the 19th CenturyIn the 1790s, British and Ottoman archery styles came into direct contact when the Ottomans established their first embassy in London. The secretary of the ambassador, Mahmud Raif Efendi (c.1760-1807), joined the British archers and displayed his prowess by launching arrows over 450 yards, about 1.5 times further than any British contemporary had ever reached or witnessed before.This technological feat sparked British fascination with Ottoman archery, and this interest was further amplified when Raif praised his sultan, Selim III (r. 1789-1807), as one of the best archers in the Empire, culminating in the circulation of an alleged record shot of 972 yards. As such, Selim has become the most well-known archer-sultan in European and American archery circles. While the record’s factuality has been questioned before, no satisfactory answer has been given.To find an answer, this presentation first explores the roles and contributions of Mahmud Raif as well as the previous British ambassador to the Sublime Porte, Robert Ainslie (1730-1812), in shaping the British fascination with Ottoman archery and the subsequent reputation of the sultan as a superhuman marksman.Second, it continues with Selim’s image as a marksman in British and Ottoman sources. By critically reading archery books and manuscripts, and travelogues, it can be argued that Selim’s ‘American-European’ record was likely drafted as propaganda specifically for a British audience.Proliferation of the Printing of Salafī Theological Treatises in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and the Levant in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries through Transnational Trade NetworksThis thesis examines the circulation of religious theological ideas across the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Indian Ocean world during the nineteenth century, with a particular focus on the Gulf region. It explores how merchant networks, mobility, and emerging print practices shaped theological debate, especially between Ashʿarīs and arrising Salafi currents. By foregrounding the role of Gulf merchants and their printing and patronage activities, the thesis aims to offer a new understanding of how theological and intellectual debates were produced, transmitted, and contested across a transregional and transnational landscape.About the seminar seriesThe Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies research seminar series, taking place during the spring semester 2026, draws upon theories and methodologies from the Humanities and Social Sciences to study Palestine through temporal and spatial narratives.The series aims to bring together academics, writers, and artists, both in person and online, to engage critically with knowledge production in Palestine Studies. Our guest speakers will unpack timely questions about colonial violence and various creative counternarratives in academia, literature, music, cinema, and the digital world.Some of the events are co-badged with: The Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, and The School of Social and Political Sciences. We welcome you all to join us for these timely debates and discussions!How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Mar 23 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada Join us for a hybrid seminar by Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada, two IMES PhD candidates, who will respectively give presentations on foreign observations of Ottoman archery, and the proliferation of religious theological ideas across the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean world. Room LG.09 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Mar 23 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada Join us for a hybrid seminar by Rik Janssen and Reem Al-Sada, two IMES PhD candidates, who will respectively give presentations on foreign observations of Ottoman archery, and the proliferation of religious theological ideas across the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean world.
