The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts Closing Ceremony

To close ten days of celebration, connection, and beauty, the Closing Ceremony offers a final gathering to nourish the mind and soul. Dr Timothy Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad) will lecture on 'Wagner and Sufism', drawing the music of the celebrated composer into dialogue with the depth of tasawwuf, or Sufism, the diverse set of spiritual practices and philosophy within the Islamic tradition. Then, experience the timeless beauty of Persian classical music in a captivating performance by santur virtuoso Dr Saeid Kordmafi. Through the delicate resonance of the hammered dulcimer and the rich modal traditions of Iran, journey into one of the Islamic world's most refined and enduring musical heritages. About Dr Timothy Winter Dr Timothy Winter, or Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, is Shaykh Zayed Lecturer in Islamic Studies at Cambridge University, founder of Cambridge Muslim College, visionary behind Cambridge Central Mosque, and has written 'Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology, and Travelling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe.' About Dr Saeid Kordmafi Saeid Kordmafi is an Iranian santur player, composer and musicologist with a special interest in cross-cultural music-making and music studies in the Islamic world. He has participated in performances, recordings and workshops across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Europe and the United States, and co-founded the award-winning Rahâ Ensemble. He is one of the leading musicians of a revival movement that seeks to revitalise pre-modern aesthetics in classical Iranian music, an undertaking inspired by historical evidence as well as neighbouring traditions that have partly preserved a previously shared musical heritage. About The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts runs from 19 to 29 November 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to Cambridge's historic colleges, museums, and cultural spaces. Open to everyone, the festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic arts, and, fifty years on from the landmark 1976 World of Islam Festival, carries that spirit into our own time. Find out more at cfia.co.uk.