Dr. Usman Hamid

Biography

Usman Hamid is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Northwestern University. His research focuses on the study of early modern South Asia, particularly the connections between Iran, Central Asia, and the Indian Ocean world. He explores the devotional cultural histories of Muslim communities, with particular attention to the discursive and material expressions of lived experiences. He received a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, earned a Master’s degree from the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University, and completed his PhD in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto. Prior to his appointment at Northwestern, Hamid was an Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at Hamilton College. His current research project investigates the circulation of texts, objects, and people in the Indian Ocean from the late sixteenth century, and how these shaped the aesthetics of Muslim devotion to the Prophet Muhammad in South Asia. His work engages with themes of religious materiality and the deep belief in the auspicious nature of the Prophet Muhammad’s body, including the potential for sustenance and salvation.

Research Interests

Experience