On Saturday, December 14th, the International Centre for Advanced Islamic Research (ICAIR) hosted an in-person seminar at The WF House, Moorhall Road, UB9 6NS, featuring Ayatollah Syed Aqeel al-Gharavi. The session explored the enduring relevance of Akhbarism and Usulism—two pivotal intellectual traditions within Shi‘i Islam—and their influence on contemporary debates in Islamic thought. Ayatollah al-Gharavi traced the historical development of these schools, clarifying common misconceptions and highlighting the sophisticated interplay between textual traditionalism and rational inquiry that has defined Shi‘i scholarship. Moving beyond the conventional framing of Akhbaris as strict traditionalists and Usulis as rationalists, he presented a more nuanced picture of how these traditions have evolved and continue to shape legal and theological discourse today.