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 A two days international seminar on The Legacy of Ismail Al-Faruqi: Thought and Institution was held on 6-7 June 2010 at the University of Westminster in London. The seminar was jointly organized by The Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminister, London, UK, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, USA and the International Institute of Islamic Thought, (IIIT) UK and USA.
A total of eleven research papers by academics from Malaysia, South Africa, UK, USA, Canada, Algeria were delivered at the seminar. These papers covered topical areas of - Islamization of Knowledge and Ijtihad Islamic Humanism, Interreligious Dialogue and Ethics; Study of Religion and Science and Modernity; ... |
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 “Islamic finance is a serious alternative that academia is still ignoring,” said Dr. Muhammad Fahim Khan, a distinguished economist speaking at a seminar at IIIT on May 28.
In his lecture entitled “Islamic Finance: Future Directions and Agenda for Research", Dr. Khan focused on the inherent problems of Islamic Finance, its current challenges and future directions. He started off with outlining the political circumstances of the 1970s that gave rise to Islamic financial institutions such as the events in Afghanistan, the retreat of Russia, the Islamic revolution in Iran, the Islamization policy of the military government of Pakistan (under Zia Ul Haq), and Sudan’s commitment to Sharia. Islamic resurgence – he maintained – was seen at the horizon and economic institutions – and not social institutions – were to take the lead. It was not a good ... |
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 “Because people have different views, their interpretation of religion and its influence on society is subjective, leading to stereotyping and clash of civilizations,” said Dr. Hisham Altalib speaking at the “Understanding Interfaith Conference” organized by the Center of Interfaith Study and Dialogue (CISD) at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, on April 11 – 13, 2010.
At the Abrahamic Faiths session during the conference, three speakers engaged in a dialogue about the effects of stereotyping and prejudice on interfaith relations. Dr. Eboo Patel was the main speaker who spoke eloquently on the great utility of Interfaith understanding, particularly among the youth.
Speaking about the influence of religion, Dr. Altalib observed that “no one knows if God is on his or her side, even though they claim to be on the side of God.” He added that “two observers examining history may conclude that ... |
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 A Cambridge University-led project which investigated what it means to be a Muslim living in modern Britain has won high praise from the Government as a model for future research in the same field.
"Contextualising Islam In Britain", which published its findings in October 2009, is singled out by the House of Commons Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) Select Committee in a report evaluating the Government's policies to tackle extremism in the UK.
The nine-month research project was hosted by Cambridge's Centre of Islamic Studies, in association with the Universities of Exeter and Westminster. It was funded by the Department, but remained completely independent of any Government involvement.
For more details please go to University of Cambridge
Courtesy: University of Cambridge
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 History was made as March winded down when a group of 11 students began a week intensive course initiating their academic study for the pioneering Graduate Certificate in Imam Education. Professor Mahmoud Ayoub of Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT taught the course on Major Themes in the Bible and the Qur'an at The Fairfax Institute (TFI) at IIIT.
This pilot graduate certificate program is a joint effort of Hartford and TFI and is taught at TFI premises. It aims at enhancing the academic, professional and pastoral qualifications of Imams, counselors, teachers and other religious leaders in the American Muslim community. The first cohort of 11 students are a very diverse group of persons, including imams on the job, aspiring imams and religious leaders, and two women.
The entire certificate program consists of 24 credit hours of graduate level courses, including one course in residency at Hartford, and two supervised practicums. “We are very excited about this opportunity, and the first course has been a great mind-opener,” is the reaction of most students. “We want to go beyond the graduate certificate all the way to a D.Min or a Ph.D.,” say more than one student in the program. |
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 On Friday March 5th, 2010 Moroccan scholar Dr. Rajaa Naji al Makkawi, Professor of Law at Mohammad al Khamis University in Morocco, delivered a lecture at IIIT entitled “The Universality of the Family Order in a Multi Cultural World”.
Dr. Raja Naji al Makkawi is a prominent scholar who was recently chosen by both Newsweek and Al Jazeera as one of the most influential women in the Arab and Muslim world. In 2003, she became the first woman to deliver a religious lecture in front of the King of Morocco as part of Durous Hasaniyya. She authored many books and journal articles on family law, women issues, human rights and Sharia. Dr. Naji is a founding member of the International Muslim Women Jurist Network and a member of the Board of KARAMA or Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, a Washington based group founded by Dr. Aziza al Hibri, Professor of Law at the University of Richmond.
In her lecture, Dr. Naji provided a critical analysis of... |
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 A group of ten degree students at IIIT France visited The Fairfax Institute at IIIT to attend a course on History and Sociology of Islam in America in early March. Students accomplished course objectives through a series of field visits and lectures at IIIT and several institutions in the Washington area. These included American institutions such as the U.S. Congress, universities such as George Mason and Georgetown, national Muslim organizations, such as CAIR and ISNA, mosques such as Mustafa Center, Masjid Muhammad, and ADAMS Center, and the traveling exhibit of Collections and Stories of American Muslims.
The diverse group of men and women in their mid-twenties to mid-fifties, most of them on their first visit to the United States, also experienced American culture through visits to museums where, among other things, they viewed the IMAX film on Ibn Battuta. The group attended the opening prayer at the U.S. House of Representatives delivered by the Muslim chaplain at Duke University, and joined the Jumu'a prayers on Capitol Hill. They socialized with ... |
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 On February 19, 2010, Dr. Mazen Hashim, a professor in the political science department at University of Southern California and a member of the IIIT Council of Scholars, presented findings of his ongoing research on the issue of inheritance entitlement under Islamic law for male and female recipients. The research question he asked was whether dowry granted to a female sibling early in her marriage compensated for the smaller share of her inheritance as compared to her male sibling. Dr. Hashim illustrated his findings through a series of calculations covering various degrees of accumulated wealth and the presence of other siblings. He pointed out that research work was still preliminary and that the purpose was not rationalize inheritance rules or social customs but simply to understand their implication in economic terms. A lively discussion followed Dr. Hashim's presentation. |
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 For the first time since their recent appointment the IIIT Council of Scholars met in a face-to-face meeting at IIIT on Saturday, February 20. All Council members attended except one who joined via audio conference. Composed of accomplished scholars, the Council serves as an advisory group to review IIIT's programs and plans and offer advise on priorities and directions for IIIT to consider. The February 20 meeting served as an opportunity for Council members to interact with IIIT principals, including Dr. Jamal Barzinji, who presented a comprehensive review of IIIT's current projects and activities. Council members not only shared their feedback and comments, but accepted responsibility for drafting concept papers for new initiatives that emerged during the discussion. The Council is expected to meet once more this year, but may have additional communication through audio conferences or on one-on-one basis.
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 Nearly thirty Imams and leaders from the area Muslim community attended an Open House on Tuesday, February 16 at IIIT hosted by The Fairfax Institute (TFI) at IIIT to learn about the new Graduate Certificate in Imam Education being offered at TFI jointly with Hartford Seminary located in Hartford, CT. Following a dinner, Dr. Iqbal Unus and Dr. Hisham Altalib shared information about IIIT and the certificate program being offered through TFI. Imams and community leaders expressed interest in the program and sought information about it. The program of studies leading to the graduate certificate is slated to begin with the first course on March 29, 2010. A cohort of ten to twelve students is expected to form the initial class of students. |
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