|
 |
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
TURKEY SUMMER SCHOOL: ISTANBUL, 1-14 AUGUST 2015:
|
~~~ UPDATE ~~~ |
.jpg) |
| MUSLIM SOCIETIES: CONTEMPORARY & FUTURE CHALLENGES |
The Second IIIT Turkey Summer School was officially launched at an Opening Ceremony held
in the main hall of Kirklareli University on 1st August 2015. The Ceremony which marks the start
of a 2-week conference scheduled from 1-14 August, drawing speakers from across the world, and
postgraduate students from across Turkey and thirteen other countries, began with recitation of
Qur’an (by Hüseyin Hatipoglu) followed by Welcome Remarks given by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aykaç,
Rector of Kirklareli University. A shor t paper on MAHYA entitled The Mountain and the
Intellectual Spark was read by Rabia Çıtlak. Opening Remarks were then given by Prof. Dr. Bekir
Karliaga, Senior Advisor to the Turkish Prime Minister on the Alliance of Civilisation, and Head,
International Civilizations Research Centre, Turkey. Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, CBE, Academic Advisor,
IIIT London Office, gave a shor t presentation entitled IIIT Summer Schools: Education and
Beyond. The First Deputy Chairman of the City Council, Istanbul Municipality, Ahmet Selamet,
presented a short talk entitled Istanbul: A Bridge between Civilizations. This was followed by
the first four sessions of the programme given by speakers Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aykaç, Prof. Dr. Teoman
Duralı, Prof. Dr. Zeki Parlak and Prof. Recep Sentürk.
The subsequent Summer School programme from the second day onwards is taking place at the
beautiful and rural setting of Demirkoy Farm. Demirkoy is a town and district of Kirklareli Province
in the Thrace region of Turkey. |
CLICK HERE FOR ANNOUNCEMENT (PDF). |
|
TURKEY SUMMER SCHOOL: ISTANBUL, 1-14 AUGUST 2015:
|
| |
 |
| MUSLIM SOCIETIES: CONTEMPORARY & FUTURE CHALLENGES |
| The programme is designed for Turkish and Central Asian graduate students who are majoring
in Islamic studies, humanities or the social sciences and who are interested in developing their
knowledge and expertise in the listed topics. The programme will also provide an opportunity
for participants to present and discuss their particular research in workshops. During the course
of the programme participants will receive instruction and interactive engagement. On completion they will receive a certificate of attendance from the organisers. |
Attendance by Registration only. Places are limited. The programme will be held in English. Those interested, and competent in English,
should complete and submit the application form with an updated C.V. and a letter of
reference from their department or supervisor no later than 15 June 2015.
Please send submissions to:
Hatice Nuriler (Email: turkeyss2015@gmail.com) |
Click here for information flyer (pdf)
Click here for application form (pdf) |
|
UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS - MID-2015:
|
| |
 |
THE MIRACULOUS LANGUAGE OF THE QUR'AN: EVIDENCE OF DIVINE ORIGIN
by BASSAM SAEH
ISBN 978-1-56564-665-0
This study illustrates why the language of the Qur’an is miraculous, unique, and evidence of its divine authority.
The author compares the language of the Qur’an with the language of pre-Islamic poetry, the Prophet’s words (Hadith), and the language of the Arabs both past and present, to demonstrate that although the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic it was at the same time an Arabic which was entirely new. Original and early Muslim audiences viewed this as miraculous and responded to the Qur’an’s words, sounds, rhythms etc. in a manner consistent with a deeper appreciation of its beauty and majesty which modern ears, trained by familiarity, and despite being surrounded by all manner of dictionaries and studies, are at a loss to capture. The author attempts to remove this veil and present the Qur’an to readers as if hearing it for the first time, to bring to life something of this wonder. In doing so he guides readers to appreciate the beauty of the Qur’an, to become more immersed in it, and have a clearer understanding of its structure and flow. Devoting special attention to Surah al-Muddaththir (chapter 74) to underpin his analysis, Saeh thus brings the Revelation to life, to demonstrate that each surah has distinct features and characteristics that make it stand out uniquely within the design and sweep of the whole. |
| |
|
|
UNDERSTANDING MAQASID AL SHARI'AH:
A CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE
by Dr Musfir Bin Ali al-Qahtani
Important quotes from the book:
"...short-sighted fatwas on jihad; and anomalous perceptions ... have brought destruction and carnage to many Muslim lands."
"...on this battlefield of ideological convictions and influences, the only weapons are sound thinking, irrefutable proofs, and moderate, fair-minded religious concepts marked by neither extremism nor laxity."
"...lack of correct understanding of Islamic legal texts, and ignorance of the objectives of the Shari'ah with respect to jihad."
"...same mistakes being repeated time and time again ... jihad endeavors are turned into instruments of terror and murder."
|
Synopsis:
Understanding Maqasid
al-Shari'ah calls for the development of a juridical sense that is finely
tuned to the higher objectives and purposes of Islamic rulings, the aims
of which are the formulation of a new methodology in understanding
the revealed texts and the reform of Muslim thought and its application.
The author draws attention to the importance of understanding
various levels of maqasid, including distinguishing between primary
aims (al-maqasid al-asliyyah) and secondary aims (al-maqasid al-tabi'ah).
Al-Qahtani asserts that a positive understanding of the
objectives of the Shari'ah should produce affirmative human and
cultural development in Muslim societies. The real strength of this
work, however, is in the author’s application of higher objectives and
aims to different areas of jurisprudence, such as in deriving and issuing
religious rulings (ifta'), and to important social issues and problems
present in Muslim societies, such as extremism, jihad, commanding
right and forbidding wrong, social change, crisis of Muslim thought,
countering religious excessiveness, the need for recreation and leisure,
citizenship and nation-belonging, spreading beauty and harmony in
Islam, and the role of Muslim women in society.
ISBN: 978-1-56564-666-7 |
| |
|
 |
THE QUR’AN AND NORMATIVE RELIGIOUS PLURALISM: A THEMATIC STUDY OF THE QUR’AN
by ARIF KEMIL ABDULLAH
ISBN: 978-1-56564-657-5
2015
In a mutli-faith world, Islam is widely regarded as dogmatic
and exclusivist. Yet in the Qur’an we have a great and worthy example
of how to live in diversity, of powerful scriptural tenets that lend
themselves precisely to engagement with those of other faiths. As such
Islam has much to add to the debate on Religious Pluralism. For Muslims the issue is a delicate one. Aside from being tolerant and
respectful of other faiths, advocating freedom of faith, and peaceful coexistence
for all humanity, Muslims have to intellectually engage on matters of religious truth whilst defending the validity of their own
Islamic tenets. This study is focused on the Qur’anic text. It explores
the Qur’anic conception of normative religious pluralism with a view
to providing answers to questions such as whether the Qur’an itself regards normative religious pluralism as a value system or simply a
method through which the Qur’anic world view can be actualised. In
doing so the author corrects some highly controversial misquoted,
mistranslated, and/or quoted out of context verses of the Qur’an, including the so-called verse of the sword and the perception of not
taking non-Muslims as friends. In reality, the Qur’an calls for freedom of faith and peaceful coexistence,
but condemns oppression, religious persecution, and those
who initiate hostilities. In this way it not only invokes human dignity,
but restores it when it is violated. |
|
IIIT & CSC SUMMER SCHOOL 2014 HELD
6-20 SEPTEMBER 2014 -
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
|
| |
IIIT & CSC Summer School 2014:
Muslim Societies:
Contemporary and Future
Challenges
Istanbul, Turkey,
6–20 September 2014
The first IIIT Instanbul Summer School was held in September, and was designed for Turkish and Central Asian graduate students majoring in Islamic studies,
humanities or the social sciences and interested in developing their knowledge and expertise in selected topics.
The programme provided an opportunity for participants to present and discuss their particular research in
workshops. During the course of the programme participants received instruction and interactive engagement. On
completion each participant received a certificate of attendance from the organisers.
The Opening Session took place on 7th September at Bahcesehir University with a welcome speech by the deputy Rector Professor Dr. Ali Gungor. In his Opening Remarks Dr. Anas al-Shaikh-Ali focused on the role of education and the relevance of the Silk Route to modern times. Dr Abubaker Shingeiti spoke on the aims and vision of the IIIT Summer School Project. The theme of Education continued with Dr. AbdulHamid AbuSulayman speaking on Islamic Worldview and Educational Reform, and Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Islamic Education – Past, Present and the Future: The Need for Reform. Finally and ending the first day’s sessions Professor Bekir Karliga spoke on The Muslim World and a New Perception of Civilization, Dr Ahmet Alibasic on Different Approaches to the Crisis of Muslim Societies, and Dr. Yaqub Mirza on Five Pillars of Prosperity. Presentations were also made by Dr. Abdelwahab El-Affendi, Dr. Hisham Altalib, Dr. Mehmet Asutay, Mr. Wadah Khanfar, Dr. Mustafa Ozel and Prof. Dr. Recep Senturk.
The programme was organised by IIIT London Office - CSC (Civilization Studies Center) - Center for Advanced
Studies, Sarajevo - Institute for Epistemological Studies Europe, Brussels - Alliance of
Civilizations Institute, Istanbul in cooperation with The Fairfax Institute, USA; and hosted by Bahçesehir Üniversitesi, Istanbul
Click here for Information flyer (pdf) |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
TURKISH BOOK LAUNCH - JUNE 2014
|
 |
 |
LAUNCH of ISMAIL AL FARUQI BOOKS: Turkey
Translations of two titles by Professor Ismail Al Faruqi have been launched on 6th and 7th June in
Turkey: The Cultural Atlas of Islam by Ismail Faruqi and Lois Lamya Faruqi (new, updated Turkish
edition in full colour) and Islam: Religion, Practice, Culture and World Order by
Ismail al Faruqi (Kurdish edition).
The first event took place in Urfa at the Ministry of Education Conference
Hall on 6th June. It was attended by over 500 academics,
scholars, politicians and students. During the event Dr. Anas al-Shaikh-Ali gave a presentation along with Dr. Othman Ali and Atasoy
Muftuoglu a scholar and writer who met and travelled with
Professor Al Faruqi.
The second event took place on 7th June in Istanbul
at the Writers Union of Turkey, Istanbul Branch Office in Sultan
Ahmet. Dr. Hisham Altalib gave a presentation and was joined by
two speakers Professor Mahmut Kaya and Professor Mevlut Uyanik.
The event was attended by scholars and academics.
Click here for Information flyer (pdf)
|
|
ARABIC TITLES - APRIL 2014
|
 |
 |
.jpg) |
E'Jaaz al-Quran (Arabic) |
Books-in-Brief: E'Jaaz al-Quran (Arabic) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BOOK LAUNCH 23 SEPTEMBER 2013
|
 |
Lecture and Book Launch by renowned scholar and specialist in Islamic Law and Jurisprudence, Professor M. Hashim Kamali
The subject of Halal and Haram, notably meat, and meat products, is of central importance to Muslims with growing focus on ethical
aspects of meat production, food safety and cleanliness, and
the welfare of animals demanding greater attention. But there is
more to the Halal industry than simply meat. The issue of Halal
touches many areas of Muslim life. Because the industry is driven
by the market realities of supply and demand, better understanding
of Islamic principles is vital.
Organised by The Cordoba Foundation, London, UK
Tel: 020-8991-3372, Email: events@thecordobafoundation.com
Venue: The Initiatives of Change Centre,
24 Greencoat Place, London, SW1P 1RD. UK.
Refreshments will be available
Click here for Information flyer (pdf) |
|
NEW PUBLICATIONS FOR 2013 & 2014
|
|
|
FIRST IIIT EUROPEAN SUMMER SCHOOL AUGUST 2013
|
 |
The First IIIT European Summer School will be held from 24th August to 7th September 2013 in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. The programme is designed for European undergraduate and graduate
students who are majoring in Islamic studies, humanities or the social
sciences. Eight days will be reserved for
seminars, two days for presentations and workshops by participants
of their current research, and three days for local educational trips.
During the course of the programme, participants will complete a total of
80 hours of direct research and instruction and will receive a certificate of
attendance from the organisers and the International University of Sarajevo.
Travel expenses, food and accommodation for participants will be covered by the
organizers. Students should have their own health insurance coverage. The organizers
do not provide health – or any other form – of insurance to students.
Attendance by Registration only. Places are limited. The Conference will be
held in English. Those interested, and competent in English, should complete
and submit an application form with an updated C.V. and a letter of
reference from their department or supervisor no later than 30th May 2013 to:
Asmir Aljic,
Secretary, Center for Advanced Studies,
Tel: +387 33 716 040 Mob: +387 61 894 338,
Email: cns@bih.net.ba
Organised by
IIIT London Office,
UK, Institute for Epistemological Studies Europe, Brussels
and Centre for Advanced Studies, Sarajevo,
in cooperation with
The Fairfax Institute, USA, and hosted by
International University of Sarajevo.
Click here for Information flyer (pdf)
Click here for Application form (pdf) |
|
PARENTING BOOK FOR SPRING 2013
|
- front cover.jpg) |
Parent-Child Relations - A Guide to Raising Children by Hisham Altalib, Abdulhamid Abusulayman & Omar Altalib is due for release
in Spring 2013. This comprehensive guide contains what you need to know on how to parent with
confidence. Packed with advice and powerful tips, using the latest research on child development
and parenting techniques, it offers a mine of information on how to let children flourish, take the
frustration out of parenting and develop happy family relations. Authors provide guidance on developing character, knowledge, values, and skills, as well as a faith-based outlook in children, benefitting
parents with kids of all ages. The many strategies and techniques offered include: teaching children how to
problem-solve, make decisions, and develop self-esteem. Raising God conscious, moral, successful children,
with a sense of civic responsibility in today’s world is not easy. It is also not impossible. Effective parenting
is the key. Click here for more information (pdf).
ISBN: 978-1-56564-582-0, 500 pp
|
|
TURKISH TRANSLATIONS FOR 2012
|
 |
A selection of IIIT books have been translated into Turkish by MAHYA (Turkey). The six titles produced for 2012 are: Epistomological Bias, Contemplation, Crisis in the Muslim Mind, Where East Meets West, Muslim Contribution to the Renaissance, and Qur'anic Worldview. See Publications page for more information.
|
|
IIIT BOOKS-IN-BRIEF FOR 2012
|
 |
IIIT Books-In-Brief Series is a valuable collection of the
Institute’s key publications written in condensed form to
give readers a core understanding of the main contents
of the original. Currently, Books-In-Brief editions have been produced for the following six books: Al-Shura, Anthropomorphic Depiections of God, Apostasy in Islam, Authentication of Hadith, Studies in Islamic Civilisation, Rethinking Muslim Women and the Veil.
|
|
AL FARUQI - NEW PUBLICATIONS FOR 2012
|
 |
Two books have recently been published on Professor Isma'il al Faruqi. Islam & Knowledge: Al Faruqi's Concept of Religion in Islamic Thought, published by I.B. Tauris in association with IIIT and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA, is a collection of essays written and presented in honour of al Faruqi's work. Islam: Religion, Practice, Culture & World Order is a reprint of the book originally written by al Faruqi, presented with a new introduction.
|
|
AJISS CALL FOR PAPERS 2013
|
 |
The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS) will be producing a special issue on Islamist Spring? Islamists and the State: New Paradigms and Engagements, to be published in July 2013. To submit a research paper, a book review, or a shorter reflection piece for consideration, please refer to the Call for Papers for guidelines. Click here for more information on AJISS (external site). Submission deadline January 15th 2013.
|
|
NEW TITLES FOR MARCH 2012
|
 |
Two new titles will be published in March 2012 by IIIT London Office. These titles are: Anthropomorphic Depictions of God: The Concept of God in Judaic, Christian and Islamic Traditions - Representing the Unrepresentable; and Ocassional Paper No. 20: Maqasid Al-Shariah, Ijtihad and Civilisation Renewal. Click here for the new publications flyer. Click here for the publications page.
|
|
ARABIC TRANSLATIONS PUBLISHED
|
 |
Arabic translations of three Maqasid themed Occasion Papers have been published:
* OP13: MAQASID
AL-SHARIAH MADE SIMPLE by Mohammad Hashim Kamali
* OP14: MAQASID AL-SHARIAH A BEGINNER'S
GUIDE by Jasser Auda
* OP15: THE
ISLAMIC VISION OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE LIGHT OF MAQASID
AL-SHARIAH by Mohammad Umer Chapra
|
|
LECTURE - 28TH MARCH 2012
|
 |
A lecture by Professor Nabil Matar entitled "HENRY STUBBE AND THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD: CHALLENGING MISREPRESENTATION " was given on Wednesday 28th March 2012 at the University of Cambridge. At the lecture, Professor Matar was presented with the AMSS (UK) Building Bridges Award 2012 for pioneering scholarship on the relationship between Islamic civilisation and early modern Europe as well as raising awareness of the historical roots of Western perceptions of Islam. Click here for award press release. Click here for event & award flyer. Click here for lecture booklet and programme.
|
|
BOSNIAN TRANSLATION OF 'FAITH' LECTURE PUBLISHED MARCH 2011
|
.gif) |
A Bosnian translation of the lecture "Is Religion Making Itself Irrelevant?" has been published in the March 2011 issue of Muallim, a leading Bosnian Journal. The lecture was originally written and presented in English by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, CBE, Chair of AMSS UK, at the Future of Faith in the Age of Globalisation conference held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina, 19-20 September 2010. Click here for more information on the conference and its themes.
|
|
NEW TITLES FOR SEPTEMBER 2011
|
 |
Seven new titles were published in September 2011 by IIIT London Office. These titles cover: Ethics of Disagreement in Islam; Al-Shura (Consultation); Apostasy in Islam; Qur'anic Worldview; Malek Bennabi's Approach to Civilisation; Interfaith Dialogue; Towards Reformation (Islamic Law and Jurisprudence). Click here for the publications page.
|
|
ISLAMOPHOBIA PAPERS PUBLISHED BY OUP 2011
|
 |
Oxford University Press published in 2011 Islamophobia: The Challenge of Pluralism in the 21st Century, edited by John L. Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin. Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, CBE, chair of AMSS UK, contributed a paper entitled Islamophobic Discourse Masquerading as Art and Literature: Combating Myth through Progressive Education. Click here for more information abou the publication on the publisher's website.
|
|
LECTURE - 3RD JUNE 2011
|
 |
A lecture by Professor Jack Goody, KBE entitled "EUROPE AND THE NEAR EAST:
THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF METALS" was given on Friday 3rd June 2011 at the Unversity of Westminster, London. Click here for more information on the lecture and the speaker (external link to AMSS UK website). Click here for lecture programme. The AMSS Building Bridges Award for 2011 was awarded to Professor Goody at the event. Click here for award press release.
|
|
BOOK REVIEWS - APRIL 2011
|
 |
Two separate Occasional papers on the theme of Maqasid Al-Shariah written by Mohammad Hashim Kamali and Jasser Auda have been reviewed in the Arabic edition of Asharq Al-Awsat. Click here to read the review in full (external link to the Asharq Al-Awsat website). Publications are in English and the review is in Arabic.
|
|
INTERVIEW MARCH 2011
|
 |
Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali CBE, Academic Advisor to the IIIT in London UK, has recently been interviewed for the Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. Click here to read the Arabic interview in full (external link to the Asharq Al-Awsat website).
|
|
ONE DAY CONFERENCE - POSTPONED UNTIL 2012
|
 |
THIS CONFERENCE HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 2012.
A one day conference on Western Muslim Intellectuals & the Challenge of Islamic religious Reform will be held at Westminster University, London, UK. This conference seeks to focus mainly on the possible
contribution of the western-based muslim intellectuals
to religious reform, assessing their claims and examining
the evidence from historical experience.
|
|
OUR SHARED EUROPE PROJECT - ROUNDTABLE MEETING
4TH MAY 2010
|
 |
|
| Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh Ali, CBE attended a roundtable meeting of friends and partners of the British Council "Our Shared Europe" project, London Tuesday 4th May 2010. More information... |
|
|
ALLIANACE OF CIVILISATIONS ADDRESS
30TH MARCH 2010
|
 |
Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh Ali, CBE addressed the first group of fellows of the Alliance of Civilisations at an event organised by, and held at, the British Council London UK on Tuesday 30th March 2010. More information... |
|
IIIT LONDON OFFICE ACADEMIC ADVISOR
ON THE QUEEN'S HONOURS LIST
|
 |
Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Director and Academic Advisor, IIIT London Office, has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for June 2009 by being awarded a CBE (Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). The citation in The London Gazette reads as follows: Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh Ali, Academic Advisor, London Office, International Institute of Islamic Thought. For Services to Community Relations. |
According to Directgov website the “honours are given to people from all walks of life and all sections of society who have made a difference to their community. There are several different types of award, each one recognising a different type of contribution.” It adds that “the British honours system is one of the oldest in the world. It has evolved over 650 years as the country has found alternative means of recognising merit, gallantry and service”.
|
|
| |
|
|
IIIT BOOK WINS ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR TRANSLATION 2008
|
 |
Ibn Ashur: Treatise on Maqasid Al-Shariah (translated by Dr. Mohammad
Al-Tahir Al-Mesawi) has won the prestigious 2008 Abdullah Bin
Abdulaziz Award for Translation in the Humanities from Arabic to other
languages category. The Award recognizes excellence in translation and
is given to distinguished works of translation and prominent
institutions which have contributed significantly to the field of translation from and into Arabic. The award was established in 2006. |
|
EVENTS
IIIT (UK)
London Office and the City Circle (UK) are planning another series of lectures throughout 2009, which follow on from the successful 2008 Lecture Series. The
majority of lectures will be held in Abrar House London W1H, but a few will be
held at other venues and some lectures may be repeated at other venues. The
full list of lectures, dates and venues can be
viewed here.
IIIT LONDON OFFICE WEBSITE
The London Office
of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is pleased to announce
the launch of it's website. It will be developed as time goes on and we hope
that it will be of interest to those who browse the site. Details of completed
books and Occasional Papers may be found in the Publications section. Details of translation work
can be found in the Translations section, whilst
details of the forthcoming reissue of the Audio Library lectures series onto
audio CD format may be found in the Audio
section.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
There are a number of
forthcoming publications in progress which may be viewed by
clicking here, and the translation
work currently in progress may be viewed by
clicking here.
Click here for the latest
publications catalogue (pdf). Alternatively click on the images below
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
-cover.jpg)
