Honoring the Life and Lasting Legacy of Malcolm X El Hajji Malik El Shabazz
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2022
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM CT
Venue: 640 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613
Join Us for a Conversation – Honoring the Life and Lasting Legacy of Malcolm X
Panelists
Dr. Jaleel Abdul-Adil
Jaleel Abdul-Adil is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and he also has a part-time position as Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Abdul-Adil graduated from Howard University in 1988 then arrived in Chicago for graduate school at DePaul University in 1989 during which he converted to Islam in 1990 and obtained his Ph.D. in 1996. Dr. Abdul-Adil has spent over thirty years working to address mental health and promoting wellness among low-income urban minority youth and families in Chicago and other major U.S. cities.
Imam Charles Muhammad
Coming of age on Chicago’s West Side during the turbulent 1960’s, Charles often found himself in leadership roles. He was elected Student Council president at a majority Caucasian high school. His contributions to the Civil Rights Movement include involvement with the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and the Congress of African Peoples. While attending Knoxville College and the University of Tennessee, he co-founded the African Cultural Center in Knoxville, TN. After helping his Muslim college mates establish a masjid on the second floor of the Center, Charles converted to Islam. He became interested in helping to reconcile differences between the Lost Found Nation of Islam, and Islam proper. After graduation, he returned to Chicago to serve under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s leadership. In 1975, Wallace Muhammad succeeded his father and Charles’s dream came true. Wallace took on the name Imam Warith Deen Muhammad. He disbanded the NOI to form and lead the World Community of Al-Islam in the West (American Muslim Mission). Charles was a student in Imam W.D Muhammad’s classes for: Correct Scriptural Interpretation; Understanding of Ahadith; and Quranic Arabic. Charles was serving as Imam at Chicago’s Westside Masjid when Imam W. Deen Muhammad (America’s Imam) asked him to serve as Director of Propagation in Chicago – part of a campaign to introduce Al-Islam throughout America. Charles’s other leadership roles include Scoutmaster; President of the Local School Council at Whitney Young Magnet High School (where he established and sponsored the WYHS Muslim Students Association); Delegate on the Chicago Public Schools Advisory Board; executive board member for the Oak Park-River Forest Community of Congregations (an interfaith council), and currently Board Director for CIOGC. Charles Muhammad’s professional career includes Science Teacher and Civil Engineer.
Khair Sadrud-Din
Khair Sadrud-Din is a south-side Chicago native. Khair majored in history and has worked at various institutions in recruitment and the non-profit sphere. Currently, Khair is a diversity and inclusion specialist for Shure Incorporated, a company well-known for its high-quality microphones.
Born to a Christian mother and Muslim father, Khair accepted Islam in college. An avid reader, storyteller, and history buff, Khair is a walking library of knowledge for all things black history, sports and Islam. He grew up listening to Malcom X’s speeches and can recite many by heart. In his spare time, Khair loves watching sports, baking, spending time with his wife, five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, and watching his favorite movie, Malcolm X.
Topics
“Righteous Resistance: African-American Muslims’ Persistence in the pre-Malcolm Era”
“The Origin Story of Brother Malcolm’s Impact”
“A Lasting and Living Legacy – The Transformative Impact of Malcolm’s Leadership”
Award
“Malcolm X Courage Award” – for the indomitable spirit in pursuit of human rights and social justice
In Collaboration With
The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra & Zeshan B
With the support and collaboration of American Islamic College, the Old Town School of Folk Music received a grant from the “Building Bridges” program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. This grant supports “Ojala!” — a two-year project that includes eight full residencies and six mini-residencies for Muslim and Muslim adjacent artists in collaboration with a diverse cross-section of community organizations and institutions that are co-producing the project.
On May 6, 2022, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA), and American Islamic College will bring you musical performances by The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, and Zeshan B., with host, Amirah Sackett at 7 pm Central. This free event is an Eid celebration, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Date: Friday, May 6, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM; Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Venue: American Islamic College Auditorium, 640 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613
MASKS REQUIRED
The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra
The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra was first established in 1999 by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, to be presented as part of the first annual Chicago World Music Festival. Directed by Willy Schwartz, the orchestra involved Chicago musicians from the immigrant community representing music from all over the globe. The project lasted through 2004 but had a lasting impact on the Chicago music scene.
In 2019, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events approached guitarist Fareed Haque and oud player Wanees Zarour to restart the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra and headline 2020’s Chicago World Music Festival. Due to the global COVID-19 Pandemic, the orchestra performed a critically acclaimed virtual concert in September 2020.
The new CIO today is a 20-piece ensemble that consists of members of the Chicago immigrant community, representing musical traditions from all over the world.
In this fresh approach under the direction of Haque and Zarour, Chicago Immigrant Orchestra musicians from the Far East to Western Europe, Africa and the Americas are thoroughly involved the evolution of the musical ideas that are presented.
The New Chicago Immigrant Orchestra explores the relationships and differences among these traditions, creating a unique and cohesive tapestry of cultures.
Fareed Haque
Modern world guitar virtuoso, steeped in classical, jazz and global traditions. His unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation. Recent projects include the acclaimed Goran Ivonovic/Fareed Haque guitar duo.
Wanees Zarour
Composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist with deep roots in Middle Eastern music and well versed in modern jazz and global musical styles. Directs the 60-piece Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago, and his touring jazz fusion group, “East Loop.”
Zeshan B
Chicago native Zeshan B’s breakout album “Vetted” was released in April 2017 to commercial and critical acclaim with the album debuting at #8 on Billboard’s Top 10 Albums (World Music) and peaking at #1 on iTunes’ World Music chart.
Additionally, “Vetted” has received rave reviews from Rolling Stone, NPR, ABC, NBC, PBS, Salon Magazine, Democracy Now and the Times of India. Zeshan’s hit single from the album “Cryin in the Streets”–his reinterpretation of George Perkins’ 1970 classic civil rights anthem–has garnered praise from the New York Times, PRI, American Songwriter, and Chicago Tribune for its musical finesse as well as its relevance in America’s current socio-political climate. In August of 2017, Zeshan made his US television debut with a stirring rendition of his hit single, “Crying in the Streets” on CBS’s Late Night w/ Stephen Colbert. This was followed by his PBS NewsHour special (“Groovin’ for Change”).
Since then, he has toured with frequent appearances at Lincoln Center, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest Festival, House of Blues, Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, Riverside Church and the Canadian National Exhibition. He has performed for two US Presidents–Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama–with the latter performance taking place at the White House’s historic inaugural Eid Celebration in 2016.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Zeshan appeared with his wife Dr. Alexandra Roybal on MSNBC Morning Joe to shed light on COVID’s impact on minorities and musicians. This was followed by the May 2020 release of his NPR acclaimed album, “Melismatic”. (Listen to Melismatic here)
Zeshan is a polyglot–he is fluent in Urdu & Italian and proficient in Spanish and Punjabi. He and his wife reside in the South Bronx, NY.
MC: Amirah Sackett
An internationally recognized hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Amirah Sackett explores and embodies her Muslim American identity through combining hip-hop movement and Islamic themes. She is widely known for her creation of the dance group known as, “We’re Muslim, Don’t Panic”Sackett has been a TEDx speaker, guest lecturer at Harvard University, and a cultural diplomat with the U.S. State Department in Bangladesh and Malaysia.
COVID - 19
By registering and attending, you agree to AIC’s COVID-19 policy. Please see AIC’s COVID-19 campus policy here.
Face masks must be worn by anyone coming to campus regardless of vaccination status.
Interfaith Trolley Tour & Iftar
Date: April 24, 2022
Pick-up Address: CTS, 1407 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637
Time: Trolley Pick-up: Arrive at CTS by 3:45pm. Trolley leaves at 4pm sharp!
Registration open April 1
SOUTH SIDE INTERRELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS CONVENE FOR THE “CHICAGO INTERFAITH TROLLEY TOUR” CELEBRATING THE HISTORIC HOLY MONTH OF APRIL
This April, a number of religions’ holy days (Ramadan, Passover, Easter, Vaisakhi, Ridvan and more) overlap for the first time since 1991, meaning that many Muslims, Jews, Christians, Baha’i, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, and others will simultaneously be observing their holy days. This is an incredible opportunity to come together to educate our communities and shape the public narrative about what it means to live well together amidst our religious and cultural diversity.
Chicago Theological Seminary, A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at Lutheran School of Theology, American Islamic College, The Parliament of the World’s Religions, and the Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council are sponsoring a CHICAGO INTERFAITH TROLLEY TOUR and IFTAR on April 24, 2022.
Riding onboard a trolley, we will explore five sacred spaces in the Hyde Park/ Kenwood neighborhoods of Chicago, learning about the April holy days, as well as the collaborative interfaith work happening in the community. Trolley riders will hear from and visit many different faith-based organizations. Speakers will present from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh and Baha’i traditions.
The day will end with an interfaith Iftar dinner at sunset, hosted at Chicago Theological Seminary. Both the trolley and the Iftar are free, ticketed events. Covid protocols are in effect.
Don’t have a seat on the trolley? Well, feel free to follow along with us! Below you can find a list of the stops. We will start promptly at 3:45 pm at Chicago Theological Seminary
| Time | Program | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 3:45 | Leaders and participants gather and board trolley | Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), 1407 E 60th St |
| 4:05 | University of Chicago Spiritual Life Office | Rockefeller Chapel, U of C 5850 S Woodlawn Ave |
| 4:10 | Vaisakhi/Sikh presentation | Rockefeller Chapel |
| 4:20 | Mahavir Jayanti/Jain presentation | Rockefeller Chapel |
| 4:40 | Holy Week-Easter and site significance | Ebenezer Baptist Church 4501 S Vicennes Ave |
| 5:10 | Passover/Judaism and site significance | KAM Isaiah Israel Synagogue 1100 E Hyde Park Blvd |
| 5:40 | Hanamatsuri/Buddhist presentation | Claret Center 5536 S Everett St |
| 6:00 | Ridvan/Baha’i and Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council | Trolley |
| 6:20 | Ramadan/Islam and site presentation | Masjid Al-Taqwa 9333 S Escanaba Ave |
| 7:00 | Return to CTS for departure or Iftar meal | Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), 1407 E 60th St |
Sponsors
A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago fosters and deepens relations between Christians and Muslims and builds bridges of mutual understanding, respect and cooperation among people of all faiths. To learn more visit www.lstc.edu
Welcoming students of all backgrounds, American Islamic College is a Chicago-based institution of higher learning grounded in Islamic values and steeped in Islam’s rich and diverse intellectual and cultural traditions. www.aicusa.edu
At Chicago Theological Seminary, our mission is to educate and inspire the next generation of religious leadership. As a historically Protestant and now multifaith seminary, our vision is to build the beloved community together with commitments to racial and social justice, to gender equality and LGBTQ rights, and to deep interreligious engagement. www.ctschicago.edu
The Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council promotes cooperative expression of our 19 member organizations’ shared concern for social justice in our community through programs related to health, hunger, homelessness, and refugees.
Parliament of the World’s Religions is the world’s premiere interfaith convening organization with a mission to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities. https://parliamentofreligions.org/
Interfaith Iftar at CTS to follow trolley. Registration is separate. Covid policies in effect. CTS Covid policies for iftar portion: (Must be fully vaxxed and wear mask in building). Waiting list will be added as needed.
Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour in the News!
Islam & the Climate Crisis
Restoring the Balance Through Scholarship and Creational Stewardship
Ramadan Earth Day Iftar with Dr. Sarra Tlili, Isra Hirsi, and Huda Alkaff, with Preacher Moss serving as MC
Date: Friday, April 22, 2022
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM CT
Tickets: $65.00, early bird $50.00 until April 18
Venue: South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S South Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60649
Our 2022 Ramadan Gala will be hosted by Preacher Moss, an all-star comedian and educator whose work synthesizes storytelling, education, comedy and activism. Dr. Sarra Tlili, Isra Hirsi, and Huda Alkaff will participate in a joint discussion on Islam and the Quranic imperative to restore the environmental balance.
Dr. Tlili is a scholar of Arab & Islamic Studies and an Associate Professor at the University of Florida where she teaches Arabic literature and culture at the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. She received her Ph.D. in 2009 from the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Her primary research area is animals in Islam. Her book, Animals in the Qur’an, offers a non-anthropocentric reading of the Islamic scripture and proposes new ways of thinking about animals. In other publications, she explores environmental and animal ethics in a variety of Islamic texts and historical periods. is a scholar of Arab and Islamic studies.
Huda Alkaff is an ecologist, environmental educator, and the founder and director of Wisconsin Green Muslims, a grassroots environmental justice group formed in 2005 connecting faith, environmental justice, sustainability, and healing through education and service. For over two decades, Alkaff has advocated for environmental justice, initiating Muslim and interfaith programs on energy and water conservation. Alkaff received several awards including the 2015 White House Champions of Change for Faith, Climate and Justice Leaders by President Barack Obama.
Isra Hirsi is a high school student from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a climate and racial justice advocate who is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the US Youth Climate Strike. She led the organization of hundreds of strikes across the country on March 15th and May 3rd. Hirsi started her climate activism her freshman year of high school by joining her schools environmental club. Driven by her identity as a Black Muslim woman in this work, Hirsi has been a longtime advocate for intersectionality and diversity within the climate justice movement as well as in her daily life.
Sponsorship packages are available. Please download and use the instructions on the form.
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Support Education
Ramadan Giving
Ibn Khaldun Scholarship Fund
Chalaban Music Workshop
Intro to Gnawa Music Workshop:
Part 1: Introduction and History of Gnawa music, components of the Gnawa music, tradition of all-night rituals called “lilas”
Part 2: Interaction with the audience (Music & dance), including musical techniques, call-and-response, simple rhythms
Limited seating. Registration is required. Masks are required in the building.
Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM CT
Venue: 640 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613
Limited Parking: 615 W. Bittersweet Pl, Chicago, IL 60613
Gnawa musician Saïd Tichiti, whose maternal origin is Amazigh and paternal origin is black African, hails from the Moroccan city of Guelmim. His Budapest-based musical group, Chalaban, has a sound defined by Tichiti’s Afro-Arab roots; with exuberant Moroccan music enhanced by elements of Carpathian Basin, Roma, and Balkan sounds.
Chalaban aims to act as a vessel of the ancestral musical education Tichiti had been acquiring since childhood. “I don’t just play music and greet my audience before I disappear. I create a conversation with this audience; I talk to them about the origins of my music, my hometown. My performances are music with mini-conferences,” says Tichiti, who was featured in the 2018 documentary “Échos du Sahara.” The film sees Tichiti’s return from Budapest to the Sahara Desert, where he draws inspiration from the spiritual Hassani culture and presents a fruitful encounter of diverse musical traditions.
In collaboration with the Old Town School of Folk Music’s Ojalá! Residency, AIC will host Chalaban for an Intro to Gnawa Music workshop. Participants will learn about the history and components of Gnawa music – Moroccan and West African Islamic religious songs and rhythms, whose well-preserved heritage combines ritual poetry with traditional music and dancing – and the tradition of all-night rituals called “lilas.” They will learn the musical techniques of Gnawa, its method of call-and-response, and simple rhythms. Participants may bring their own percussive instruments and will have the opportunity to use the band’s small Moroccan instruments. This in-person event is free, open to all ages, with limited seating. Online option is available.
Artist: Chalaban
Saïd Tichiti, who is of Berber origin on his mother’s side and black African on his father’s side, founded Chalaban in 1999 in Budapest (Hungary). The diversity of the group’s sound is defined by the musician’s Afro-Arab roots, with their lively, exuberant Moroccan music enhanced by elements of Carpathian Basin, Roma and Balkan music. Said is originally from the city of Guelmim in the south of Morocco.
Being a melting pot of different nationalities, Chalaban aims to act as a vessel of the ancestral musical education he had been acquiring since childhood. “I don’t just play music and greet my audience before I disappear. I create a conversation with this audience; I talk to them about the origins of my music, my hometown. My performances are music with mini-conferences.”
Naturally, Chalaban have played their captivating musical mixture to great acclaim not just in Hungary but throughout Europe, Morocco and elsewhere. Their music also featured in the 2018 documentary film “Échos du Sahara”, which examines the 20-year career of the band’s leader. The film sees Said return from Budapest to the Sahara Desert, where he draws inspiration from the spiritual Hassani culture and presents a fruitful encounter of diverse musical traditions.
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Summer 2022 Arabic Language Institute Open House
Are you interested in learning Arabic this summer? Attend our Open House to learn about learning opportunities and financing options at AIC.
AIC’s Arabic Language Institute is offering two 10-week Summer Intensives (Elementary and Intermediate). Each class is equivalent to two academic semesters (one full year) of Arabic study. Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship graduate students will complete a special, enhanced course of 140 contact hours by supplementing our regular, 120-hour intensive intermediate level course with an additional 20 contact hours.
There is a special scholarship fund for high school students who enroll and financial aid for others who qualify.
Learn about AIC’s summer Arabic learning opportunities available for high school students, undergraduates, graduate students (including FLAS), and interested individuals. You will hear from the instructor, Dr. Talaat Pasha, and learn about financial support and how to apply. There will be time for Q&A.
The American Islamic College will offer two 10-week intensive classes (Elementary and Intermediate levels) during our summer Arabic Language Institute, God willing. Each class is equivalent to two academic semesters (one full year) of Arabic study. Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship graduate students will be able to complete a special, enhanced course of 140 contact hours by supplementing our regular, 120-hour intensive intermediate level course with an additional 20 contact hours.
Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM CT
Platform: Virtual on Zoom
Registration: Click here
Virtual Information Sessions
Register for a virtual information session to learn more about degree programs, course offerings, scholarships, and how to apply.
Details
30-minute sessions
Schedule
Information sessions are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 AM Central Time. Please contact Ozlen Keskin at registrar@aicusa.edu to schedule a virtual information session.
Shah Waliullah’s Hujjatullah al-Baligha Intensive
With Shaykh Akram Nadwi, Professor Marcia Hermansen, Professor Ebrahim Moosa
Chaired by Professor Jonathan Brown
Date: Sunday 13, February 2022
Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Since the fall of the Moghuls in India, one of the most important and influential Muslim scholars in the Islamic revival in India was Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi (rh) whose work continues to influence most Muslim groups and schools of thought, like Deobandi, Ahle-Hadith, Barelwi, Jamaat-Islami, Shias and others. His magnum opus was the Hujjatullahil Baligha, a two-volume Arabic manuscript covering the principles of Islamic revival, which is more pertinent today.
This course will cover: Brief overview of Shah Waliullah’s life; Establishment of hadith scholarship in India, Shah Waliullah’s role as a reformer, Shah Waliullah’s writings, Hujjatullah al-Balighah: an exposition of the rationale of Shari`ah and an intellectual interpretation of hadith, comparison of this work with earlier writings on the subject, Irtifaq (sociability) and Siyasat al-madinah (issues related to the civil society), concept of sa`adah (the success), creeds and devotion, comprehensive prophethood, ways and method of discussing the meanings of hadith, and Shah Waliullah’s legacy.
Pricing
Students: $30
General Admission: $50
Livestream: $40
About Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)
Shaykh Akram Nadwi studied and taught Shari’a at the Nadwatul ‘Ulama (India). He is a muhaddith specialising in ‘Ilm al-Rijal (the study of the narrators of Hadith) and has ijaza (licenses) from many mashayakh, including Abul Hasan Ali Al-Nadwi, Abdul-Fattah Abu Ghuddah, Ramadan Buti, AbdurRahman Kittani and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Over the course of three decades he has authored, translated and conducted research on many titles related to fiqh, Qur’an, hadith and sufi orders. He has published widely in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English on Shah Wali Allah, a critical edition of Usūl al-Shāshī in Ḥanafī jurisprudence, original monographs on Islamic law, Quran and hadith sciences, and figures such as Abū Ḥanīfah, including his monumental 43 volume work on Al-Muhaddithaat –The Women Scholars in Islam. He was a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University, and is recipient of the ‘Allāmah Iqbāl prize for contribution to Islamic thought and is the Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute. As co-founder of Al-Salam Institute, he continues to teach advanced levels of Islamic Scholarship Program.
Professor Marcia Hermansen (Loyola University Chicago, USA)
Dr. Marcia Hermansen is Director of the Islamic World Studies Program and Professor in the Theology Department at Loyola University Chicago where she teaches courses in Islamic Studies and the academic study of religion. She received her Ph. D. from the University of Chicago in Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Among her recent co-edited books are Varieties of American Sufism: Islam, Sufi Orders and Authority in a Time of Transition (SUNY, 2020) and Muslima Theology: The Voices of Muslim Women Theologians (2013). Her monographs include Shah Wali Allah’s Treatises on Islamic Law (2010) and The Conclusive Argument from God, a study and translation (from Arabic) of Shah Wali Allah of Delhi’s Hujjat Allah al-Baligha (Brill).
Dr. Hermansen has also contributed numerous academic articles in the fields of Islamic Thought, Sufism, Islam and Muslims in South Asia, Muslims in America, and Women in Islam.
Professor Ebrahim Moosa (University of Notre Dame, USA)
Ebrahim E.I. Moosa is Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Notre Dame with appointments in the Keough School of Global Affairs, the Kroc Institute for International Peace and the Department of History. He is co-director of the Contending Modernities program, a global research and education program that fosters intellectual exchange between Catholic, Islamic and secular perspectives on science, politics and society. His interests span both classical and modern Islamic thought with a special focus on Islamic law, history, ethics and theology. His latest book, What is a Madrasa? was published in April 2015. World Religions Demystified, co-authored with Matt Cleary was published in 2014. Dr Moosa is the author of Ghazali and the Poetics of Imagination, winner of the American Academy of Religion’s Best First Book in the History of Religions (2006) and editor of the last manuscript of the late Professor Fazlur Rahman, Revival and Reform in Islam: A Study of Islamic Fundamentalism. With Jeffrey Kenney he co-edited Islam and the Modern World and with Shamil Jeppie and Richard Roberts he co-edited Muslim Family Law in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Jonathan Brown (Georgetown University, USA)
Jonathan Brown is the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and he is the Director of the Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding. He received his BA in History from Georgetown University in 2000 and his doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago in 2006. Dr. Brown has studied and conducted research in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, South Africa, India, Indonesia and Iran. His book publications include “The Canonization of al-Bukhari and Muslim: The Formation and Function of the Sunni Hadith Canon” (Brill, 2007), “Hadith: Muhammad’s Legacy in the Medieval and Modern World” (Oneworld, 2009) and “Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction” (Oxford University Press, 2011), which was selected for the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Bridging Cultures Muslim Journeys Bookshelf. His most recent book, “Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenges and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet’s Legacy” (Oneworld, 2014), was named one of the top books on religion in 2014 by the Independent. He has published articles in the fields of Hadith, Islamic law, Salafism, Sufism, Arabic lexical theory and Pre-Islamic poetry and is the editor in chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Law. Dr. Brown’s current research interests include Islamic legal reform and a translation of Sahih al-Bukhari.
Audience:
Open to the general public and intermediate and advanced students of Islamic Sciences, Islamic Studies, post-graduates and academics.
Pre-requisites:
A basic requisite of Islamic Thought and the history of Islamic Thought in India, as well as Islamic Movements in the region is recommended but not essential.
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Maqra’ – Hadith Al-Musalsalat
By Shaykh Akram Nadwi
Chaired by Professor Jonathan Brown
Date: Saturday 12 February 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
A maqra’ah is the recitation in order to verify transmission and compare manuscripts of classical Islamic texts that have been passed on from generation to generation over many centuries until today. This usually is conducted under the guidance of at least one senior Muhaddith who has received Ijāzah (permission) from their Shuyūkh in these texts and who upon completion passes their transmission of the texts with Ijāzah on to those who have listened to the reading so that the oral tradition in these works remains extant.
Free Admission (in-person and livestream)
Registration required in order to receive Ijazah
About Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)
Shaykh Akram Nadwi studied and taught Shari’a at the Nadwatul ‘Ulama (India). He is a muhaddith specialising in ‘Ilm al-Rijal (the study of the narrators of Hadith) and has ijaza (licenses) from many mashayakh, including Abul Hasan Ali Al-Nadwi, Abdul-Fattah Abu Ghuddah, Ramadan Buti, AbdurRahman Kittani and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Over the course of three decades he has authored, translated and conducted research on many titles related to fiqh, Qur’an, hadith and sufi orders. He has published widely in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English on Shah Wali Allah, a critical edition of Usūl al-Shāshī in Ḥanafī jurisprudence, original monographs on Islamic law, Quran and hadith sciences, and figures such as Abū Ḥanīfah, including his monumental 43 volume work on Al-Muhaddithaat –The Women Scholars in Islam. He was a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University, and is recipient of the ‘Allāmah Iqbāl prize for contribution to Islamic thought and is the Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute. As co-founder of Al-Salam Institute, he continues to teach advanced levels of Islamic Scholarship Program.
Professor Jonathan Brown (Georgetown University, USA)
Jonathan Brown is the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and he is the Director of the Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding. He received his BA in History from Georgetown University in 2000 and his doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago in 2006. Dr. Brown has studied and conducted research in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, South Africa, India, Indonesia and Iran. His book publications include “The Canonization of al-Bukhari and Muslim: The Formation and Function of the Sunni Hadith Canon” (Brill, 2007), “Hadith: Muhammad’s Legacy in the Medieval and Modern World” (Oneworld, 2009) and “Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction” (Oxford University Press, 2011), which was selected for the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Bridging Cultures Muslim Journeys Bookshelf. His most recent book, “Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenges and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet’s Legacy” (Oneworld, 2014), was named one of the top books on religion in 2014 by the Independent. He has published articles in the fields of Hadith, Islamic law, Salafism, Sufism, Arabic lexical theory and Pre-Islamic poetry and is the editor in chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Law. Dr. Brown’s current research interests include Islamic legal reform and a translation of Sahih al-Bukhari.
Audience:
All are welcome and those wishing to experience a traditional learning approach.
Pre-requisites:
None
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Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars of Islam
By Shaykh Akram Nadwi, Shaykha Dr. Tamara Gray, & Dr. Ingrid Mattson
Date: Saturday 12 February 2022
Time: 10am – 3pm
This course is based on the book, ‘Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam’ by Shaykh Akram Nadwi and will be taught by the author himself. This book serves as an accessible English language introduction to the multi-voluminous biographical dictionary that has also been researched and compiled by Shaykh Akram. These female scholars and their legacies have been preserved within Islamic history in a number of ways and their presence attests to a tradition of learning throughout the centuries. As hadith narrators, teachers, jurists, wives, mothers and daughters, these women have contributed to the growth and development of the Muslim community on a social, moral and intellectual level since the 7th century. They supported and were supported by others in such a manner that indicates a sense of mutual respect and cooperation. As Muslims today, we stand to benefit from these intentions and reciprocal values. Learning about these women and their context is “essential for a balanced appreciation of the role of women in Islamic society”.
Learning Objectives:
Learn about the changes in Islamic curricula studied by women over the centuries
Become acquainted with a number of prominent and lesser-known female scholars in Islam
Learn more about their lives, contributions and Islamic sciences studied
Gain a greater understanding of their historical contexts
Pricing
One Day Only
Students: $30 (present Student ID and ticket)
General Admission: $50
Livestream: $40
Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)
Shaykh Akram Nadwi studied and taught Shari’a at the Nadwatul ‘Ulama (India). He is a muhaddith specialising in ‘Ilm al-Rijal (the study of the narrators of Hadith) and has ijaza (licenses) from many mashayakh, including Abul Hasan Ali Al-Nadwi, Abdul-Fattah Abu Ghuddah, Ramadan Buti, AbdurRahman Kittani and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Over the course of three decades he has authored, translated and conducted research on many titles related to fiqh, Qur’an, hadith and sufi orders. He has published widely in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English on Shah Wali Allah, a critical edition of Usūl al-Shāshī in Ḥanafī jurisprudence, original monographs on Islamic law, Quran and hadith sciences, and figures such as Abū Ḥanīfah, including his monumental 43 volume work on Al-Muhaddithaat –The Women Scholars in Islam. He was a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University, and is recipient of the ‘Allāmah Iqbāl prize for contribution to Islamic thought and is the Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute. As co-founder of Al-Salam Institute, he continues to teach advanced levels of Islamic Scholarship Program.
Shaykha Dr. Tamara Gray
Dr. Tamara Gray is a founder of Rabata, an organization dedicated to promoting positive cultural change through creative educational experiences. She holds a doctorate in leadership from the University of St. Thomas, a master’s degree in Curriculum Theory and Instruction from Temple University, and spent twenty years studying traditional and classical Islamic sciences, Quran, and Arabic in Damascus, Syria.
Dr. Gray worked in the field of education for twenty-five years before moving into the non-profit world. She is now both the Executive Director of Rabata and its Chief Spirituality Officer. Her work includes the daily nitty gritty of project design as well as the support and mentorship of hundreds of women around the world. She is the instructor for more than ten subjects at Ribaat, teaches RabaTeens, and contributes to curriculum development.
Dr. Gray is also an author and translator. Her publications range from several culturally appropriate English language curriculum programs to translations of sacred texts. She has authored two books: Joy Jots: Exercises for a happy heart & Project Lina: Bringing our whole selves to Islam, and co-translated the Mukhtasir al-Jami’ fi al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya by Samīra Zayid [Compendium of the Collection of Sources on al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya]
In addition to her work at Rabata, Dr. Gray sits on the NoUsury board – on organization dedicated to giving small no-interest loans to those who are in need, ANd the Collegeville Institute’s Inter-religious Fellows Program, working to develop educational programming for faith leaders around social justice issues.
She also serves as both faculty and an academic council member for The Islamic Seminary of America, teaches at the United Theological Seminary of the TwinCities and is a Senior Fellow at the Yaqeen Institute. She has recently joined the Fiqh council of North America in addition to her other responsibilities.
Dr. Tamara is a mother of three, grandmother of two, an avid reader and a lover of cultures, people, coffee and food.
Dr. Ingrid Mattson
Dr. Ingrid Mattson is the London and Windsor Community Chair in Islamic Studies at Huron University College at Western University in Canada.
Dr. Mattson was educated in Canada and the United States, earning a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1999. From 1998 to 2012 she was Professor of Islamic Studies at Hartford Seminary in CT where she developed and directed the first accredited graduate program for Muslim chaplains in America, and served as Director of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations. From 2001-2010 Dr. Mattson served as vice-president, then as president of the Islamic Society of North America (USA), the first woman to serve in either position. Her writings, both academic and public, focus primarily Qur’an interpretation, Islamic theological ethics and interfaith relations. Her book, The Story of the Qur’an, is an academic best-seller and was chosen by the US National Endowment for the Humanities for inclusion in its “Bridging Cultures” program.
Dr. Mattson is a Senior Fellow of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman, Jordan. From 2009-2010, Dr. Mattson was a member of the Interfaith Taskforce of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; in 2008 she was on the Council of Global Leaders of the C-100 of the World Economic Forum; from 2007-2008, she was a member of the Leadership Group of the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project (USME). Dr. Mattson is the recipient of numerous awards as well as honorary doctorates from Trinity College, Hartford, and the Chicago Theological Seminary. She is frequently consulted by the media and has served as an expert witness.
Audience:
Open to the general public
Pre-requisites:
None