Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour & Iftar
Date: Sunday, April 2, 2023
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT
Tickets: Trolley Tour – $10 | Iftar – $10 | Kids 14 & Under free but RSVP required during checkout.
We sold out last year. Please register now as there are limited seats.
If anyone has a financial hardship, please contact the organizers.
Back by popular demand, American Islamic College’s Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter, The Lutheran School of Theology’s A Center for Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice, Chicago Theological Seminary’s Interreligious Institute, and The Niagara Foundation are collaborating to host another tour of Chicago-area religious sites. This April 2nd, we will venture to the north of Chicago and visit the first Black church of Evanston, Second Baptist, a social justice and interfaith-centered synagogue, Sukkat Shalom, the beautiful Bahai Temple of North America, and more. Conclude the tour over a shared meal and conversation as we open fast with our Muslim sisters and Brothers with an “Iftar.” Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details.
Take a look at this video highlighting the first Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour.
Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour in the News!
President Gianotti’s Ramadan Message and Appeal
President Gianotti's Ramadan Message and Appeal
Ramadan Mubaarak!
Start Building Your Home in Paradise!
As-salaamu ‘alaykum and Ramadan mubaarak, beloved sisters and brothers!
On behalf of all the faculty, staff, and students at AIC, I wish you a month of light, peace, and positive transformation and pray that God (SWT) will accept your fasting in all its forms, accept and multiply your good deeds, and both heal and renew your mind, heart, and relationships. Ramadan returns as a reminder that we are all works in process and that our world is also a work in process, and this reminder contains an invitation to respond to God’s call, which is always to something better and to that which gives life. Ramadan mubaarak!
Timothy J Gianotti, Ph.D.,
President & Acting Provost
Start building your home in Paradise: donate a dollar, join the energy, and be part of something historic and life-changing!
Invest in America’s next great university – our university — an independent, unapologetically American Muslim university for the benefit of all. Empower and enable generations of Muslim thought leaders, scholars, chaplains, scientists, business leaders, artists, cultural influencers, and social justice activists.
The Prophet Muhammad (may God’s peace and blessings be upon him) told us: “Ramadan is an honorable and blessed month, and the rewards for generosity are multiplied in it. The best charity is that given in Ramadan.” (Tirmidhi)
We are excited to announce the launch of our Ramadan fundraising campaign for the American Islamic College and invite you to explore AIC and join us in our collective mission. This Ramadan, our goal is for every Muslim in America to donate just ONE DOLLAR to AIC to enhance and diversify our degree programs, to offer scholarships to talented and deserving students who dream of making a difference in our community and beyond, and to establish a permanent endowment for the long-tern viability and sustainability of the College. Your contribution will not only benefit the College but will also have a profound impact on the lives of countless American Muslims, even those who emerge in future generations that we will never see.
SEEKING AND IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE THAT BRINGS BENEFIT:
Our goals for the next decade include
- Establishing a new Imam Warith Deen Mohammed scholarship (full ride) for undergraduate studies,
- Inaugurating new scholarships for deserving MA and MDIV students in need,
- Pioneering new undergraduate majors, including an interdisciplinary BA in Muslim American Studies and a new, integrated major in the Social Sciences,
- Building America’s first Muslim School of Business offering BBA and MBA degrees,
- Establishing a Pre-Med/Health Sciences BSc and laying strong foundations for America’s first Muslim-led medical school,
- Launching a new MA degree program in Islamically-Integrated counseling and psychotherapy,
- Establishing endowed chairs and programs in Persian language & literature, Turkish language & literature, and Urdu language and literature,
- Creating a new summer Institute for Muslim artists and creatives,
- Building a permanent endowment for the long-term viability and sustainability of the College,
- Partnering with other Muslim institutions across Chicagoland, the US, and the world.
Elevate, Enlighten, Build, Transform
So share a dollar and help us elevate our sisters and brothers through education; help us enlighten ourselves and our world with knowledge and the benefit it brings; join us in building a full-fledged and fully accredited Muslim university that transforms lives.
May Allah (SWT) reward you abundantly for your generosity and support!
Hassan Institute Presents: 3rd Fridays – Light Upon Light Fellowship Evening
Modeled after one of Dr. Gianotti’s community programs in Canada, AIC’s “Light Upon Light” evenings of spiritual discussion and fellowship feature a variety of spiritually nourishing (sometimes challenging) subjects in an inclusive space where participants of all ages and faiths actively contribute in a manner that is respectful to all. In these gatherings, we frequently interweave textual study and facilitated discussion in an effort to deepen ourselves and promote a sense of spiritual fellowship across denominational and religious boundaries.
March topic: Probing the Practice of Fasting
In-person only
Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM CT
Venue: American Islamic College Library
Register
Hassan Institute Presents: 3rd Fridays – Transformative Encounters Coffee Hour
President Gianotti interviews a special guest each month to discuss the formative encounters of their lives.
March special guest: Scott C. Alexander
Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations
Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
at Catholic Theological Union
In-person and Live-streamed
Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM CT
Venue: American Islamic College Library
Livestream: Register to Receive Link
Register
MIST-Chicago at AIC
On Saturday, March 11th, American Islamic College and The Muslim InterScholastic Tournament of Chicago (MIST-Chicago) welcomed high school students from around the midwestern region for a series of competitions ranging from math to tajweed to spoken word.
Dr. Feryal Salem, Director of AIC’s MDiv program, awarded the grand prize winner the “MIST Scholar’s Award” which covers full-tuition to the Arabic Language Institute (ALI). The College also recognized winners from each category. Congrats to all the winners!
AIC Presents: A Musical Performance by Al Firdaus Ensemble
Date: Friday, March 3, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM CT
Venue: American Islamic College Auditorium
Tickets: $20 | Students: $15 | Kids 12 & under free
Al Firdaus Ensemble
Al Firdaus Ensemble based in Granada was founded in 2012 by the English violinist and singer Ali Keeler and includes musicians from England, Spain and Morocco.
The group takes its inspiration from the word Firdaus, which is the Arabic name, of Persian origin, for the most elevated abode in Paradise. The intercultural nature of this name reflects the character of the group in which musicians from different countries and cultural backgrounds are brought together with one purpose. Just as the musicians tune their instruments, so they need to tune their hearts to receive the inspiration of the moment and transmit that to the audience. The traditional Arabic term for this kind of music is sama` which could be translated as “the art of listening”.
The unique sound of their music is due to a synthesis of different musical styles. These include original compositions of a more Western classical character with influences from both Celtic and Flamenco traditions, and new arrangements of songs drawn from the rich heritage of traditional sufi music from Arabic, Andalusi and Turkish sources. The words of the songs are mainly in Arabic drawn from the poetry of the great sufis from Al Andalus and the Arab world such as Ibn Arabi and Al Shushtari.
Also within their repertoire are musical adaptations of poems in aljamiado, old Spanish written by the Moriscos using the Arabic script. In this way Al Firdaus hopes to revive the heritage of the Moriscos whose culture was forbidden in its day and and has only reached us through manuscripts which they left behind on their expulsion in 1609 and that have been discovered over the years hidden in old houses.
Al Firdaus usually plays in quartet or quintet formation, but is versatile and can perform as a trio, or in larger formations depending on the requirements of the concert. They use a combination of Arabic and Western classical instruments in addition to the flamenco guitar, and have a range of singers, some of whom are soloists and others who sing in the choruses. They can also perform in choral formation accompanied only by percussion instruments.
They have performed in concerts and international festivals throughout Europe, Bosnia, the U.S., Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Malaysia.
They released two CDs.
Safa in 2014
Nur in 2017
Community Conversation with Dr. Aisha El-Amin and Imam Tariq El-Amin
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: American Islamic College
Free & Open to the Public; Registration Required
Dr. Aisha El-Amin
Aisha El-Amin holds a PhD in Policy Studies in Urban Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Masters of Education from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of Maryland- European Division. Dr. El-Amin is passionate about issues of equity and justice in education. These passions have led her to become an Illinois State Board of Education Certified K-9th grade teacher, an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, an elected school board member for Community Consolidated School District #168, appointed board member for Routledge journal, Religion and Education, board vice-chair for Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Chicago and board member with Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). Additionally, Dr. El-Amin has served in several roles at University of Illinois at Chicago as a multi-million dollar education grant manager, director of The Council on Teacher Education, Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the College of Education, Associate Provost and Chief of Staff for the Provost, and currently Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Belonging.
Dr. El-Amin’s education and experience have allowed her to be the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Muslim Women’s Alliance 2016 Inspiring Women’s Award, Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship, Illinois Veterans Grant and DePaul/Glenview Clinical Model Scholar and Rainbow Push Excellence in Education Award. Dr. El-Amin’s activism is best captured in her historic leadership roles with various Chicago based organizations. Some of her roles included coordinating committee member of Teachers for Social Justice, co-founder of Bridging the Gap Inc., co-chair of Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) Takin’ it to the Streets event logistics, and co-chair of the Public School Initiative for Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).
Imam Tariq El-Amin
Imam El-Amin has served as the Resident Imam & Chairman of the Board of Masjid Al-Taqwa (since 2013). Servant, and Participatory leadership ground his leadership and community building philosophy. He is an active part of local, national, and international Inter & Intrafaith Community efforts. Imam El-Amin’s convictions have led him serve as a board member of The Abolotion Institute (an international anti-slavery nonprofit), supporting their work here and abroad.
In the past, Imam Tariq has served as the nightly host/producer of Radio Islam, a live talk program where he conversed with politicians, artists, activists, etc, and also gave social commentary on the issues of the day. He is the former Director of Civic Engagement & Interfaith Services at the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and a past appointee to the Illinois Muslim Advisory Council, established by former Governor Pat Quinn.
Imam Tariq is looking forward completing a Masters Of Divinity, with a focus on Islamic Chaplaincy from Bayan Islamic Graduate School/Chicago Theological Seminary.
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Earthquake Relief Fundraiser for Türkiye, Syria, and Lebanon
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM CT
American Islamic College
Join American Islamic College and Islamic Relief USA for a fundraiser to help the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey, Syria, and the surrounding region.
A team from Islamic Relief will tell us about the ongoing rescue and relief efforts on the ground in Turkey and Syria, and answer questions from the community.
Members of the AIC administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni, along with members of the wider community, will be there to share their experiences, perspectives, and questions.
AIC will provide a complimentary light lunch, along with coffee, tea, and cookies.
People across the world are shaken, broken, traumatized, and grieving. Right now, as news of the devastating earthquake and aftershocks in Turkey, Syria, and the surrounding region fill our screens and tug at our hearts, we pray for those who have lost their lives, for those who have lost loved ones and are grief-stricken, for those who are still trapped and praying for rescue and relief, for those who are now homeless, wounded, shaken, starving and freezing in the cold, winter rain. May God’s grace and mercy be with them, and may God inspire and empower us to rise up as channels of Divine aid, healing, comfort, and provision to those suffering in such extreme circumstances.
If you wish to contribute to the rescue and relief efforts, please click the “Donate” button below.
Hassan Institute Presents: 3rd Fridays – Transformative Encounters Coffee Hour
President Gianotti interviews a special guest each month to discuss the formative encounters of their lives.
February special guest: Dr. Clyde El-Amin
Former president of Kennedy-King & Olive Harvey city colleges (Chicago), current member of IMAN’s Executive Committee, and current organizational and development consultant.
In-person and Live-streamed
Date: Friday, February 17, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM CT
Venue: American Islamic College Library
Livestream: Zoom
Hassan Institute Presents: 3rd Fridays – Light Upon Light Fellowship Evening
Modeled after one of Dr. Gianotti’s community programs in Canada, AIC’s “Light Upon Light” evenings of spiritual discussion and fellowship feature a variety of spiritually nourishing (sometimes challenging) subjects in an inclusive space where participants of all ages and faiths actively contribute in a manner that is respectful to all. In these gatherings, we frequently interweave textual study and facilitated discussion in an effort to deepen ourselves and promote a sense of spiritual fellowship across denominational and religious boundaries.
February topic: Spiritual Chivalry. We will explore martial language and imagery within our faith traditions as well as the interconnectedness of religion and the martial arts.
In-person only