Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM (Chicago Time)
Venue: Online via Zoom
Registration: Required- via Zoom

This women-only gathering, hosted by the American Islamic College and led by Chaplain Nora Zaki, offers an opportunity to learn about the importance of tazkiyat al-nafs (purification of the self) coupled with rahma (compassion) as we prepare our hearts and minds for Ramadan. Through reflection and shared discussion, participants will be guided to cultivate inner growth, spiritual awareness, and embody the higher versions of ourselves we aspire to develop and sustain during Ramadan and beyond.

Nora Zaki Mantas is the founder of MyMuslimChaplain.com, a consultation company for chaplaincy. She served as the chaplain at Dominican University in Chicago and as the Advisor for Muslim Student Life at Vassar and Bard Colleges in upstate New York. Nora has a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago and Master of Arts in Islamic Studies from Bayan Islamic Graduate School. Nora taught Introduction to World Religions at Dominican University. Nora is fluent in Arabic and a beginner speaker of Turkish.

She is a mother of two young children and enjoys spending time outdoors, even in the cold Chicago winters.

Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM CT

Doors open at 5:00 PM with a light reception.

Roosevelt University Schaumburg Campus – Zurich Alumni Hall
1400 Roosevelt Blvd
Schaumburg, IL 60173

There will be an opportunity to purchase the book and have it signed at the end of the event.
Advanced registration is required for this free but ticketed event.

Join us for an exciting book launch celebrating India by Audrey Truschke, a magisterial history spanning five millennia of the Indian subcontinent—from the Indus Valley Civilization to the complexities of the twenty-first century. This richly textured narrative explores the region’s political, social, religious, and cultural evolution, spotlighting its astonishing diversity and the voices of women, religious minorities, and marginalized groups. The evening will feature a wide-ranging, historically informed theological conversation on contemporary Hindu-Muslim relations, with Truschke joined by two leading scholars, delving into how India’s contested past continues to shape its present and future.

Audrey Truschke is Professor of South Asian History at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Trained in Sanskrit and Persian, her research focuses on the cultural, imperial, and intellectual history of medieval and early modern India as well as the politics of history in modern times. She is the author of three books: Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court (Columbia University Press, 2016), Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India’s Most Controversial King (Stanford University Press, 2017), and The Language of History: Sanskrit Narratives of Indo-Muslim Rule (Columbia University Press, 2021). Her most recent book, India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent, will be published by Princeton University Press in June 2025.

Anantanand Rambachan is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Saint Olaf College, Minnesota, USA (1985-2021). He was also Forum Humanum Visiting Professor at the Academy for the Study of World Religions at the University of Hamburg in Germany (2013-2017). His books include Accomplishing the Accomplished: The Vedas as a Source of Valid Knowledge in Ṡaṅkara; The Limits of Scripture: Vivekananda’s Reinterpretation of the Authority of the Vedas, The Advaita Worldview: God, World and Humanity, A Hindu Theology of Liberation: Not-Two is Not-One; Essays in Hindu Theology and Pathways to Hindu-Christian Dialogue. Prof. Rambachan has been involved in interreligious relations and dialogue for over 40 years, as a Hindu contributor and analyst. He is a Co-President of Religions for Peace.

R. David Coolidge is Research Faculty at Bayan Islamic Graduate School. He was previously the Associate University Chaplain for the Muslim Community at Brown University, the Muslim Advisor at Dartmouth College, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Service at New York University. He received a PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in 2023, and an MA in Religion from Princeton University in 2008. He has served on the boards of various American Muslim nonprofit organizations, including Zaytuna College, Taleef Collective, and Al-Kisa Foundation. As a preacher, he has given hundreds of sermons/talks and led prayers in dozens of Sunnī and Shīʿī masjids around the country. R. David Coolidge has produced numerous academic publications, as well as books and articles of relevance to the wider American Muslim community.

Mahan Mirza is the visiting Vice President for Academic Affairs at American Islamic College for the 2024 – 2025 year. He is also the Executive Director of the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion at the University of Notre Dame and a teaching Professor of Islam & Science in the Keough School of Global Affairs. Mirza holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Texas Austin, MA from Hartford Seminary in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, and PhD in Religious Studies from Yale University. Dr. Mirza has edited two special issues of The Muslim World and served as assistant editor of the Princeton Encyclopaedia of Islamic Political Thought.

Timothy J. Gianotti is the President of American Islamic College and a scholar of classical Islamic theology, philosophy, and spirituality with strong interests in Islamic Psychology, Moral Theology, Ethics, Political Thought, comparative religion and spirituality, and interfaith relations; more specifically, he is a scholar of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d.1111), one of the most important religious thinkers of the classical period. Dr. Gianotti is also recognized as a Muslim theologian, pastoral leader, and committed interfaith advocate with extensive experience promoting interfaith engagement around the globe. Dr.Gianotti is the author of Al-Ghazali’s Unspeakable Doctrine of the Soul (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2001) and In the Light of a Blessed Tree: Illuminations of Islamic Belief, Practice, and History (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2011).

Hosts:

American Islamic College
Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion at University of Notre Dame
Roosevelt University

Sponsors:

American Islamic College
Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion at University of Notre Dame
Roosevelt University
Indian American Muslim Council
Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies
Hindus for Human Rights
South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy
The Sikh Coalition.

Download Flyer:

Exploring the Stories of India Flyer

Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM CT
Where: Library, Main Bldg, American Islamic College

With hearts full of gratitude, joy, and pride in our graduates, we celebrated a powerful milestone at American Islamic College on May 9, 2025. This was our first graduation ceremony since the onset of the pandemic. As we celebrate the commitment and academic achievement of the graduates, we renew our dedication to the pursuit of knowledge for the love of God and the service of humanity.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Teepu Siddique, our esteemed honorary doctorate recipient, for his lifelong contributions to science and his love for the broader sphere of learning, and we thank our esteemed keynote speaker, Alia J. Bilal, for her inspiring words and unwavering commitment to community and justice.

Congratulations to our graduates! May your journeys ahead be filled with purpose, impact, and Divine blessing.

Pakistani American neurologist best known for his discoveries concerning the genetic and molecular abnormalities underlying the neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dr. Siddique’s distinction extends beyond the laboratory. He is a true “man of letters,” an intellectual whose passion for knowledge encompasses vast landscapes of human thought.

This honorary degree acknowledges not only his long and impactful career as a scientist but also his lifelong embrace of learning in its widest sense, embodying the very essence of a liberal arts education that AIC champions. Dr. Siddique stands as an inspiring figure, demonstrating the harmonious coexistence of rigorous scientific inquiry and a deep appreciation for the humanities, a confluence that enriches both the individual and the world.

Alia J. Bilal serves as Chief Executive Director at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), a nonprofit community organization based in Chicago that fosters health, wellness, and healing in the inner-city by organizing for social change, cultivating the arts, and operating a holistic health center. Alia co-leads and oversees the administration, strategic development, communications, and program implementation of the organization.

In her 15 years at IMAN, Alia has helped the organization grow from a small nonprofit with an operational budget under $1 million to an organization with over 100 full-time staff members, a federally qualified health center, multiple campuses in Chicago and Atlanta, and an operational budget of over $20 million.

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM Light Reception | 7:00 PM Talk
Library, American Islamic College

Omer Awass is an associate professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American Islamic College in Chicago, IL. His current research interests center on religion, modernity, and globalization. He has been carrying out field research on contemporary fatwas across the Muslim world to assess how they are negotiating their postcolonial realities. His book Fatwa and the Making and Renewal of Islamic Law is published by Cambridge University Press (2023). Read More >

Kholoud al-Ajarma is Alwaleed Lecturer in the Globalised Muslim World and Deputy Director of the Alwaleed Centre, University of Edinburgh.

Kholoud holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and Comparative Study of Religion from the University of Groningen (Netherlands). Her PhD thesis focused on the socio-cultural embeddedness of Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) in Moroccan everyday life. During her Ph.D. studies, she worked as a lecturer at the University of Groningen and delivered several courses including ‘Anthropology of Muslim Societies’, ‘Islam: History, Sources, and Practices’, and ‘Minorities in Contemporary Europe’. Her current research focuses on water resource management and contemporary environmental concerns in the Muslim World.

Kholoud received her MA in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Coventry University (UK) and her Mphil in Anthropology and Development from the University of Bergen (Norway). In addition to her academic experience in anthropology and religion, Kholoud has worked in the fields of refugee studies, gender, youth development, migration, human rights, and environmental justice in several countries of the Mediterranean region including Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco. She was a Chevening visiting fellow at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) and peace fellow of the MENA cohort fellowship programme of the United Nations Allience of Civilizations (UNAOC).

Kholoud is also an award-winning photographer and film-maker who has extensive experience developing and leading programs and projects among refugee communities, including innovative platforms for human rights research and media production among young refugee youth. Full bio.

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM CT
Repast to Follow

Library, American Islamic College
640 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60613

Hosted By:

The Lutheran School of Theology
Catholic Theological Union
American Islamic College

As-salaamu ‘alaykum.

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُون

Indeed, we all belong to God and to God we are all returning…

Today, with heavy but grateful hearts, we remember and honor the life of Dr. Ghulam-Haider Aasi — a husband, father, friend, mentor, scholar, and educator.

Dr. Aasi was the founding chair of History of Religions at American Islamic College, where his former professor and advisor, Dr. Ismail al-Faruqi of Temple University, was named founding President and Provost. Through his deep knowledge and commitment to scholarship, Dr. Aasi shaped the minds of many through his courses on Christian-Muslim relations at AIC, Catholic Theological Union, and The Lutheran School of Theology. His lasting influence extends beyond academia as he inspired countless individuals with his unwavering kindness, humility, and patience.

In addition to his academic work on the History of Religions and Islam, Dr. Aasi leaves behind a meaningful legacy of impactful interfaith relations. He was dedicated to promoting respect, understanding, and cooperation among diverse faith communities, acknowledging and welcoming the various perspectives within each, including Islam, in order to have a more truthful and open dialogue. His publications included Muslim Understanding of Other Religions (1991) and a contribution to Peace-building by, between, and beyond Muslims and Evangelical Christians (2009).
He was a person whose presence radiated warmth and wisdom, and whose contributions will endure in the relationships he nurtured and the ideals he championed. His life reminds us of the importance of faith, empathy, humility, and the power of meaningful dialogue.

As we remember Dr. Aasi, let us honor his memory by continuing the work he so passionately pursued by building connections, sharing wisdom, and fostering peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who were touched by his endearing interactions, insightful work, and influential life.

The College remained a part of Dr. Aasi even well after his retirement, and he remains a part of the College with his lasting imprint. The AIC community will miss him dearly.

May he be welcomed home with love, forgiveness, and a joyous reception; may his life of service and transformative education be accepted; and may he be forever in the company of the righteous and granted the highest place in Paradise!

-Your AIC Family

Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT
4:00 – 5:30 pm Reception “Faith, Flavor, and Friendship”

Boarding: 12:45 PM / Depart: 1:00 PM from American Islamic College

Limited parking at 613 W. Bittersweet Place (rear of College)
Additional parking at Recreation Drive

Stops:

Return: 4:00 pm to American Islamic College

Join us on our 4th Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour. This experiential learning opportunity presents the chance to learn about faith in practice, prayer and communal religious space, and some history of the neighborhood and its religious communities. You will get to meet people from other faith traditions and cultures and make connections with religious leaders. You will also learn about the various interfaith initiatives that these religious institutions host. This is a great way to learn more about your city and celebrate its vibrant diversity.

The Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter at American Islamic College, The Interreligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary, and A Center for Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at The Lutheran School of Theology will be your hosts on April 6th.

We will explore four sacred spaces in the northside neighborhoods of Chicago. The day will end with a reception, “Faith, Flavor, and Friendship” at 4 – 5 pm at American Islamic College.

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

The Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter at American Islamic College is commited to thoughtful, respectful, and socially impactful inter-religious engagement. It is inspired by a shared belief in the value of transformative, relational, and experiential learning. 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, we are commited to racial and social justice, to gender equality and to deep interreligious engagement. www.ctschicago.edu

We cordially invite you to join AIC faculty, staff, students, trustees, and supporters for a pre-Ramadan dinner celebrating the College’s past and present milestones and sharing exciting new developments, Ramadan programming, upcoming courses and new programs, future plans, and ultimate aspirations.

We look forward to seeing you there, in sha’ allah!

Date: Friday, February 21, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
RSVP: Required. Space is limited! Please RSVP by February 20, 12:00 PM

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM Light Reception | 6:30 PM Talk – Central Time (Chicago)
Venue: American Islamic College, Limited parking available (613 W Bittersweet Pl)

Join us for a night of intellectual and spiritual stimulation with Dr. Yousef Casewit and enjoy some delectable Pakistani hors d’oeuvres.

Registration (Required):
Free, in-person & livestream. Please select in-person or livestream during registration.

In this talk, Dr. Yousef Casewit reflects on contemporary lessons drawn from the writings of the Contemplatives (Mu’tabirun), a remarkable school of Islamic mysticism that emerged in 12th-century al-Andalus in a world beset by war, social inequalities, economic instability, and political turmoil. The ethos of spiritual resilience cultivated by the Contemplatives offers a profound resource for Muslims in the US grappling with the emotional toll and moral injuries of witnessing war crimes from afar while striving to effect meaningful change at home. Their integration of scriptural, intellectual, and spiritual traditions forged a holistic response to societal crises, demonstrating how spiritual practices, ethical leadership, engaged scholarship, justice-oriented spirituality, and community solidarity can counter despair and inspire transformative action.

Feature your restaurant at our events! If you are interested in sponsoring one of our events, please contact programs@aicusa.edu

Professor Casewit is a Qur’anic studies scholar. His research interests include intellectual history of North Africa and al-Andalus, Muslim perceptions of the Bible, and medieval commentaries on the ninety nine divine names.

He has several publications, most recently The Mystics of al-Andalus: Ibn Barrajān and Islamic Thought in the Twelfth Century (Cambridge University Press, 2017), a study on Ibn Barrajan’s life and teachings. He is also the author of a critical edition of a Qur’an commentary by Ibn Barrajan (Brill, TSQ Series, 2016).

Prior to joining the Divinity School, Professor Casewit was a Humanities Research Fellow at New York University Abu Dhabi, and an Assistant Professor of Arabic Intellectual Heritage and Culture at the American University of Sharjah. He completed his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Islamic Studies at Yale University’s Religious Studies Department.

Current projects include a translation and critical edition of a Sufi-Philosophical commentary on the divine names by the Algerian scholar ‘Afif al-Din al-Tilimsani (d. 1291) for the Library of Arabic Literature, NYU Press.

Born in Egypt and raised in Morocco, he is fluent in Arabic, French and Spanish. Yousef has traveled throughout the Islamic world, and has studied with Muslim scholars in Morocco, Syria, and Mauritania.

Indonesia, with a population of approximately 280 million people, is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, comprising around 11-12% of the global Muslim population. It is also the largest democracy among Muslim nations, known for its stability and peaceful coexistence. Indonesia is a nation of remarkable diversity, with hundreds of languages, ethnic groups, and beliefs coexisting across its vast archipelago.

Despite this diversity, Indonesia has managed to create a harmonious society, emphasizing moderation, tolerance, and respect for diversity. Central to this model are pesantren, Islamic boarding schools that serve as both centers of religious learning and community development. These institutions teach not only classical Islamic texts but also contemporary knowledge, equipping students to address modern societal challenges while maintaining their faith. Furthermore, pesantren play a key role in promoting peace by facilitating interfaith dialogue, mediating conflicts, and contributing to social cohesion.

Through this distinctive approach, Indonesia demonstrates how Islam can adapt to a diverse cultural landscape, fostering peace and inclusivity while staying true to its core principles. Pesantren, as both educational institutions and community centers, continue to play a vital role in nurturing interfaith harmony and promoting a peaceful society in Indonesia, which is recognized as one of the most peaceful and stable Muslim-majority democracies in the world.

Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM Light Reception | 6:30 PM Talk – Central Time (Chicago)
Venue: American Islamic College, Livestream available – must register for link

Registration:
Free, registration required.

Dr. Thalia Pachiyannakis, an obstetrician and gynecologist who volunteered at the Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza this summer. Hear a fist-hand account of what she witnessed. She is one of forty-five U.S. doctors, surgeons and nurses who signed an open letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris demanding an immediate ceasefire and an international arms embargo of Israel. She appeared on Democracy Now! on July 26. Joining her will be Dr. Feryal Salem from American Islamic College.

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM Central Time (Chicago)
Venue: The Mecca Center, 16W560 91st St, Willowbrook, IL 60527

Registration:
Free, registration required.