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

On behalf of American Islamic College, it is with great joy and gratitude to God that we extend this invitation for you to join us for our first graduation ceremony since the onset of the pandemic. This occasion marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge — for the love of God and the service of the creation.

We would be honored to have you join us for this celebration of student achievement and to join us in prayer for the continued success of our graduates, both in this life and the next!

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: 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

Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT

Roosevelt University Schaumburg Campus – Atrium / Licht Student Center (south side of main courtyard)
1400 Roosevelt Blvd
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Book Signing from 7:00 – 7:30 PM | Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
RSVP Required

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).

Sponsors:

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

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.

Join Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Dr. Rania Awaad, Sh. Rami Nsour and Dr. Mariam Sheibani

Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM Central Time (Chicago)
Venue: Zoom

A collaboration between Hurma Project, Maristan and the Rahmah Foundation

Join AIC and Prof. Khaled Abou El Fadl for a conversation on his latest book, The Palestine Sermons, a collection of twenty-five sermons and one public address that Prof. Abou El Fadl delivered between April 2018 and May 2024 in relation to ongoing developments relating to Israel-Palestine. Engaging current events in Palestine from an Islamic theological perspective, Prof. Abou El Fadl challenges scholars to re-examine their ethical responsibilities today: “Gaza is a watershed moment. Everything has to change.”

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM Central Time (Chicago)
Venue: Zoom

Registration:
Free, registration required.

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl is one of the world’s leading authorities on Shari’ah, Islamic law and Islam, and a prominent scholar in the field of human rights. He is the Omar and Azmeralda Alfi Distinguished Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law where he teaches International Human Rights; Islamic Jurisprudence; Political Asylum and Refugee Law; The Trafficking of Human Beings: Law and Policy; Political Crimes and Legal Systems; and Muslims, Race and Law. He was also formerly the Chair of the Islamic Studies Interdepartmental Program at UCLA. He is the founder of the Institute of Advanced Usuli Studies (“The Usuli Institute”), a non-profit educational institute dedicated to ethics, beauty and critical thinking in the Islamic intellectual tradition. Read More >

Dr. Mahan serves as Visiting Vice President for Academic Affairs at AIC and as the Executive Director of the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion at the University of Notre Dame. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Texas Austin, his MA from Hartford Seminary in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, and his PhD in Religious Studies (specializing in Islamic Studies) from Yale University. His doctoral research was on the intellectual world of al-Biruni, an 11th-century Muslim scientist from Central Asia, and Dr. Mahan has an abiding research interest in field of cosmology. At Notre Dame, he was responsible for implementing Madrasa Discourses, a project led by Prof. Ebrahim Moosa to advance scientific and theological literacy at the Keough School’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. Prior to that, he served as Dean of Faculty at Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. Throughout his career, he has taught a wide range of courses in Arabic and Islamic studies, western religions, history of science, and global affairs, along with foundational subjects in the Liberal Arts, including logic, rhetoric, ethics, and politics. Dr. Mahan has also edited two special issues of The Muslim World and has served as assistant editor of The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought. His recent articles include “Deed over idea: Toward a shared Caliphate” (2022), “Between Tyranny and Anarchy: Islam, Covid 19, and Public Policy” (2023), and “Divine Command and Religious Liberty: A Theological Reflection on Islamic Constitutionalism” (2024). Read More >