The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is pleased to announce its third Summer Institute for Scholars to be convened at IIIT headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, USA between July 26 and August 6, 2010. The purpose of the Summer Institute is to bring together and engage senior and young scholars with a particular interest or expertise in Qur’anic studies or Sunna in focused, organized discussions of topics related to a contemporary understanding and articulation of issues involving Qur’an and Sunna. The specific objectives of the seminar are:
- To develop methods or approaches of understanding Qur’an and Sunna that are both authentic and relevant to contemporary realities and sensibilities in the West and the Muslim world.
- To suggest means and instruments of engaging the scholarly community, the religious community, the media and the public at large in learning processes, debates or experiences that make intelligible the wisdom of the Qur’an and the Sunna and their relevance to contemporary human affairs.
- To broaden the scope of conversations on issues pertaining to Qur’an and Sunna through the inclusion of social and physical scientists beside the scholars of the traditional Islamic disciplines.
The primary focus for papers this year is on the relationship between Qur’an and Sunna. In particular, we will target issues such as the Islamic reformist debates since the late 19th century and the impact of the modernist intellectual tradition in Muslim thinking and in framing the issues related to Qura’n and Sunna. Another focus will be on the time – space factor in the interpretation of Qur’an and Sunna and their relationship. A third focus is a thematic explication of the relationship of Qur’anand Sunna in relation to issues such as social justice, freedom of religion, unity of the Umma, etc
Interested scholars should send an abstract and an updated C.V by February 1, 2010. IIIT will notify scholars whose abstracts are accepted by February 25, 2010. Final papers should be submitted to IIIT by email no later than May 25, 2010. IIIT will notify scholars whose papers have been accepted for presentation by June 15, 2010. Papers presented during the program will be considered for publication in an edited volume to be published by IIIT. Dr. Mahmoud Ayoub, Professor Emeritus of Religion, Temple University and Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian Muslim Relations at the Hartford seminary will be the Chair of the Institute and the chief editor of the volume.
IIIT will cover the cost of travel within continental USA and Canada and hotel accommodation in Herndon, VA for participants with accepted papers. In addition, each participating scholar will get a $1000 (one thousand dollars) to cover living expenses during the two weeks program and another $1000 honorarium upon submission of a publishable paper for the volume.
Please send abstracts and any request for information or questions to:
Khaled Troudi at Khaled@iiit.org or call 703 471 1133 Ext 112