CONFERENCE:NEW PERSPECTIVES ON REVIVAL & RENEWAL OF THE MUSLIM CIVILISATION

[PLEASE NOTE - The course is BOTH in person ONSITE in London and for those who can not attend in person can purchase the LIVE ONLINE STREAMING ticket to watch it from their device and those coming in person, should you not decide to attend person on the day or half the day, you will still recieve a link to the live online streaming, irrespective but are encouraged to attend in person if you have registered for that ticket, as this helps with allows room allocation, respectively for fellow participants].

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Islamic Courses present:

CONFERENCE: 'NEW PERSPECTIVES ON REVIVAL AND RENEWAL OF THE MUSLIM CIVILISATION' and launch of the 'Ihya’ Journal of Islamic Thought - The Journal of the Centre for Islamic Knowledge & Islamic Literary Society [www.ihyajournal.org]

The following panel presentations and discussions will be addressed:

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Professor Khairudin Aljunied [National University of Singapore] : Theology and Global Change in the Muslim Civilisation

Respondent host: Dr Anas Altikriti [CEO Cordoba Foundation, London]

Recent events in the Muslim world reveal the stark divisions, contradictions, and inequalities riddling the ummah. From surging Islamophobia, widespread poverty, religious extremisms, environmental degradation and violent conflicts, all point to the need for far-reaching transformations in how Muslims think and act. One fundamental area that necessitates critical attention: the theological suppositions and premises governing contemporary Muslim minds and to go beyond the millennium-old disputes between dominant classical strands of both sunni and shia schools of theology and thought. Building on the works of Haji Abdul Malik bin Abdul Karim Amrullah (Hamka), an Indonesian ʿālim, philosopher, writer, lecturer, politician and journalist and other reformist scholars, among others, a tentative outline an Islamic theology of global change will be presented. The limits of possibility in Muslim minds which stem from prevailing conceptions of divine plan, eschatology, declinism, obeisance, as well as ethnic, cultural, ideological, and national divides will be discussed and the universal challenges of post-humanism, secular fundamentalism, repressive states, and intellectual treason. An Islamic theology of global change provides a viable intellectual framework to address these and many other challenges in the path to move beyond parochial discords and interests that have debilitated the ummah and, by implication, humanity.

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Dr Yakoob Ahmed [Istanbul University]: Re-engaging Islamic History from Quranic inspired reform

Host: Mohamud Awil Mohamed​ [Fontaine Fellow, University of Pennsylvania]

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Dr Shamim Miah [Huddersfield University] : Beyond Decolonization: Alternative approaches to the humanities and social sciences beyond Islamisation

Respondent host: Dr Fauzia Ahmad [Goldsmiths College, London]

Whilst the Islamisation project goes through another iteration after failing to deliver, the recent calls of 'Decolonization' of the humanities and social sciences has gained some ground in various forms, from the 'Critical Studies' approach to Liberation Theologies and Pedagogy. Each claiming alternative epistemic perspectives, in reality, the roots are still by products of post renaissance developments and rather offering an opportunity to interpret and understand away from the dominant discourse, it results repeating similar problems but in different ways. A new alternative approach that is not only rooted in tradition but builds on the experiences of western modernity will be presented.

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Dr Farah Ahmed [Cambridge University]: Rethinking Islamic Education - Theory into Practice research project

Host: Shahanaz Begum [Ebrahim College]

The Rethinking Islamic Education for the 21st Century – Research into Practice project aims to develop a holistic philosophy that offers a more inclusive approach and a radical departure from existing educational practices, whilst maintaining respect for the Islamic ‘tradition’. It seeks to update practice in Muslim majority and minority settings, through the introduction of critical and creative thinking, updating curricula to reflect contemporary needs, and developing child-centred pedagogy. Ideas on updating pedagogy and curricula need to be underpinned by clarity on ideas of Muslim personhood, human development, learning and education.

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Dr Safruk Chowdhury [Whitethread Institute] : Islamic Philosophy and Theology: Challenges and Opportunities for an Analytic Approach

Islamic Analytic Theology is an approach that attends to the core doctrinal subject matter of Islam, which is God and His relation to creation, while seeking to be exact, precise and clear with language as well as aspiring to produce arguments, analysis, reflection and deliberation with a cogency, coherency and systematisation according to philosophical norms. The presentation will clarify its aims, output, scope and method and the impact of various Islamic theological themes such as epistemology, anthropology, metaphysics, ethics, nature, amongst many.

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Dr Yahya Baptiste Brodard [ Maqasid Institute / Université de Fribourg] : Vision2050 Rethinking the Western Islamicate and English as the global language of Islamicate

Respondent host: Ustadha Ameena Blake [ Markfield Institute of Higher Education [MIHE]]

By 2050, according to Pew Research the projected growth of Muslim population in Western Europe is expected to reach around 70 million including migration at the highest levels. A significant % will be from indigenous Western European ethnicities. This will not only change the shape of Europe and wider West but also make Western Europe a significant player in the Muslim world and with English already becoming a leading language of Islam. What are the implications and how prepared are the Muslim community within to handle a significant indigenous Western European ethnic Muslim community with their own culture, heritage and experiences who will not only lead their ummah but also clash within immigrant communities of different generations over how to articulate Islam fit for Europe.

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Dr. Naoki Yamamoto [Marmara University]: Lessons from Far Eastern Modernity for the Muslim Civilisation

Host: Mohamud Awil Mohamed​ [Fontaine Fellow, University of Pennsylvania]

Post world war II, both Japan, South Korea went through major rebuilding and reformation of their societies to become successful economic models. Recently China and now Vietnam have follow suite. However their successes have also come with major consequences and now threatens their nations. What were the characteristics that helped shape their success in a short period of time and what are their obstacles for their civilisation to continue and how can the Muslim world learn, and take lessons and contribute to this region which will inevitable take on more Muslims as immigrants and or engage with the Muslim world as their nations develop, whether in Central Asia or Subcontinent or the IndoMalay archipelago .

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Contributions from the Centre for Islamic Knowledge [CIK, Toronto, Canada ] & Islamic Literary Society[ILS, London] team on the Ihya’ Journal of Islamic Thought - The Journal of the Centre for Islamic Knowledge & Islamic Literary Society [www.ihyajournal.org] including Dr. Mustapha Sheikh [Leeds University], Dr. Tajul Islam [Leeds University] and Amir Abu Ghudda [Canada], and Abdul Hai.

Ihya’ Journal of Islamic Thought (“Ihya’”) is an international, interdisciplinary, and online open-access journal with the aim of promoting intellectual inquiry into topics of importance to Muslims around the world. Each issue relates to a distinct theme, approached from different disciplines. Ihya’ strives to contribute to the Islamic intellectual enterprise by a) promoting research that advances knowledge of Islamic sciences such as law (fiqh), ḥadīth, exegesis, theology, political and legal history, etc., and b) investigating the contributions and effects of social, political, and intellectual developments in Muslim life and thought. Ihya’ welcomes submissions from researchers across various fields, such as the Traditional Islamic Sciences, Religious Studies, History, Social Sciences, Law, Philosophy, and Education, among others. It also invites opinion pieces from practitioners, policymakers, and the like, both Muslim and non-Muslim.

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AUDIENCE: Because of the academic nature of the conference, it will only be suited to post graduates,academics,policy makers, think-tank agencies, senior community Muslim thinkers, activists as well as Ulema and anyone interested in Muslim world renewal, reform and revival at a nuanced and advanced level of discourse in view to policy reform and decision making and processes. Disgruntled Uncles or Bro's are welcome to attend as long they are willing to learn and contribute in a fruitful way where they can add value and not waste time in voicing their same old grievances without real capital investment and or showcasing proven case studies as we are seriously trying to focus on rebuilding the Muslim world on real sound ideas and neither conspiracy theories or endless nostalgia whilst being armchair or social media critics.

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All welcome, limited spaces, pre-registration required!

DEADLINE FOR BOOKINGS APPLY after which prices increase

For more information call/tel: 07956735301 or email: info@islamiccourses.org

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* Please note, time and resources have been set aside to ensure the programme runs in a smooth and professional manner for the maximum benefit of participants and thus unless the programme has been postponed or cancelled, there are NO REFUNDS as part of the terms and condition policy.

*Lunch and refreshments can be purchased at cafe's or restaurant's near to the venue and NOT included in ticket price.

*The course is BOTH in person ONSITE in London and for those who can not attend in person can purchase the LIVE ONLINE STREAMING ticket to watch it from their device and those coming in person, should decide not to attend person on the day or half the day, you will still recieve a link to the live online streaming, irrespective but are encouraged to attend in person if you have registered for that ticket, as this helps with allows room allocation, respectively for fellow participants

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