Salam Wesleyan students, staff, faculty, alumni and Middletown residents! The Muslim Students Association and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life are proud to announce the second annual Islam in Conversation Week. Months of organizing have brought together an event lineup that would make the country’s most prominent Islamic Studies programs jealous of us here at Wesleyan. A series of prestigious Muslim scholars and intellectuals, famous throughout the English-speaking world and beyond, will discuss how Islam engages various aspects of contemporary society.
Dr. Sherman Jackson is professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, visiting professor of Law, and professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His most recent book is entitled “Islam and Blackamerican: Looking Towards the Third Resurrection.” Dr. Jackson has a lecture titled “Jihad, Terrorism, and Modern Violence” on Monday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in PAC 001.
Dr. Ingrid Mattson is the Director of Islamic Chaplaincy and Professor at the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at the Hartford Seminary (the first Islamic Chaplaincy program in the United States and the alma mater of Sohaib Sultan, our own beloved Muslim chaplain here at Wes). Dr. Mattson is also president of the Islamic Society of North America that is the largest Muslim organization in North America. She is the first convert to Islam and first woman to lead this prominent organization. Dr. Mattson has a lecture entitled “Gender, Society and Change: Ethics of Reform in Islamic Law” on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. at Russell House.
Dr. John Woods is professor of Iranian and Central Asian History, and of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, at the University of Chicago. His most famous book, “The Aqquyunlu: Clan, Confederation, Empire,” is still considered the primary English-language work on the Central Asian Aqquyunlu confederation that rose to power following the Mongol invasion of the Middle East in the 13th century. Dr. Woods’ lecture is entitled “Imagining and Stereotyping Islam: Heresy, Sex, Violence,” and is cosponsored by the Religion Department. The lecture will be on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. at Russell House.
Shaykh Yasir Qadhi is currently pursuing his doctorate in Religious Studies at Yale University and has published numerous books on aspects of Islamic law and the practice of Islam. His fellow scholar, Rumee Ahmed, received his doctorate from University of Virginia, where he studied scriptural interpretation and practice, a mix of Islamic studies and philosophy. He is currently the Muslim chaplain at Brown University. Shaykh Qadhi and Rumee Ahmed will conduct an informal debate entitled “Dialogue on Faith, Reason, and Revelation” on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Usdan 108.
There will be film and music as well! “Clay Bird” (2002) is the first feature film of Tareque Masud. This insider story of a Bangladeshi Muslim is largely based on the events of the filmmaker’s own life. The screening will be followed by a Discussion on Modern Muslim Society on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. in Downey 113.
A myriad of musical traditions are associated with the path of spiritual attainment pursued through Islamic mysticism, or Sufism (at-tasawwuf). The music of Turkish brotherhoods is perhaps the most famous of the Sufi traditions, evoking the legacy of Rumi and other spiritual figures that is continued to this day. Instruments include ney (end-blown flute), kanun (trapezoidal, plucked zither), kemene (bowed, pear-shaped lute held vertically on the knees), tanbur (long-necked, plucked lute with frets), id (short-necked, fretless, plucked lute) and kudim (a pair of small kettledrums). All will be played at the “Celebrating the Diversity of Islam Turkish Sufi Music Concert” on Friday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. at the Daniel Family Commons on the third floor of Usdan.
Mark your calendar! We look forward to seeing you.
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