This year ISLAM IN CONVERSATION is not just one week but TWO–an entire fortnight of lectures, film screenings and even a live comedy show!
The events will focus on the contemporary relevance of Islamic law–“shariah”–which is synthesized from a combination of Qur’an and hadith (sayings of Mohamed). Shariah means “the way” in Arabic, but don’t think it’s as simple as the name implies! The law is shaped through consultation (shura) of the rulers with those ruled, consensus (ijma) of the community, ongoing reinterpretation (ijtihad) of source material and the consideration of public welfare (maslaha). Come learn what shariah has to say on: global finance, education, environmental preservation, social justice and more!
Why learn more about Islamic law?
The laws of shariah continue to be valued by Muslims all over the world. A recent statistic reports: “Today, 66 percent of Egyptians, 60 percent of Pakistanis and 54 percent of Jordanians say that shariah should be the only source of legislation in their countries.” (“Why Shariah?” by Noah Feldman, New York Times Magazine March 16, 2008)
Here in the U.S., the concepts of shariah affect the choices of nearly SIX MILLION Americans that identify as Muslim.
Come to the following events and find out more about the origin, evolution and application of Islamic law.
Monday, Feb. 16
Islamic Finance on Solving the Global Financial Crisis
Taha Abdul-Basser, chaplain of the Harvard Islamic Society
7:00 p.m., PAC 002
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Film: “Bilal’s Stand”
Screening followed by Q&A with director Sultan Sharrief
Co-sponsored by Ujamaa and Black History Month 2009
6:00 p.m., PAC 001
Friday, Feb. 20
Environmental Ethics and Islam: Providing a Pragmatic Model
Faraz Khan, wetland scientist
4:30 p.m., PAC 001
Monday, Feb. 23
Film: “Khuda Kay Liye (In the Name of God)”
Screening followed by Q&A with Noumaan Shamsi ’10
7:00 p.m., PAC 002
Wednesday, Feb. 25
The Injustice of the Justice System: Muslims’ Civil Rights in America
Imam Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of the Muslim American Society’s Freedom Foundation (MAS Freedom)
7:00 p.m., PAC 001
Friday, Feb. 27
Comedy Show: Baba Ali
8:00 p.m., Memorial Chapel
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