Physical Event

We are living in a time where moral and ethical disintegration seems to be the norm, and there is a dire need to correct this situation or at least address it in a wise manner. This conference will highlight that the essential solution to this moral decay lies in turning back to the ways of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The event will bring together outstanding scholars to deliberate on how to reinstate the Prophetic role and his perennial teachings in the continuous process of reforming ourselves and our society in contemporary times.

Social sciences were created in aftermath of a century of religious wars in Europe, which demonstrated to Europeans that religion does not offer viable methods to organize society. Rejection of God, Judgment, and the Afterlife led to grounding of social sciences on the assumptions that man is just another animal, with pursuit of pleasure as the only goal. Furthermore, society consists of competing groups operating in an environment of war of all against all, with survival of the fittest being the only moral principle.

Interest is deeply embedded into modern capitalist economies. Setting interest rate to zero is likely to crash such economies; modern forms of financial capitalism cannot function with zero interest.

Following on the previous research, Dr. Tarek Swelim will deliver a lecture to revisit the discoveries in the Lost City of al-Qata'i'. The city of al-Qata’i’ was founded by Ahmad Ibn Tulun in 870 A.D., being the third capital of Islamic Egypt, after those of al-Fustat and al-Askar. Historical sources tell us that it had splendid buildings never seen before in Egypt, since the time of the Ptolemies. The flourishing city of al-Qata’i’ was seized and destroyed by the Abbasids in 905 A.D. The city is well described by its contemporary historians.

As part of the CIS Fintech Seminar Series, Dr. Burak Saltoğlu (Professor of Econmics, Boğaziçi University) will lead a seminar on 'Analyzing Individual Risk Taking Behavior with Machine Learning: An Application with a Pension Fund Data'.

As part of the CIS Research Seminar Series, Dr. Gavin Picken will shed light on his recent research project titled " Al-Harith Al-Muhasibi and the 'Baghdad School': Reflections from Al-Sulami's Tabaqat al-Sufiyya"

Studying the religion of

The life and teachings of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) are the source of our manners and etiquettes. In this Minaretein Center X CIS Foresight Talks Series event, we will outline the guidance of the Prophet (PBUH) in dealing with stress and anxiety. Turning to the Sirah for guidance, this lecture will elaborate on the Prophetic model for combatting stress and overcoming grief in our lives.

Speaker: Dr. Yasir Qadhi

The field of governance, both in policy and in administration, encompasses various sciences and traditions to address the demands and challenges of the human social structure. However, current international standards in this area are largely defined by the dominant Western paradigm at the exclusion of all other religious and cultural traditions.

This lecture argues against the dominant narrative that the debate on ethical theory in classical Islamic thought can be reduced to a conflict between ethical rationalism and ethical anti-rationalism, or more simply put, a conflict between reason and revelation. Focusing on the Ash‘arī and Mu‘tazilī schools of thought, the speaker will analyse the concept of ‘intellect’ (‘aql) and examine its complex theoretical contexts, chronological development, and application in ethical and legal epistemology.