New Delhi, Feb 6
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi was one of the greatest thinkers of the first half of the 20th century not only of Turkey but of the Muslim World. His Risale-i Nur is a uniquecommentary on the Holy Quran which has touched the lives of many people across the World – both Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. This was expressed by the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Mr K Rehman Khan as he addressed a large gathering of eminent scholars and students at the inaugural ceremony of a three day international conference on ‘Islam in Modernity: The Perspective of Said Nursi’s Risale-i Nur in Jamia Millia Islamia.
Organised by the Zakir Hussain Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia and the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, the conference which will continue till the 9th of February 2013 and will witness sessions in three languages – Urdu, English and Arabic with around 60 papers by scholars from across the globe.
The guests at the inaugural ceremony which was held at the M.A. Ansari auditorium were welcomed by Professor Akhtarul Wasey, director of the Zakir Hussain Institute of Islamic Studies who enumerated the significance of the relationship and long-standing friendship between Turkey and Jamia Millia Islamia. One of the founders of Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr.M.A. Ansari led the medical delegation to Turkey during the First World War and Jamia invited Turkey’s eminent literateur to deliver lectures at the university. Ihsan Kaim Salihi also welcomed the guests on behalf of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture.
Prof. Faris Kaya, Secretary General Istanbul Foundation introduced the theme of the conference and elaborated upon the significance of Said Nursi and his perspective on Quranic teachings in the modern world.
Mr. Tariq Anwar, the Union Minister of state for agriculture and food processing praised the teachings and concern of Said Nursi about nature and envirnoment, who saw the omnipotence and the omnipresence of the Divine in nature’s secrets.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, S.M. Rashid who attended the ceremony shed light on Said Nursi’s concept of modernity that talks of the betterment of both the material and the spiritual and on his efforts to enhance the spirit of co operation and nurture global peace rather than divisive nationalistic chauvinism.
In his presidential remarks, the Union minister of state for external affairs, Mr. E. Ahamed highlighted Nursi’s teachings on international cooperation and peace building. He emphasized on Nursi’s belief that in the international arena Muslims need to collaborate with those who have different beliefs and allegiances.
It can be hoped that this international conference will have a positive influence on the diplomatic relations between India and Turkey as well as people to people interaction between the two nations will improve.
Click Here for photos from Inaugural Session
ISLAM AND MODERNITY: THE PERSPECTIVE OF BEDİÜZZAMAN SAİD NURSİ
We are pleased to announce the international conference jointly organized by Jamia Millia
Islamia (INDIA) and Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture (TURKEY) a two-day
conference:
The scope, date, venue and detailed information given below.
1. The Scope of the Conference
Modernity is a situation which was appeared in the West after the Renaissance and point to
a completely new way of life, attitudes and social organizations that were not experienced
before. Although at the beginning, modernity advocates introduced it as the only solver of
the human being’s fundamental difficulties, due to its complicated problems which rooted
in its nature and principles, the weaknesses became obvious gradually. Growing problems
of modernity partly reached the border of crisis caused most of the scholars evaluate openly modernity as a failed and declining project. Its extreme emphasis on material interests causes man to ignore the realities of existence and self-negligence resulting in dissociation of man from himself, God, nature and his fellow human beings. This negligence causes human not to be able to establish a right communication with God, and his fellow human beings and also the environment and to be trapped in self-made crises. It seems scholars relying on modernity cannot overcome related problems. Therefore, besides other affords to solve the modernity related problems there is a need of religious teachings. Most of the Muslim scholar’s efforts in the recent years have been devoted to these issues.
The Risale-i Nur, a contemporary commentary on the Qur’an by the famous Muslim
theologian and thinker Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, offers many solutions for these problems. Its method is based on acquiring true knowledge and pointing out its corrected uses; that is, as a means of attaining to “belief by investigation,” and on constructing a moral understanding proceeding from these principles, what he calls positive action. At this symposium scholars are expected to present their papers in the perspective of the Risale-i Nur. The papers are not within the context of Risale-i Nur will not be included for presentation.
If scholars may need any written materials to prepare their papers we will be happy to
provide some written materials on the aforesaid theme.
The organizers will arrange for your stay near the venue of the conference on our cost. There will also be local hospitality to the delegates and participants.
2. Subtitles
-A Critical Analysis of Modernity
-A Critical Analysis of Western Civilization
-Is Modernity Compatible with the Teachings of Islam?
-Appropriate Solutions to Modernity Related Problems
-The Necessity of the Reinterpretation of the Islamic Sciences and Culture
-The Question of an Identity of Islamic Modernity
-The Ethical Dimensions of Modernity its Connection with Religion and Moral Values
Consequences
Important Notes
1) The Symposium will take place in New Delhi at JMI on the dates 8-9 February 2013.
2) Papers should reach the Symposium Secretariat by the dates shown below. Any that
arrive late will not be considered.
a) Abstracts of the papers, not exceeding 250 words, should reach the Symposium
Secretariat no later than 10 January 2013. Accompanying the papers should be a CV of
applicants no longer than half a page in length. Both abstract and CV should be in word
format. ( Abstract and CV : a.abuzer58@gmail.com and hakangulerce@iikv.org )
b) For their study and evaluation by the Secretariat, full papers should reach it no later than 30 of January 2013. They should not exceed 15 pages.
3) Papers should be within the framework of the above topics and written with reference to the Risale-i Nur.
4) The Symposium will be in English and Arabic.
5) Registration for participant will be done by online www.nursistudies.com, between 1 of
December and 7 of February.
A wide variety of documentation related to the Risale-i Nur is available for study on
www.nursistudies.com, www.nuronline.org. The Symposium Documentation Centre
will assist in providing further material if required. In addition to reading the English
translation of Risale-i Nur by Sukran Vahide, we encourage the participants to consult the
following sources: Serif Mardin, Religion and Social Change in Modern Turkey: The Case of
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (Albany 1989); Camilla Nereid, In the Light of Said Nursi: Turkish
Nationalism and the Religious Alternative (Bergen 1997); Fred A. Reed, Anatolia Junction:
A Journey Into Hidden Turkey (Burnaby 1999), and Sukran Vahide, The Author of the Risale-i Nur, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (Istanbul 1992); Sukran Vahide’s Islam in Modern Turkey: An Intellectual Biography of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, ed. Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi‘,(Albany: State University of New York Press, 2005); Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi‘, Spiritual Dimensions of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s Risale-i Nur (Albany: State University of New York Press, July 2008); and Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi‘, editor, Islam at the Crossroads: On the Life and Thought of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2003).
Organizers:
1. Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, Istanbul, TURKEY
2. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, INDIA
Conference Secretary:
1. Prof. Akhtarul Wasey (Coordinator)
2. Mr. Hakan Gülerce (General Coordinator of IFSC) hakangulerce@iikv.org
3. Mr. Abuzer Acıkgöz (Representative of IFSC India) a.abuzer58@gmail.com
hi , I am really loking forward to join this conference if you permit me. Which process should i follow for getting me registered? Howerever am nt going to present any paper bt being a french research scholar in JNU, i just wanna know if u allow me to attend this conference , will be helpful for my topic of reserch which is Modernity and muslim women in the works of Malika Mokeddem.