INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
“AL-GHAZALI’S LEGACY: ITS CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE”

24-27, October   2001

Muzaffar Iqbal

Organized by:  the INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT AND CIVILIZATION (ISTAC) Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA.

AL-GHAZALI’s Thought & Its Relevance to Our Contemporary World ABU HAMID AL-GHAZALI (450 - 505/1058-9 -1111) has made major contributions to the refinement of speculative and metaphysical thought. He was also instrumental in transforming the relevance of the traditional religious sciences for rational, scientific and spiritual disciplines. His legacy is especially fruitful in providing creative insights into the dynamics between faith and reason. Many of AL-GHAZALI’s teachings and ideas have served to inspire the spiritual and intellectual lives of successive generations of Muslims. His works continue to provide guidance for humanity today in creatively meeting the challenges of modernity and development.

We intend this international conference to make a meaningful contribution to a fresh evaluation of AL-GHAZALI studies. By bringing scholars from around the world together to share research and ideas, we wish to promote the relevance of AL-GHAZALI’s work to contemporary Islamic life and thought. Two previous conferences devoted to AL-GHAZALI had concentrated on different issues: the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco meeting in Agadir on 27-29 November 1985 (see Un Trait d’Union entre l’Orient et l’Occident: al-Ghazzali et Ibn Maimoun /Halqat Wasl bayna l-Sharq wa l-Gharb: Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali wa Musa b. Maymun, Academie du Royaume du Maroc vol. 12; Rabat, 1986); and the UNESCO ‘Round Table’ Paris meeting of 9-10 December 1985 (see Ghazali: La Raison et le Miracle, Paris, 1987).

It is befitting that the conference is being hosted by our Institute, wherein was established in 1993 the Al-Ghazali Distinguished Chair of Islamic Thought occupied by Professor Dr. SYED MUHAMMAD NAQUIB AL-ATTAS, the Founder-Director of ISTAC. Objectives of the Conference:

The Conference concentrates on multiple facets of AL-GHAZALI’s intellectual contributions in the context of contemporary thought.  Paper presentations will be dealing with topical themes, including the spiritual, metaphysical, logical, legal, ethical, exegetical, educational, environmental, interreligious, psycho-logical, scientific, and socio-political aspects of AL-GHAZALI’s life and thought. In harmony with the Institute’s overall aims, this four-day Conference seeks to accomplish the following goals:

*          To formulate viable frameworks for present and future studies of Islamic Thought and Society within the perspective of comparative civilizations,with special regard to AL-GHAZALI’s achievements in integrating philo- sophy and science with theology and mysticism, and reviving faith and spirituality.

*          To clarify and elaborate the key concepts employed by AL-GHAZALI, particularly in the fields of theology, philosophy, exegesis and mysticism.

*          To provide a ‘state of the art’ critique of research in AL-GHAZALI studies, and throw light on aspects needing more intensive study (e.g., Qur’anic ta’wil).

* To promote sound perspectives and realistic responses to the cultural, educational, epistemological, ethical, economic, techno-logical, and socio- political challenges and problems encountered by contemporary human societies, particularly in relation to Muslim societies today.

 

Speakers:

Keynote Address

His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Welcoming Address

Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas (ISTAC, Malaysia)

Paper Presenters

H.R.H. Princess Wijdan Ali (Jordan): Aesthetics

H.E. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ceric (Reisul-ulema, Bosnia-Herzegovina): Theology and Philosophy

Prof. Dr. Hans Daiber (Frankfurt, Germany): Theology and Philosophy

Prof. Dr. Alparslan Acikgenc (Faith University, Turkey): Theology and Philosophy

Prof. Dr. Bennacer El Bouazzati (Rabat, Morocco): Scientific Thought

Prof. Dr. Bilal Kuspinar (McGill, Canada): Mysticism, Psychology and Epistemology

Prof. Dr. Cemil Akdogan (ISTAC, Malaysia): History and Philosophy of Science

Prof. Dr. David B. Burrell (Notre Dame, USA): Theology and Philosophy

Prof. Dr. Enes Karic (Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina): Qur’an Interpretation

Prof. Dr. Ernest Wolf-Gazo (American University [AUC], Egypt): Theology and Philosophy

Prof. Dr. Homayoun Hemmati (Iran): Mysticism, Psychology and Epistemology

Prof. Dr. Karim D. Crow  (ISTAC, Malaysia): Mysticism, Psychology and Epistemology

 

Registration /Fees

Package A

Student:  RM 300/USD 80

Individual: RM 600/USD 160

Organization: RM 1000/USD 270

Package B

Student: RM 900/USD 240

Individual: RM 1200/USD 320

Organization: RM 1600/USD 420

Includes accommodation & breakfast at PJ Hilton (RM 200/USD 60 per night for 4 days 3 nights)

N.B.:

Registration fees include conference materials and meals (except dinner). Due to the limited number of seats, please register as soon as possible. Confirmation of seats will be made later. Closing Date: 30th June 2001 For inquiries, please contact:

The Secretariat of al-Ghazali Conference,

International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC),

205A  Jalan Damansara, 50480  Kuala Lumpur,   

MALAYSIA

Tel: (603) 254 4444, ext. 243 Fax: (603) 254 8343

E-mail: [email protected]

Conference Website: www.ghazaliconf.com

Kalam, an edited and moderated listserver and news service, seeks to build a fraternity of scholars who are interested in a constructive discourse on Islam and science. Contributions are welcome from Muslim as well as non-Muslim scholars in the general area of Islam and science. Kalam also publishes selected articles on comparative studies in Religion and Science. The list is moderated by Muzaffar Iqbal. Subscriptions are free. You can subscribe (and unsubscribe) to Kalam by going to <http://www.kalam.org> and following the links to subscribe or unsubscribe, or by ending an email to the editor at <[email protected]>. Copyright 2000. Muzaffar Iqbal email: [email protected]