Category Archives: Events

Call for Papers for Early Career Scholars: “The Qurʾān and Syriac Christianity: Recurring Themes and Motifs”

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The ERC project “The Qurʾān as a Source for Late Antiquity” (QaSLA) invites Early Career Scholars to submit papers for the conference The Qurʾān and Syriac Christianity: Recurring Themes and Motifs to be held in Tuebingen, Germany from December 5-7, 2022.

The three-day international conference pioneers in its focus on the relationship between the Qurʾān with Syriac Christianity. The event will bring together an international group of specialists in Syriac Christianity as well as scholars of the Qurʾān to explore how the Qurʾān reacts to Syrian Christian traditions and the extent to which it serves as a historical witness to Syriac Christianity in Arabia.

The conference welcomes proposals for papers that engage any aspect of the Qurʾān’s conversation with Syriac Christianity. Approaches to be taken and themes to be addressed may include, but are not limited to:

  • The Qurʾān’s employment and reshaping of themes and motifs known from Syrian Christianity – from the very beginnings of Syriac literature to the emergence of East and West Syrian traditions
  • The Qurʾān’s conversation with West or East Syrian traditions in particular
  • The co-relation of West or East Syrian traditions with the Meccan and Medinan layers of the Qurʾān according to the Noeldekean chronology or its further refinements by Angelika Neuwirth and Nicolai Sinai
  • The relationship of the intra-qurʾānic parallels with divergent Syriac traditions

Travel and accommodation expenses in Tuebingen for the duration of the research symposium will be covered by QaSLA.

This call for papers invites Early Career Researchers (PhD candidates and within five years of the award of the PhD). It seeks to promote outstanding research of early career scholars and bring them in conversation with established scholars of Qurʾānic Studies and Syriac Christianity.

Please note that all proposals must include:

  • Author name and affiliation
  • C.V.
  • Paper title
  • 250-word paper abstract (written in English)

Abstract Due: May 6

For questions and proposals contact: Ana Davitashvili, University of Tuebingen, ana.davitashvili@uni-tuebingen.de

Call for Papers: IQSA Annual Meeting [SBL/AAR] 2022

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The International Qur’anic Studies Association has opened its call for papers for its Annual Meeting to be held in Denver, Colorado from November 18–21, 2021 in conjunction with the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion. Paper proposals should be submitted through the SBL’s automated online submission system under the corresponding “Affiliates” link by March 15, 2022 though 11:59 PM (23:59) Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) (note: IQSA membership is required for proposal submission; see below).

For the 2022 meeting in Denver, IQSA invites proposals for papers that engage any aspect of the Qur’anic text. These may explore particular themes in a given surah or aspects of the Qur’an’s conversation with the religious traditions of Late Antiquity, or even discuss methodological concerns when studying the text or highlight features of physical manuscripts. All topics are welcome.

Please note that all proposals must include:

  • Author name and affiliation
  • Paper title
  • 400 word paper abstract (written in English)

Eligibility for proposal submissions is contingent upon the following:

  • Active IQSA membership is required at the time of proposal submission for the IQSA Program, and the membership status of all applicants will be checked prior to acceptance
  • Participants must maintain current IQSA Membership through their participation in the Annual Meeting

Please also note that:

  • To ensure equity and diversity amongst participants, participants should submit only one paper presentation per IQSA Annual Meeting
  • All participants must adhere to IQSA’s Professional Conduct Policy
  • Participants will be required to register for the conference by submitting payment through SBL’s online submission system (users are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the “Super Saver” rates which end mid-May)

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We hope to see you in Denver!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2022. All rights reserved.

Summer School “The Qur’an in inter-Christian polemic” June 2022

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EuQur'an

The ERC European Research Project ‘The European Qur’an‘ will organize a Summer School on the theme “The Qur’an in inter-Christian polemic” which will take place in Nantes, France from June 13-17, 2022. There is still time to apply to participate! Submit proposals for a 20-minute paper by December 15, 2021.

Theme:
How have Christian authors in Europe used and appropriated the Qur’an?   We are interested in how the Qur’an was used as a historical and linguistic archive, as a mine of heretical ideas and as a tool used in confessional rivalries. Our focus will not be restricted to the main confessional camps, Roman Catholic and Protestant, but will also include the many ways in which groups of the so called radical Reformation (Socianians and other anti-Trinitarian movements), different groups inside the Roman Catholic world, as well as Deist, Muslim and Jewish authors in Europe, used the Qur’an in their polemical writings. We will also study how translations of the Qur’an were deployed as argumentative weapons for preaching the superiority of Christianity to Mudejars and Moriscos in Spain. Additionally, the question of nationalist motivations in the collecting and translating of the Qur’an will also be taken into consideration: beginning in the late 17th century, various European countries vied with one another to produce the best translation of the Qur’an made directly from the Arabic.  We will further investigate if and how polemical and historical uses of the Qur’an changed in the late 17th and 18th century and early 19th century. The Qur’an continues to play an important role in polemical writings, in political as well as religious domains.

Format:
A series of roundtables with presentations of research by PhD students and postdocs.  Each roundtable will be hosted by two colleagues.

Presentations may be made in English or in French.

Eligibility:
The summer school is open to doctoral students enrolled in any country, in any discipline, as long as their dissertation subject and the proposed talk are related to the theme of the summer school.

Costs:
The summer school will be financed by EuQu and the University of Nantes and will be free of cost to the students accepted. Participants will be lodged in student housing at no cost. Lunch will be provided free to participants. Travel to Nantes will not be paid by EuQu, and participants should seek funding from their home institutions.

Format:
The summer school will take place 13-17 June 2022. Doctoral students will each make a 20-minute presentation; faculty from EuQu and other partner institutions will chair the panels and give their reactions to student presentations.  While it is preferable to attend the full summer school in Nantes, in some cases online presentations will be accepted.

Covid protocol during the event :
Due to sanitary protocols and restrictions, you may need to show a “green pass”: a proof of vaccination or negative PCR test before entering the premises.

Submission guidelines:
Proposals for a 20-minute paper may be submitted, by December 15, 2021, to euqu@univ-nantes.fr. Proposals may be in English or in French and should consist of a .doc file containing:

  • full name and affiliation of the doctoral student, along with the name(s) of their dissertation director(s)
  • title for the proposed communication
  • an abstract (200-500 words) of the communication
  • a list of 5-10 keywords
  • A CV

Approval and confirmation:
The program committee will confirm receipt of each proposition and will respond by 31 January 2022. A draft of the paper should be sent by 15 May 2022 to permit pre-circulation among the participants.

Program committee :

  • Maurizio Busca
  • Florence Ninitte
  • Irene Reginato
  • Emmanuelle Stefanidis
  • John Tolan

Read the Call (PDF)

Content courtesy of Amanda Rio de Pedro (IAS-Nantes)

Echoes of Jacob of Serugh in the Qur’ān and Late Antique Reading Culture: Public Evening Event

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December 7, 2021
18:00
Academy Building – Gendarmenmarkt
Einstein Hall, Jägerstraße 22/13, 10117 Berlin

An event of the long-term project “Corpus Coranicum“ member of the Research Centre for Primary Sources of the Ancient World at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW).

Register Now

The writings of Jacob of Serugh (d. 520/1) have been highlighted as one of the most significant corpora for understanding the late antique literary environment in which the Qur’ān emerged. His homilies and letters contain many exegetical and theological traditions common to the Qur’ān and the Syriac tradition. How are we to understand echoes of Jacob’s thought in the Qur’ān? Who had access to these texts and the traditions they transmit? This lecture seeks to shed light on this complex of questions by examining the circulation of Jacob’s writings in the sixth and seventh centuries. We will first investigate Jacob’s correspondence with communities within and beyond the Roman Empire during his lifetime. We will then turn to the physical manuscripts that preserve his writings from late antiquity. This approach will help identify the late antique communities that discussed these shared traditions and thereby grant insight into the question of what it means to investigate Jacob’s works as texts from the environment of the Qur’ān.

Philip Michael Forness is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main. He received his Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2016 and has published widely on the traditions of eastern Christianity. He is the author of „Preaching Christology in the Roman Near East“ (Oxford, 2018) and the co-editor of „The Good Christian Ruler in the First Millennium“ (Berlin, 2021).

A lecture in the series “Languages and Cultures in the Near East and the Silk Road in Late Antiquity“ (organized by the long-term projects „Turfanforschung“ and “Corpus Coranicum“).

PROGRAM

Welcoming Address

  • Tonio Sebastian Richter (Spokesperson of the Research Centre for Primary Sources of the Ancient World | Academy member | Freie Universität Berlin)

Introduction

  • Michael Marx (BBAW)
  • Angelika Neuwirth (Freie Universität Berlin)

Lecture

  • Philip Michael Forness (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M.)
* Important information about the event *

Registration is required by December 2, 2021 using this form.

Notes for on-site participation:

The 2G rule applies to this event.

Admission begins half an hour before the event, please come early. Due to the hygiene rules to contain the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, there may be waiting times at the entrance. The following evidence is required to participate (evidence of a complete COVID-19 vaccination and / or your recovery must be digitally verifiable (QR code)):

Proof of a complete COVID-19 vaccination (the last vaccination must be at least 14 days ago) or Proof of your recovery (the positive PCR test result is at least 28 days, but no more than six months ago or in the case of a longer past infection in connection with at least one vaccination against Covid-19)and identity card or passport.

Please have the relevant notices ready at the entrance and observe additional safety and hygiene information on site.

Notes for digital participation:

The event will be broadcast via zoom. You will receive a corresponding access link on the day of the event itself. By participating, you agree to Zoom's privacy policy.

If you have problems registering or you do not receive a registration confirmation email, please contact us via email.
Register Now

View the 2021 IQSA Annual Meeting Program Book!

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The 2021 IQSA Annual Meeting is just 4 days away! Find all the IQSA sessions, meetings, messages from sponsors, and events in the 2021 Program Book, now available online at this link. 

Screen Shot 2021-11-15 at 10.23.08 AM

In addition, don’t forget to prepare for the meeting ahead of time!

  • Have you downloaded the Virtual Meetings planner yet? If not, please follow the instructions here.
  • Don’t want to download the app, but would prefer to use your desktop? Please go here.
  • To log into the planner you’ll need the last name used with your registration and your reference number.
  • Whether you’re attending in person or virtually, IQSA wants to see your photos and hear your thoughts! Use #IQSA21 and tag @iqsaweb 

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We look forward to seeing you at IQSA’s 15th Annual Meeting!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2021. All rights reserved.

RSVP to IQSA’s 2021 Annual Meeting General Reception!

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Denver_MeetingSignThe 2021 IQSA Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the Society of Biblical Literature and American Academy of Religion in San Antonio, Texas from November 19–22 is only one week away! One of the highlights of the IQSA Annual Meeting is its General Reception following the Presidential Address, an opportunity for IQSA members convene over food and drink in a causal setting.

This year’s General Reception will be held in person on Friday, November 19th from 8:00 – 10:00pm offsite. If you are registered for the Annual Meeting and plan on attending the General Reception, please RSVP here. Location and other details will be sent to all registrants via email.

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2021. All rights reserved.

IQSA Graduate Student Luncheon 2021

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lunchAttention current students and recent graduates! 

The International Qur’anic Studies Association is delighted to host a special reception for students and early career scholars at its 2021 Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

Date: Saturday November 20, 2021
Time: Lunch Reception, 11:30am-1pm
Venue: In Person, TBA (Off-site)

This will be a valuable opportunity for graduate students and emerging scholars to mingle with established experts in Qur’anic studies in a more relaxed setting–with a light lunch in a semi-private dining area.

IQSA is committed to fostering community in Qur’anic studies by supporting students on their path to professional success and encouraging collaboration across generations, all of which are vital to the advancement of knowledge in our field.

If you are planning to attend the 2021 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, please consider attending the Student Reception. We ask that you please RSVP by filling out this form.

Please note that all attendees must be registered for the In-Person IQSA Annual Meeting.

Questions? Email us at contactus@iqsaweb.org!

We hope to see you there!

RSVP NOW!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2021. All rights reserved.

Annual Meeting Updates: Letter from the SBL Executive Director

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Friends of IQSA—please find a message from the Executive Director of our affiliate organization, the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), with important updates regarding this year’s Annual Meeting to be held in San Antonio, Texas.

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6 August 2021

Dear Colleagues,

SBL recognizes that the coronavirus continues to impact your planning for the Annual Meeting, and comfort levels, health constraints, and accessibility will vary from person to person. We have worked hard to be able to offer both in-person and virtual-only options. We thank all who are currently registered for the upcoming SBL Annual Meeting 2021 and offer a brief update to those registered or planning to register.

The continuing uncertainty is a source of anxiety for everyone. At the same time, we are being careful not to rush into decisions in the midst of a rapidly changing situation.

Your health and safety are key to our planning. We are closely monitoring governmental and medical recommendations regarding COVID-19 and the Delta variant in order to follow best practices to help reduce your exposure and risk. As we get closer to the meeting, we will issue protocols appropriate to the situation.

We will be as flexible as possible to accommodate the varying needs of members. Already we are taking the following steps:

  •  The change date for registrations, including full refunds or change in registration types, has been extended to 21 October 2021. You can register now and alter your plans as you see fit through that date with no penalty.
  • We will continue to work with program unit chairs to adapt sessions according to the changing needs of presenters.
  • As guidance changes, we will continue to keep the Annual Meetings website up-to-date with meeting requirements, recommendations, and best practices. The challenge of planning for the 2021 Annual Meetings is one that exceeds even that of 2020. We ask for your continued patience as we work to provide the best and safest experience that meets your needs.

Please feel free to write to AnnualMeeting@sbl-site.org with any questions you may have about registration, and bookmark the SBL Annual Meeting Website for updates.

Sincerely,

John F. Kutsko
Executive Director

IQSA International Meeting CfP Deadline Approaching

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Friends of IQSA,

A friendly reminder that the Call for Papers deadline for IQSA’s fourth biennial International Meeting held in partnership with the “Giorgio La Pira” Library and Research Centre in Palermo, Sicily has been extended, and all paper and panel proposals are due this Friday May 7th, 2021.The organizing committee will send a notification of acceptance for abstracts by May 23, 2021.

Please note that all proposals for single papers must include:

  • Author name and affiliation
  • Paper title
  • 200-word paper abstract (in English)

while proposals for panels must include:

  • Chair name and affiliation
  • Panel title
  • 200-words panel abstract (in English)
  • speakers contacted and selected by the proponent and title of each paper.

Applicants are kindly asked to submit their abstracts to the attention of Dr. Alba Fedeli at iqsa2021@fscire.it. 

Conference registration fees are structured as follows:

  • Students to assistant professors – IQSA members: $50 USD / Non-IQSA members: $100 USD
  • Associate professors and above – IQSA members $75 USD / Non-IQSA members: $150 USD
  • Members of the public – $150 USD
  • Affiliates to the “Giorgio La Pira” Library will receive a special code for registration.

The event registration page is https://members.iqsaweb.org/event-4189882

Individuals in the Global South interested in attending the conference should email contactus@iqsaweb.org for accommodations. Any other questions concerning the registration process should also be addressed to contactus@iqsaweb.org.

The organizing committee thanks the IQSA community for its understanding and flexibility during these extraordinary times, and looks forward to convening in July!

Copyright © 2021 International Qur’anic Studies Association, All rights reserved.

Deadline Extended! IQSA International Meeting 2021

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Due to certain circumstances, the Call for Papers deadline for IQSA’s fourth biennial International Meeting held in partnership with the “Giorgio La Pira” Library and Research Centre in Palermo, Sicily has been extended to May 7, 2021. The organizing committee will send a notification of acceptance for abstracts by May 23, 2021.

Please note that all proposals for single papers must include:

  • Author name and affiliation
  • Paper title
  • 200-word paper abstract (in English)

while proposals for panels must include:

  • Chair name and affiliation
  • Panel title
  • 200-words panel abstract (in English)
  • speakers contacted and selected by the proponent and title of each paper.

Applicants are kindly asked to submit their abstracts to the attention of Dr. Alba Fedeli at iqsa2021@fscire.it. 

Conference registration fees are structured as follows:

  • Students to assistant professors – IQSA members: $50 USD / Non-IQSA members: $100 USD
  • Associate professors and above – IQSA members $75 USD / Non-IQSA members: $150 USD
  • Members of the public – $150 USD
  • Affiliates to the “Giorgio La Pira” Library will receive a special code for registration.

The event registration page is https://members.iqsaweb.org/event-4189882

Individuals in the Global South interested in attending the conference should email contactus@iqsaweb.org for accommodations. Any other questions concerning the registration process should also be addressed to contactus@iqsaweb.org.

The organizing committee thanks the IQSA community for its understanding and flexibility during these extraordinary times, and looks forward to convening in July!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2021. All rights reserved.