Two professors from the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), recently travelled to India, and delivered a series of lectures on Contemporary Fiqh and Comparative Religions to undergraduate and graduate students at Al Jamia Al Islamiya, an Islamic university in the State of Kerala.
CIS Associate Professors Dr Badrane Benlahcene and Dr Mohamed El Gammal, led daily lectures at the renowned Indian institution of Islamic higher education as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed last year by the two institutions. The agreement outlines cooperation between the two institutes on graduate-level education to promote knowledge on the intellectual, scientific, research, and sociocultural contributions of Islam.
Speaking about their visit facilitated by an earlier agreement, Dr El Gammal said the impact of the MOU cannot be underestimated as these provide the means by which CIS create an impact on Islamic studies education outside its geographical borders.
Under the agreement with Al Jamiya Al Islamiya, CIS will continue to support the development of Islamic education in a state that has such a rich and vast Muslim community.’
As a prelude to the visit, both professors were also invited to the institution’s conference on ‘Building the World in the Light of Qur’an’, which focused on developing and addressing the challenges of modern civilisations using Qur’anic teachings and principles. Dr Benlahcene was recognised as Guest of Honour. He delivered the inaugural speech at the conference, and discuss his paper on ‘The Role of Religion on Achieving Social Development’.
In addition to the series of lectures and participation to the conference, the CIS professors also offered consultations to the university’s institutional leadership and faculty. The consultations centred on how Al Jamiya Al Islamiya can better develop and deliver its Islamic studies programmes, with a special focus on a new master’s programme to be added to its Islamic studies portfolio. The consultations, according to Dr Badrane, form the seeds of developing strongly founded academic standards in the field of Islamic studies for the sake of Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large.
CIS serves as a hub for contemporary Islamic studies that promotes dialogue on ideas concerning Islam. The college offers five graduate degree programmes and houses several distinguished research centres that bring together scholars and thought leaders from around the world. For more information about CIS, visit hbku.edu.qa.
Cover image: Dr Badrane Benlahcene speaks during a conference at Kerala’s Al Jamia Al Islamiya.
