International Seminar on

Modern Trends in Sirah Writing

(Held Successfully on 26th March 2011)
The 3-day international seminar on “Modern Trends in Sirah Writing” concluded at the International Islamic University after adopting a 7-point declaration of notable academic significance.
Eighty scholars from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, UK, Germany, Switzerland, USA and Canada presented their research papers in twenty academic sessions of the seminar in three languages –English, Arabic and Urdu. The seminar was jointly held by National Sirah Study Centre of Islamic Research Institute and Iqbal Institute for Research and Dialogue—the research arms of International Islamic University.
The point of great potential consequence that topped the list of recommendations said that the participating scholars considered it highly useful to hold an international conference to thrash out the questions relating to the appropriate sources for Sirah writing and of appropriate methodology in the use of those sources. Related to it was the declaration that one of the priority areas in Sirah studies was to locate, edit and publish the earliest works on Sirah/Maghazi (the military campaigns of the Prophet). The declaration also called for holding international Sirah conferences continually to promote active academic collaboration of competent specialists for study and research in the field of Sirah.
 

The tradition of Sirah writing, which goes back to the first century of Hijrah, has continued apace ever since. As a result, the accumulation of writings on the Prophet (peace be on him) in different languages is massive, rich and variegated. The modern period, in terms of writings on the Prophet, has been spectacularly productive. It seems that time has come to pause and look back at this phenomenal development of the whole field of Sirah with focus on the modern period(circa 1800 onwards). With this end in view, an international seminar on Sirah is being organised under the joint auspices of the National Sirah Study Centre, Islamic Research Institute and Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue, International Islamic University, Islamabad (26-28 March, 2011) to take stock of the different approaches to the subject, and to attempt critical surveys of the major studies on Sirah along with their theoretical underpinnings during the modern period. By carefully analysing the different attitudes, trends, methodologies and contents of these writings an effort will be made to undertake a holistic evaluation of this period and to explore new vistas for future studies on Sirah.

 

Although the three-day seminar will be focused on Sirah works in three languages—Arabic, English and Urdu—an attempt will also be made to bring to light, as far as possible, various dimensions of Sirah writing in other important languages such as Turkish, Persian, Bengali, Malay/Indonesian, French and German. We hope thereby to gain a comprehensive and clear picture of modern trends in Sirah writing.
This seminar forms a part of the International Islamic University’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.

CLOSED
Proposed Themes for papers:
The papers to be presented in the seminar will attempt to achieve the following:
 
  • Regional surveys of Sirah writings;
  • Focused studies on major works in the field of Sirah;
  • Review of the major trends in Sirah writing;
  • Study of the impact of different theoretical frameworks and changing intellectual perspectives on Sirah writings;
  • Any other significant aspect of Sirah studies in the modern period.
Deadlines:
  • Deadline for Submission of Abstracts                               15 November 2010
  • Deadline for Submission of Articles                                  15 February 2011
  • Date of Seminar                                                                  26-28 March 2011
 

The sponsors will provide hospitality to all the participants whose papers are accepted for presentation in the Seminar for the entire duration of the seminar.

Abstracts should not be more than 250 words approximately.
 

For further enquiries kindly contact on the following addresses:

Islamic Research Institute, Post Box No 1035 Islamabad- 44000 (Pakistan)
Email:
[email protected]     [email protected]
 
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