Center for Islam in the Contemporary World

Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @ShenandoahU. Promoting a better understanding of Islam in contemporary contexts.

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

Free Webinar for Parents on Sunday, August 30th at 11 am ET!

Register: https://t.co/spJgQftaFL

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

We are delighted to announce the 15 recipients of the 2026 Imam's Generational Scholarship. We wish them all continued success in their academic and personal paths!

https://t.co/gS00Idy6gc

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

@shabanamir1 Thank you for participating in our workshop and for your great contributions, Dr. Mir!

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

Free Virtual Workshop!

Register & learn more: https://t.co/AKv1zqIila

[Younus Y. Mirza @ymirza3131]

We had a great book talk in Sarajevo, Bosnia! I was honored to be part of a panel of Christian and Muslim scholars who discussed the new translation of my book “The Islamic Mary” into Bosnian. Various scholars discussed the book, what they found relevant in it, and how it could contribute to interreligious dialogue. Below are some of the points that resonated with me regarding the panel, specifically the comments of Father Mario Bernadić, the Dean of the Catholic School of Theology at the University of Sarajevo:

First, he mentioned that he was interested in learning more about Islam, but he found that much of the Islamic literature was difficult to engage with, especially given the Arabic terms and terminology. He appreciated how the book was easy to read and accessible, especially to those who are not Muslims. He learned new things about Islam, such as that the early Muslim community found refuge with an Abyssinian Christian king and that Mary served as a bridge between the faiths. ​

Second, he appreciated the focus on the commonalities between Mary in the Islamic and Christian traditions, which did not veer into polemics. For instance, he mentioned the shared visions of Mary held by Muslims and Christians, which led to interreligious harmony. Nonetheless, the book did not elide the differences between the great world religions and preserved their uniqueness and distinctiveness. Christians and Muslims may differ on the nature of Jesus, for instance, but that should not stand in the way of other commonalities and collaborations.

Third, he learned that the Qur’an and Islamic tradition emphasize Mary as a daughter, not just a mother. In Catholic traditions, Mary is often emphasized as the mother of Jesus and the believers. The idea of her as “mother” provides a framework in understanding her role within the church and as a model for women. The idea of her as “daughter” adds a new dimension to her personality, image, and being.

Last, he mentioned that he identified with me as we are mirrors of one another. I am a Muslim minority living in the US in a predominantly Christian and secular society. On the other hand, he is a Christian minority living in a predominantly Muslim and secular society. We both want to live in dignity, honor and peace without compromising our beliefs and principles. We understand that world peace is linked to peace between Christians and Muslims, as they are the world's two largest religions. Dialogue should not be seen as exotic or strange, but should continue to be normalized.

The event was co-sponsored by Nahla and the Center for Advanced Studies. Nahla is an educational and research organization that has been operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina for more than two decades, focusing on education, women's empowerment, research, and the development of social dialogue. The Center for Advanced Studies is an independent research institution that studies Islamic thought, culture, history, and contemporary social issues, and through its projects seeks to contribute to the development of academic and public debate on important social topics.
I love presenting on panels like these because I learn so much from the participants. It provides new food for thought for new writings and spur new projects and programs. I want to thank the organizers, especially Ahmet Ali Basic, for hosting, and the translator Elmina Musinovié for her work.

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

Now accepting applications for the Teaching Contemporary Islam Workshop 2026!

Application Deadline: June 30th

Learn more and apply here: https://t.co/4lDi06pXsP

[Shenandoah University @ShenandoahU]

Shenandoah University has been named a 2026-27 College of Distinction, marking the seventh straight year that it has earned the designation reserved for colleges and universities who remain committed to the undergraduate student experience!

Read more: https://t.co/lKfbLzAlFo

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

CICW Research Grants Application Open for 2026!

Deadline: June 5, 2026

Learn More & Apply: https://t.co/tugozxpWDr

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

2 Days Left! Register Today:
https://t.co/IznPNErjd6

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

Another FREE workshop in our Parent Series!

Join us for "How to Work with Temperament in Children: Classical and Modern Approaches" with Dr. Rehenuma Asmi

Register: https://t.co/IznPNErjd6

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

Another FREE workshop in our Parent Series!

Join us for "How to Work with Temperament in Children: Classical and Modern Approaches" with Dr. Rehenuma Asmi

Register: https://t.co/IznPNErjd6

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

Join renowned scholar Shaykh Abdalla Idris Ali for The Prophetic Method of Tarbiyah: A Series for Parents & Educators.

Two free virtual sessions!

Register:

https://t.co/OEj14pHpek

[Diyanet America @DiyanetAmerica]

The 3rd Annual DCA Social Sciences Graduate Student Symposium brought together 60+ graduate researchers across 15 panels for two days of rich academic exchange at DCA.
Organized by DIRI, this flagship program continues to grow.

[Younus Y. Mirza @ymirza3131]

I am happy to share this obituary I wrote on my father, M. Yaqub Mirza (1946-2025). My father taught me so many things, but one of the key ones was to be generous, generous with your time, knowledge, expertise and wealth. He understood that generosity was not only about money but spending time with people, hearing them out and forming deep and sustaining relationships. My desire to build bridges and create partnerships can be directly traced to his guiding hand and mentorship.

https://t.co/tVX4qHn72M

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

Watch @ymirza3131 discuss his book The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries at @ShenandoahU. We'd like to thank Shenandoah University Libraries for co-sponsoring this event!

https://t.co/wk5fMH7r9I

[Younus Y. Mirza @ymirza3131]

We had a great book talk at Shenandoah University's library the other week on my book "The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries"! I enjoyed speaking about the origins of my book, Mary/Maryam in the Qur'an and why she matters today. I came of age in an era of the "Clash of Civilizations" and shared figures allow us to think of what relationships, bridges and partnerships are possible. The Barzinji Institute for Global Virtual Learning continues and implements much of my work in religious and interreligious studies. The Questions and Answers period was dynamic and I shared how the Islamic Mary even helps various Christians think about the role of Mary within their own traditions.

I want to thank Andy Kulp for opening up the Library for us and making the space an area of intellectual exchange. I always enjoy going to the Library, interacting with the staff and organizing research sessions there. I also want to thank Ermin Sinanovic from @CICWatSU (CICW) for moderating and sponsoring the event. One of CICW's goals is to bring interesting and innovative programming to Shenandoah's campus and invite new and stimulating speakers. Thank you all to those who made the event possible!

[UM Islamic Studies @umichGISC]

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Islamic Virtual Reality: "Pilgrim VR: Hajj & Umrah" and "Al-Aqsa VR" with Dr. Ermin Sinanović!

We were thrilled to welcome such an engaged audience for this immersive exploration of how virtual reality is transforming access to and understanding of Islamic holy sites. From experiencing the rituals of Hajj and Umrah to virtually visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque, it was exciting to see so many attendees try out the VR technology and take part in the conversation.

Thank you to Dr. Sinanović for sharing his insights and to our partners at the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World and Siraj Studios for their innovative work.

Thank you to our cosponsors: Digital Studies Institute & Islamophobia Working Group. And a special shoutout to Jan Stewart for helping us set up the VR headsets.

Stay tuned for more events in our “Muslims in the Digital Age” series!

[Diyanet America @DiyanetAmerica]

📢 Call for Papers!

Graduate students are invited to present their research at the 3rd DCA Graduate Student Symposium (May 2–3, 2026 | Hybrid).

📝 Abstract Deadline: April 1, 2026
🔗 Details & submission: https://t.co/KQDPUMCuk5

[Diyanet America @DiyanetAmerica]

📢 Applications Open – Graduate Student Institute 2026

🗓 June 29 – July 9, 2026
📍 Diyanet Center of America, Lanham, MD

Open to graduate students & recent graduates in the U.S. and Canada.

��� Apply:
https://t.co/7K539TRgKD

[Center for Islam in the Contemporary World @CICWatSU]

We are pleased to launch our new website! https://t.co/9mvW0fcA4G serves as a dedicated, one-stop platform for CICW's VR/AR projects.