MODERN TRENDS IN ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES: A FESTSCHRIFT IN HONOR OF LATE PROFESSOR I.A.B. BALOGUN
The editors of this Festschrift invite scholars to submit papers that engage with the multifaceted dimensions of Arabic and Islamic Studies, with a focus on the intersectionalities between these disciplines and critiques of modernity. In other words, the problematics implicated in the latter categories are such that recognize and indeed pay attention to the fluidity and slippages in contemporary studies of Arab-Muslim societies and traditions even as they are situated against the necessity to interrogate notions of the West and the Western. Exactly what is meant by modernity? Are Arab qua Islamic (Muslim) modernities counterfoils for Western Modernity? Of what impacts is modernity, no matter its philosophy or filiative identity, on Arabic and Islamic Studies as separate and integrated disciplines? How might the social media, artificial intelligence and other platforms be deployed into Arabic and Islamic Studies, in theory and practice? What are the challenges experts and learners in the fields are facing and how might they be overcome?
In other words, in recent years, Arabic and Islamic Studies have undergone significant transformations, driven in part by advances in digital humanities, the increasing importance of Islamic Studies in global contexts, and the growing recognition of the need for more nuanced and contextualized understandings of Islamic thought and culture. This Festschrift aims to capture the excitement and energy of these developments, while also honouring the legacy of Professor Balogun and his contributions to the field. The Festschrift will provide a platform for scholars to explore the complexities and nuances in Arabic and Islamic Studies, with a focus on the ways in which these disciplines continue to evolve and adapt to changing intellectual, cultural, and social contexts. This volume will be characterized by a commitment to interdisciplinarity that is espoused by the Qur’ān; a book from which fields(academic specialisations) such as history, philosophy, theology, law, literature, science and technology, among others, draw inspiration.
Indeed, by bringing scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and geographical locations together , this Festschrift aims to foster a global conversation about the past, present, and future of Arabic and Islamic Studies. It will be characterized by a commitment to academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and interdisciplinary collaboration, recognizing that the study of Arabic and Islamic Studies is a rich and complex field that requires multiple perspectives and approaches. The overarching goal is to memorialize the pioneering role of late I.A.B. Balogun, a distinguished scholar and unarguably the first Professor of Islamic Studies in Nigeria, who dedicated his academic career to the pursuit of knowledge, the promotion of interreligious dialogue and the advancement of Arabic and Islamic cultural heritage in this country and beyond.
Sub-themes
Colleagues are encouraged to consider one of the following sub-themes, though not exclusively, while thinking through this concept.
Modernities: East and West
Islam and Modernity
Islam and Muslim- Christian Relations
Islamic Studies in the 21st Century
Curriculum development, Modernity and Arabic and Islamic Studies
Artificial Intelligence and Arabic and Islamic Studies
Cryptocurrency, Islamic Law of Economics and Modernity
Arabic and Islamic Studies and Digital Humanities
Arabic Language, Literature and Modernity
The Third Race, the Third Sex and the Maqāṣid Al-Sharīcah
The Social Media, the New Normal and Morality in Islam
Arabic and Islamic Education in the post/modern period
Modernity, Gender and Islamic Learning
Submission Guidelines
Scholars are invited to submit abstracts of not more than 250 words, along with a brief bio, to the following email address: inmemoryofbalogun@gmail.com
The deadline for abstract submission is 28th February, 2025. Notifications of acceptance of abstracts shall be sent by the 31st of March, 2025 while full papers shall be due for submission by the 30th of June, 2025.
More points to note:
1. Articles for review and possible inclusion in the proposed volume shall be original contributions to knowledge; not those already under consideration for publication by any publication outlet.
2. Papers may be written in English or Arabic.
3. Papers should not exceed 8000 words in length and may not be less than 5000 words.
4. Papers in English should make use of Times New Roman font 12, while those in Arabic should make use of Arabic Script Font 18.
5. The preferred reference style is the Chicago Manual of Style featuring sequential numbering of citations in- text followed by an Endnote. If in doubt, contact the editors.
All submissions shall undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure academic quality and integrity. We look forward to receiving your abstracts and your full manuscripts in memory of the late Professor I.A.B. Balogun.