ICCOS 2022

Approaching Religious Traditions in Contemporary Contexts and Challenges

By Professor Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, Expert on Quranic exegesis and former Minister of Religious Affairs in the Fourth Development Cabinet, Indonesia

This segment will discuss the importance of having a fresh and more contextual interpretations of the Qur'an in helping Muslim communities address contemporary challenges. It will highlight key Quranic verses and discuss how Islamic principles and values can be preserved while making necessary adjustments relevant to contemporary contexts, for Muslims to be able to retain their identity while living harmoniously in plural and secular societies.

Ethico-Theological Foundations of a Muslim Community of Success

By Sheikh Dr. Mustafa Cerić, The Grand Mufti Emeritus of Bosnia, Bosnia-Herzegovina

This segment will discuss the ethico-theological principles and foundations on which confident Muslims build a "Community of Faith" that contributed to human development and civilisation. These principles and foundations form the bedrock of a "Community of Success" genuinely understood and amplified in the lived realities of contemporary Muslims who operate in secular nation-states, multicultural and multireligious societies. It will also analyse the notion of the "religious others" and problematise exclusivist theology and religious texts, and propose a new equilibrium (contextualised body of knowledge) to help Muslims, particularly Muslim minorities, navigate and provide meaningful solutions to contemporary challenges.

The Concept and Principles of Citizenry in Islam

By Shaykh Dr. 'Amr Mostafa Hassanein Elwrdany, Secretary of Egypt's Fatwa Council (Dar al-Iftaa), Egypt

This segment will elaborate on the concept and principles of citizenry from an Islamic legal perspective. It will expand on the principles of peaceful coexistence, human dignity and common good, and discuss the dynamism and relevance of Muslim creative legal traditions and philosophy in ensuring that Muslims continue to be adaptable and nimble, yet remain principle-centred in all spaces and time.

Overcoming Complex Challenges in Religious Thought: Islamic Higher Education

By Professor Abdullah Saeed, Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia

This segment will discuss the role of religious leaders and imams in shaping resilient communities. It seeks to address how Muslims can overcome some of the major obstacles in religious thought today, through possible reforms in Islamic higher education, particularly in guiding the Muslim communities to effectively address present and future challenges that are increasingly complex, volatile, and multifaceted.

Embracing Religious Diversity and Interfaith Cooperation

By Professor Mona Siddiqui, OBE, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, University of Edinburgh and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Professor at the Helsinki Collegium, Scotland

This segment will discuss the role of religion in strengthening social cohesion for Muslims to continue to flourish and succeed in a diverse social and religious environment. It seeks to identify how religion and religious traditions have strengthened or weakened cohesion and how can Muslim communities build the necessary competencies in strengthening social cohesion, particularly in managing diversity both within and beyond the religion.

Leadership of Muslim Institutions in Minority Contexts – Reflection from America

By Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid, Muslim Chaplain at Harvard University and Co-founder of the Islamic Seminary of America in Dallas, United States

This segment will discuss how Muslim religious and educational institutions collaborate with both the state and the society in strengthening the common good as active citizens and dynamic institutions and bring benefit to all in the American context.

Building Resilient Communities ahead of Global Challenges

By Professor Dr. Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace International

This segment will discuss current and upcoming global challenges that are/will be affecting the religious communities, and how Muslim communities can more effectively respond and better prepare for the increasingly complex, ambiguous and uncertain times, dealing with unprecedented issues and challenges.

Muslims and Nation-Building – Lessons of Active Citizenship and Coexistence

By Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, Former Premier of Western Cape and Founder of the World for All Foundation, South Africa

Muslims should remain confident in contributing to nation-building and common good. This segment discusses South African Muslims' active contribution to nationhood through the Transition from Apartheid to Democracy, and through both inter-religious and inter-community co-operation. This active participation is one that is based on the model of common citizenship and integrity-based co-existence for common good and shared humanity.

Religious Communities and the Secular State – The Singapore Story

By Ms. Yeoh Chee Yan, Chairman of National Heritage Board and Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Singapore

This segment will discuss how the secular state can work with religious communities to bring about mutual benefit, secure the common good and enhance social cohesion. It seeks to discuss the shifting boundaries between the religious and the secular, and how we can continue to negotiate this in the context of greater diversity as well as greater assertiveness about religious rights by faith groups.