The steadfast team behind of Hikma Foundation have been working hard to expand their educational scope for young Muslims and young-at-heart Muslims. We communicated with Faisal Qazi and Adam Motiwala to ask them for some background information on Hikma Foundation and their upcoming programs throughout the remainder of 2007 and through 2008. We are honored that IslamCrunch was chosen as the platform to preview the upcoming events with Dr. Sherman Jackson, Dawood Wharnsby Ali, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Dr. Muneer Fareed, Sidi Hakim Archuletta and many more, insha’Allah.

Background info: Hikma started in 2005 with the aim of educating young professional Muslims on the lost avenue of Islamic thought. Hikma’s vision is to provide individuals with the intellectual tools that will enhance their understanding of Islamic tradition in the context of contemporary and enduring issues. Our vision embodies much of Dr. Sherman Jackson’s pursuit of spreading Islamic Literacy to the Muslim Community. We have taken this concept and created our own vision that has been manifested in our 2007/2008 programs.   

In our attempt to provide the Muslim Community with the tools needed to enhance their understanding of Islamic Thought, we featured Dr. Sherman Jackson when we sponsored his trip to Southern California for a 2-day Seerah intensive.  In the Summer of 2007 we had our summer discourse initiative that we plan to replicate this summer due to the communities response and need. We showcased local scholars such as Dr Aslam Abdallah of the Islamic Center of Las Vegas in discussing the enduring issue of Ethics: Trying to understand this concept from a Muslim perspective. We featured a local masters students research on Muslim Divorces in the West on our Divorce in Muslim the Community panel.

Currently, our Hikma team is preparing for our 2008 programs. More details of the programs will be listed on www.Hikma.org (which is currently being developed). A list of programs after the jump >>>

December 2nd, 2007
Artistic expression in Islam - Speaker:  Dawood Wharnsby
a) Basis for artistic expression  in Islam - is artistic expression a means or an end?
b) How Muslims have expressed themselves throughout cultures and times.
c) Artistic expression is innate in human condition - how does Islam refine that expression?

January 2008
Is Islamic Thought Dying?
Sherman Jackson, Muneer Fareed and others, see ALIM website for details.

Recommended Intensive:  ALIM Winter Program Jan. 17-21st at MCA in Santa Clara, CA.

February 2008 (23rd/24th)
Modernity - Speaker:  Dr Muneer Fareed. Other speakers are being invited.
To understand our place in history and chart a course for the future we must understand Modernity, it’s philosophies, movements and institutions and to some extent post modernity as well.  We want to do a program to understand the historical movement of modernity and how Islamic thought stopped with the advent of Modernity and Western though prevailed. Which is the meta narrative of our thinking and ideas now, so we can understand what informs our current perceptions of ideas which leads us to religion in America.

March 2008 - focused group
Gender and Modernity - Requested Speaker - Dr. Ingrid Mattson

April  2008
Religion in America - Requested Speaker:  Sherman Jackson and others.
Understanding the construct of religion in America in light of modernity. How modern religion has succeeded many of its traditions to modernity. This also includes how religion is constructed in light of modern concepts such as race, gender, labor, class, etc. This should help us better understand how Islam should be constructed as a  religion in the modern world- it seems when Muslims use the word religion it means something else then there non Muslim counterparts in the West. To understand that dichotomy.

May 2008 - focused group
Religion in America - speaker and topic yet to be determined.

June-July-August 2008
Similar to summer 2007, the Islamic Discourse Initiative may be offered, again addressing important social issues of the community.  This summer may include seminars on Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice and Principles of Islamic Economics to better understand the finance/investment issues.

October 2008
Spirituality - Possible Speakers - Hakim Archuletta, Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah
How do we define the uniqueness of Muslim spirituality and what terminology must we use to present that aspect.  How do we relate to the spiritual depth of other traditions.  Spirituality is a loaded word and is a quest for many in America.  How does Islam fit into a greater American spiritual experience.  In other words:
a) How does spiritual existence inform religious life
b) From the Qur’an toward understanding beauty, is knowing the beautiful spiritual

November 2008
Analysis of Islam as force for social change and transformative politics versus social activism

December 2008
Retreat - Imam Naeem is being requested to lead a four day intensive for HIKMA officials, volunteers and affiliates, in other words organizers that may miss out on lectures while volunteering.  This retreat may become a recurring event beginning in Dec. 2007.

IslamCrunch was recently blessed to be given the opportunity to bridge the communications between the Hikma Foundation and Muslim Literary Society. We hope that these two noble organizations can build on their excellent resources and become a tremendous benefit for humanity.