The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is a privately held non-profit organization in the United States founded by Ismail al-Faruqi and Anwar Ibrahim.[1] It was established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) non-denominational organization in 1981, and is based in Herndon, Virginia.[2] The stated objective of the institute is to revive and reform Islamic thought through research on advancing education in Muslim societies, and publishing, translating and teaching this work.[3]
 | |
| Abbreviation | IIIT |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1981 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | 555 Grove Street, Herndon, Virginia |
| Website | IIIT.org |
History
editThe institute was founded in 1981 by Palestinian-American scholar Professor Ismail al-Faruqi and Malaysian politician and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.[4] The institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) non-denominational organization located in Herndon, Virginia.[2][5]
In a 2016 essay published by the American Academy of Religion's Religious Studies News, the then IIIT director Ermin Sinanović explained that IIIT had been intended to resolve an "intellectual crisis" which afflicted the global Muslim community.[3] Sinanović explained that the founders of the institute believed the crisis could only be resolved by “reading the two Books” – in other words, a critical examination of Muslim heritage coupled with a critique of modern secular thought. To that end, IIIT has advocated for reform of education in Muslim societies grounded in this integrated approach to knowledge.[3]
Operation Green Quest
In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, IIIT found itself targeted by the U.S. federal authorities as part of Operation Green Quest. Formed in October 2001, the operation involved an interagency task force set up to investigate the financing of Al-Qaeda and other international terrorist groups.[6] In March 2002, the unit raided the offices of 19 Muslim charities and educational institutions.[7] Though it confiscated a significant amount of documents and computer files, the investigation did not find any incriminating evidence – but it drew strong protests from American Muslim and civil-rights groups for the message it sent out to the American Muslim community.[6][7][8]
Targeting by far-right groups
In 2019, investigative journalist and academic Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed reported that far-right Islamophobic think tanks and politicians had been agitating against American Muslim civil society groups, particularly IIIT. According to Ahmed, groups like the Center for Security Policy, Jihad Watch, and The Investigative Project on Terrorism were nodes in a network of far-right anti-Muslim organizations who were accusing Western Muslim groups of supporting terrorism and extremism.[8][9]
Activities
editThe stated goal of the institute is to conduct research, advance education in Muslim societies, and disseminate knowledge through publication, translation and teaching, with "the objectives of revival and reform of Islamic thought."[10][3]
Islamic thought and research
The institute hosts scholars from across the Muslim world to examine knowledge from each academic field in the context of Islam.[1] Ismail al-Faruqi, IIIT's co-founder, named this process “the Islamization of knowledge” (it was later renamed “the integration of knowledge” and then “unity of knowledge”).[11] This process involved “testing every truth claim by internal coherence, correspondence with reality, and enhancement of human life and morality”, rather than the “subordination of knowledge to dogmatic principles”.[1]
Education in Muslim societies
The institute argues for the reform of education in Muslim societies. It promotes an approach to knowledge that integrates the Qur'an with human knowledge acquired through the humanities, social and natural sciences.[3]
Publications
editLibraries
IIIT’s two libraries – the Taha Jabir Al-Alwani Library and the Ismail al Faruqi Library – are featured on the Library of Congress’ list of religious collections in the area of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.[12]
American Journal of Islam and Society
IIIT publishes the American Journal of Islam and Society (AJIS) twice a year. Launched in 1984, the journal is double-blind peer-reviewed and interdisciplinary. Prior to 2020, the journal was known as the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences.[13]
Books
In 1982, soon after its foundation, one of IIIT's first actions was to republish Trialogue of the Abrahamic Faiths. The book, authored by IIIT co-founder al-Faruqi, provided a forum for Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars to discuss issues of faith, modern forms of social organization like the nation state, and the role of the faith community as transnational actors for justice and peace.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Esposito, John L. (2003). The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 139. ISBN 9780195125580.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b "About us - IIIT". International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Sinanović, Ermin (29 April 2016). "International Institute of Islamic Thought and Its Role in Promoting Islamic Studies at Theological Seminaries". Religious Studies News. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ Esposito 2003, p. 139.
- ^ "International Institute of Islamic Thought: Publisher Description". JSTOR. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ a b Isikoff, Michael (8 April 2003). "Terror Watch: Whose War On Terror?". Newsweek. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ a b Douglass, John G. (2004). "Raiding Islam: Searches that Target Religious Institutions". Journal of Law and Religion. 19: 95–114 – via University of Richmond Scholarship Repository.
- ^ a b Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed (26 August 2019). "Behind Islamophobia is a global movement of anti-semites". Foreign Policy In Focus. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed (25 March 2019). "'White genocide' theorists worm their way into the West's mainstream". Le Monde Diplomatique. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Home - IIIT". International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "Advancing Education in Muslim Societies (AEMS) - IIIT". International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT): Al-Alwani & Al Faruqi Libraries". Library of Congress. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "About the Journal | American Journal of Islam and Society". American Journal of Islam and Society. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Esposito, John L. (2003). Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195125580.
- Al-Faruqi, Ismaʼil R. (1995). Trialogue of the Abrahamic Faiths. Amana Publications. ISBN 0915957256.
External links
edit
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