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Call for Papers "Japanese Contribution to Islamic Studies: The Legacy of Toshihiko Izutsu" 1st International Conference on Contemporary Scholarship on Islam Department of Usuluddin and Comparative Religion, International Islamic University Malaysia Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) 5-7 August 2008 __________________________________________________ Introduction Islam and Muslims are the subject of a huge body of works by non-Muslim scholars in the world. Euro-American scholarship has had the lions share in those works, mostly within the framework of Orientalism. Different methods have been adopted in the study of matters Islamic and have been shaped by historical, political and cultural factors as well as ideological and philosophical considerations. Non Euro-American scholars from Asia and other parts of the globe have also had their share in the study of Islam and Muslims. A linguist by training, the Keio University Professor Toshihiko Izutsu (1914-1993) is Japans foremost scholar of Islam in the history of Muslim-Japanese relations. Professor Izutsus name and fame in the world of academia and intellectual activity are due to his multifaceted work in the study of the Quran and Islam (both in Japanese and English) whereby he developed a unique approach combining philosophical and semantic methods in dealing with his object. Though he lived and taught in western universities, he managed, to a large extent, to keep clear distance from the Orientalist tradition that has for long, dominated the field of Islamic studies in the west. Muslim and non-Muslim scholars alike have acknowledged the depth and breadth of his scholarship. As a signpost in the relationship between Japan and Islam, Toshihiko Izutsus works on the Quran and Islamic thought deserve serious consideration by scholars concerned about the study of Islam in particular and mutual understanding and dialogue among civilizations and cultures of the world in general. Objectives The conference aims at achieving the following objectives: 1. To understand and appreciate the different aspects of Izutsus intellectual legacy. 2. To explore the relevance of Izutsus work to contemporary issues of inter-civilizational dialogue and mutual understanding among different religions and nations. 3. To enhance intellectual and cultural exchange among Muslim and Japanese institutions of higher learning. 4. To develop a comparative approach in religious inquiry that will reflect the niche of the Department of Usuluddin and Comparative Religion. 5. To highlight the contributions of Japanese scholars to the study of Islam. Research Areas To achieve the objective of the conference, the participants should consider writing their papers on one or more than one aspect of the following research areas: 1. The diversified nature of Izutsus legacy (linguistic, philosophy, mysticism etc.). 2. Linguistics, hermeneutics and religious discourses. 3. Contemporary approaches to the study of the Quran. 4. Semantics and conceptual analysis of the Quranic discourse. 5. Toshihiko Izutsus thesis of meta-philosophical foundations of dialogue between civilizations and cultures. 6. Convergence and divergence between Izutsus Islamic scholarship and tradition of Orientalism. 7. Impact of Izutsus legacy on Quranic and Islamic studies. 8. Izutsu and beyond, toward a new research program in the study of Quran and Islam. Submissions We are now accepting abstract submissions. Prospective authors are invited to submit their abstract to <[email protected]> or <[email protected]> before 31 December, 2007. - Abstracts should be in Microsoft Word and include title, and a 250-300 word summary. - Please include name, position and department, institution and contact information (mail, phone, fax and e-mail). - After the abstract selection, authors of accepted abstracts will receive information regarding the layout of papers along with the notice of acceptance. Important Dates Submission of Abstracts: 31 December 2007. Submission of Completed Papers: 15 April 2008. Conference Date: 5-8 August 2008. Contact: Dr. Anis Malik Thoha, Head Department of Usul Al-Din & Comparative Religion Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge & Human Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia Jalan Gombak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Phone: +60-3-6196 5550 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.iiu.edu.my/irkhs/izutsu/ __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org
