(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Official Report about Academic Activities at the University of Palermo
Dr. Abbas Ali Shamli, theologian and professor of philosophy and Islamic law, said: "According to my schedule which was arranged & well organized by the Cultural Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Rome regarding my academic activities in Italy, I needed ultimately to travel to the Southern part of Italy, University of Palermo which is one of the best university in Sicilia in Italy".
He added: Professor Maria Grazia Sciortino from the department of Islamic Studies in the faculty of Humanities in the University of Palermo requested me to present four seminars on the following topics:
1. The first topic included subtitles such as:
a. The concept of Imam & Imamate (terminology of the term in both literal & technical aspects)
b. Why humanity in general and Muslim Umma in particular is in need of an Infallible Imam (Philosophy of Imamte).
c. Interrelationship of the two principles of Imamate & the Divine Lordship (al-Ruboubiyya),
d. Is Imamate a theological or a jurisprudential discussion?! (What could be the difference?)
e. The earth cannot be exempt of an Imam each & every time
2. The second topic included subtitles such as:
a. Terminology of Shia
b. Typology of Shia
c. Shia as revealed in the holy Qur’an
d. Shia as reflected in the Prophetic tradition
e. Shia Twelvers & their belief system
3. The third topic encompassed subtitles such as:
a. Imam Khomeini & the new concept of Islamic Republicanism
b. Political Islam is based on the foundation of juxtaposition of faith & state
c. The three pillars of democracy (liberty, equality & fraternity) as conceived by Muslim thinkers
d. The position & the role of people in the Islamic republicanism
e. Dichotomy of two political formats: People-centered or God-centered
f. Dramatic difference between legitimacy & authorization in the Islamic republicanism
g. Republicanism as mirrored in theory & practice (a huge gap)
4. The forth topic covered subtitles as following:
a. Terminology of the key terms in mysticism (Gnosticism, Sufism, mysticism & wisdom)
b. The pic period of mysticism flourish in the history of Islam (from the 4th to the 8th century A.H.)
c. Is Islamic Gnosticism original or borrowed from non-Islamic realms?!
d. Typology of Gnosticism (Theoretical & practical)
e. Islam & the requirements for the spiritual journey (Soluk)
f. Evaluating Gnosticism based on reason & religion
g. Typology of knowledge in Gnosticism on one hand & in science & philosophy on the other hand
h. Islamic Gnosticism as mirrored in the Qur’an & Hadith (Traditions)
Dr. Abbas Ali Shamli said that "all the above-mentioned topics were presented in Power Point followed by Questions & answers. The dean of the university of Palermo was presented as an observer in the second seminar and expressed willing for further collaborations between al-Mustafa International University in Qom, Iran and the University of Palermo. He also added that my university is honored to have you among its scholars & students for these interesting topics. He maintained that we are much willing to have a special course for Persian and another one for knowing Shia Islam".
He added: "Three scholars were presented in all of my seminars as a motivation for students to have their active participations. They were Maria GraziaSciortino, Daniele Sicari and Monica Ruocco. They enjoyed the four discussions and expressed their willing to have more extended collaborations with Islamic Republic of Iran".
It is interesting to know Palermo is much closer to the East than the West in terms of its life-style & the public culture. Muslim governors ruled in the area almost for three centuries. Some churches in the city still reflect to the visitors the Islamic architecture and Islamic ancient fonts from the Qur’an.
It is worthy of mentioning that this year Dr. Abbas Ali Shamli present his seminars about Shia Islam at ten universities of Italy. This event, by and large, has undoubtedly brought a big chance to introduce the school of Ahlul Bayt at an academic level to both university scholars & students.
/129
Dr. Abbas Ali Shamli, theologian and professor of philosophy and Islamic law, said: "According to my schedule which was arranged & well organized by the Cultural Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Rome regarding my academic activities in Italy, I needed ultimately to travel to the Southern part of Italy, University of Palermo which is one of the best university in Sicilia in Italy".
He added: Professor Maria Grazia Sciortino from the department of Islamic Studies in the faculty of Humanities in the University of Palermo requested me to present four seminars on the following topics:
- Imamology According to Shia Imami Thought
- The Concept of Shia as mirrored in the verses of the holy Qur'an
- Political Islam & Western Democracy: Cohesion or Contrast?!
- Gnosticism, Philosophy & Hikma (Wisdom) According to Shia Imamies
1. The first topic included subtitles such as:
a. The concept of Imam & Imamate (terminology of the term in both literal & technical aspects)
b. Why humanity in general and Muslim Umma in particular is in need of an Infallible Imam (Philosophy of Imamte).
c. Interrelationship of the two principles of Imamate & the Divine Lordship (al-Ruboubiyya),
d. Is Imamate a theological or a jurisprudential discussion?! (What could be the difference?)
e. The earth cannot be exempt of an Imam each & every time
2. The second topic included subtitles such as:
a. Terminology of Shia
b. Typology of Shia
c. Shia as revealed in the holy Qur’an
d. Shia as reflected in the Prophetic tradition
e. Shia Twelvers & their belief system
3. The third topic encompassed subtitles such as:
a. Imam Khomeini & the new concept of Islamic Republicanism
b. Political Islam is based on the foundation of juxtaposition of faith & state
c. The three pillars of democracy (liberty, equality & fraternity) as conceived by Muslim thinkers
d. The position & the role of people in the Islamic republicanism
e. Dichotomy of two political formats: People-centered or God-centered
f. Dramatic difference between legitimacy & authorization in the Islamic republicanism
g. Republicanism as mirrored in theory & practice (a huge gap)
4. The forth topic covered subtitles as following:
a. Terminology of the key terms in mysticism (Gnosticism, Sufism, mysticism & wisdom)
b. The pic period of mysticism flourish in the history of Islam (from the 4th to the 8th century A.H.)
c. Is Islamic Gnosticism original or borrowed from non-Islamic realms?!
d. Typology of Gnosticism (Theoretical & practical)
e. Islam & the requirements for the spiritual journey (Soluk)
f. Evaluating Gnosticism based on reason & religion
g. Typology of knowledge in Gnosticism on one hand & in science & philosophy on the other hand
h. Islamic Gnosticism as mirrored in the Qur’an & Hadith (Traditions)
Dr. Abbas Ali Shamli said that "all the above-mentioned topics were presented in Power Point followed by Questions & answers. The dean of the university of Palermo was presented as an observer in the second seminar and expressed willing for further collaborations between al-Mustafa International University in Qom, Iran and the University of Palermo. He also added that my university is honored to have you among its scholars & students for these interesting topics. He maintained that we are much willing to have a special course for Persian and another one for knowing Shia Islam".
He added: "Three scholars were presented in all of my seminars as a motivation for students to have their active participations. They were Maria GraziaSciortino, Daniele Sicari and Monica Ruocco. They enjoyed the four discussions and expressed their willing to have more extended collaborations with Islamic Republic of Iran".
It is interesting to know Palermo is much closer to the East than the West in terms of its life-style & the public culture. Muslim governors ruled in the area almost for three centuries. Some churches in the city still reflect to the visitors the Islamic architecture and Islamic ancient fonts from the Qur’an.
It is worthy of mentioning that this year Dr. Abbas Ali Shamli present his seminars about Shia Islam at ten universities of Italy. This event, by and large, has undoubtedly brought a big chance to introduce the school of Ahlul Bayt at an academic level to both university scholars & students.
/129