In line with its commitment to stimulating intellectual debates on contemporary Islamic issues, the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently hosted Dalia Mogahed, an American scholar of Egyptian origin, for a public discussion. 

Dalia Mogahed is the current Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) in Washington, D.C. She is also President and CEO of Mogahed Consulting, an executive coaching and consulting firm specializing in Muslim societies and the Middle East. Ms. Mogahed previously served as an advisor to former U.S. President Barack Obama’s White House Office on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. 

Co-written in 2007, Mogahed’s book Who Speaks for Islam? poses questions of relevance to both the Islamic and non-Islamic world. These include whether Islam really is to blame for Islamist-inspired terrorism, and what fundamental differences exist between extremist and moderate Muslims. However, for this event, Mogahed framed aspects of her book within a new context, specifically the principles of reform and renaissance. In doing so, the author provided attendees with a host of thought-provoking discussion topics for the concluding question-and-answer session. 

The College of Islamic Studies regularly hosts public lectures and conferences to promote a deeper understanding of the various aspects of Islam among the wider community. 

For more information, please visit hbku.edu.qa