Newsletter — February 2020

The conference organized by IDEO, The Authority of Silence: Constructing the Figure of the salafs (7ᵗʰ–15ᵗʰ centuries), held in the prestigious Oriental Hall at the American University in Cairo, offered an original and unprecedented perspective on the figure of the salafs through the prism of silence—not as absence, but as a source of authority. Far from being merely God’s friends or simple transmitters, the salafs emerge, in the presentations by Jawad Qureshi, Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Mushtak, Christopher Melchert, Abdullah Ridvan Gökbel, Shahanaz Begum, and Rana Mikati, as figures whose silence is alternately interpreted, mobilized, or strategically reconstructed. The conference highlighted the complexity of an authority based as much on what is said as on what is left unsaid. The silence of the salafs contributes to a hermeneutics that goes beyond simple transmission, reaching toward an implicit normativity that shapes a distinct Sunnism, yet one marked by internal tensions. From Rodrigo Adem’s critique of a “bad Salafism” in Ibn Taymiyya, to Adrien Candiard’s analysis of the salafs as a distinct school in al-Shahrastānī’s doxography, the very conditions of normative production were explored. The authority of the salafs appeared far from univocal, marked by hierarchies, peripheral dynamics, and differentiated uses—whether legal, political, or theological contexts. The conference allowed for a deeper understanding of how authority was constructed within the ambiguity of silence, between idealization, critique, and appropriation. Anawati Chair Seminar at the al-Azhar French Teaching Center (CEF) On April 15, 90 students from the Faculty of Humanities at al-Azhar University attended the seminar “Islam and Human Rights”, led by Professor Chérif Ferjani, Tunisian scholar of Islam and politics, Professor Emeritus at Université Lumière-Lyon II, and member of the steering committee of the higher Institute for the study of religion and secularism in France. This seminar, organized in collaboration with our partner the al-Azhar French Teaching Center, provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of the history and foundations of human rights and their Islamic appropriation. Creation of an Audiobook Library at al-Azhar University In partnership with the al-Azhar French Teaching Center, IDEO acquired and donated 33 audiobooks to the al-Azhar University Library. This audiobook library aims to promote equal opportunity by improving access to educational resources in European languages for visually impaired students. Access to Scientific Works in Arabic As part of its partnership with the Hindawi Foundation, the Anawati Chair is making 19 scientific works available in audio format, representing a total of 807,074 words, currently accessible online on the Hindawi Foundation website. This initiative aims to expand access to scientific literature in Arabic, with the goal of reaching 7,000,000 recorded words, particularly for the benefit of visually impaired or audiences with reading difficulties. Lectures and Conferences On April 6, Jean Jacques Pérennès, O.P. gave a lecture in Valence entitled “Christians in a Middle East in Crisis: Situation and Perspectives”. On April 11, Jean Jacques Pérennès, O.P. gave a lecture in Lyon for the Friends of IDEO association on the theme “A Shared Holy Place: The Islamic-Christian Pilgrimage of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in Vieux-Marché”. On April 22, Mr. Guillaume de Vaulx spoke at the seminar “Spiritualities and Nature”, organized by Georgetown University – Doha, with a lecture entitled “Muslim Animals in the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity”. On April 23, Mr. Guillaume de Vaulx participated in the panel “Nature and Religious Values” at the Earthna Summit with a talk entitled “From the Current Ecological Mobilization of Religion to the Classical Religious Mobilization of the Environment”. Teaching From April 22 to 25, Emmanuel Pisani, O.P. taught a 24-hour course entitled “Introduction to the Major Religious Traditions” at the IERP of the Catholic Institute of Toulouse. PhD Defense Committee On April 28, Emmanuel Pisani, O.P. participated in the thesis defense committee of Florence Javel at the Faculty of Theology at the Catholic University of Lyon. The thesis was entitled “Maurice Borrmans and the Crisis of Islamic-Christian Dialogue: Is Islamic Studies at Stake?”, directed by Prof. Michel Younès (UCLy, Lyon). Committee members included Mr. Dominique Avon (EPHE, Paris), Guy Sarkis (Saint-Joseph University, Beirut), and Mr. Rémi Caucanas (Saint-Paul University, Ottawa). Study Day on Ali Abd al-Raziq On April 11, a study day dedicated to Ali Abd al-Raziq was held with the support of the IFI and IISMM. Speakers included: Mohammad Afifi, Head of the History Department at Cairo University’s Faculty of Arts, who presented “History and Legend: Political Islam and the Caliphate”; Abdelilah Belkeziz(Hassan II University, Casablanca) who discussed “The Stakes of an Ijtihad Attempt: Religion and Politics in the Thesis of Ali Abd al-Raziq”; Aziz Hilal, philosophy teacher and member of IDEO, who reflected on “Islam and the Foundations of Power: Between Condemnation and Legitimation”; Issam al-Zuheiri, who addressed the theme of renewing political thought. The day was chaired and moderated by Mr. Abd al-Jawad Yassin. Visits On April 25, we welcomed a group of teachers and students from the Institut Chrétiens d’Orient. Accompanied by its director Antoine Fleyfel, they attended a lecture at IDEO by Mr. Ishak Ibrahim from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Jean Druel, OP accompanied the group to a Sufi prayer session of the Qādiriyya brotherhood. Scholars’ House During the month of April, we were pleased to host at the Scholars’ House: Gheorghe Pașcalău, researcher specialized in the Muslim reception of Greek philosophy, recipient of the IDEO-Ifao-IFI postdoctoral fellowship Edward Shawe-Taylor, PhD student (DPhil) in Islamic art and architecture, specialized in Fatimid-era calligraphy and Islamic medieval art and culture, studying at the University of Oxford’s Khalili Research Center. Review Emmanuel Pisani, « Houari Touati, L’arrivée de l’homme en Islam et sa disparition : d’Athènes à Bagdad, Paris, Vrin, 2024 », Chrétiens de la Méditerranée, published online March 15, 2025. Publication Emmanuel Pisani, “Les mots autour de l’islam en débat”, Un pas en avant 11, February 2025, p. 19-21.

A hundred years ago, L’Islam et les fondements du pouvoir by Ali Abdelrazek was published, a landmark work in the history of Islamic political thought. Through a methodical and well-argued approach, the author examined scriptural and historical sources to demonstrate that the caliphate was not a religious necessity but a political construct. His analysis, based on a critical reading of texts, took place at a pivotal moment in contemporary history, as the Muslim world was redefining its institutions following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the abolition of the caliphate by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1924. Even today, this book remains an essential reference for those interested in the relationship between religion and power. Revisiting Abdelrazek’s work means returning to the foundations of a debate that transcends the controversies of his time, rigorously and thoughtfully questioning the historical dynamics of governance in Muslim countries. This month, IDEO will have the pleasure of hosting six renowned scholars for a study day dedicated to the scientific analysis of this work and an examination of its impact on contemporary political thought. Scientific communication On March 20, Emmanuel Pisani, OP delivered a presentation titled “Did al-Ghazālī consider himself a Mutakallim?”, as part of the “Thinkers’ View on Theology” conference at the Arabic Classical Philosophy & Philosophy of Sciences Center of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guerir, organized by Ms. Amal Belkamel and Ms. Lucie Tardy. Research seminar On March 22, Emmanuel Pisani, OP delivered a seminar titled “Contemporary Quranic Hermeneutics and the Question of Violence in the Quran: A Critical Presentation of Jawdat Saʿid’s Thought”, at the Fondazione Accademia, Casa di Popoli, Culture e Religioni in Sassari, as part of the research seminar “Religions and Sacred Texts: Interdisciplinary Analysis and Study – Understanding the Processes Leading to the Theological/Religious Legitimization of Religious Violence”. Islamic studies course From March 21 to 23, Jean Druel, OP led a twelve-hour session on the history of the Arabic language at the Catholic University of the West in Thiès, Senegal, as part of the Domuni Islamic studies certificate Interreligious dialogue On March 15, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave an online lecture for the Dominican Centre for Ethics and Spiritual Life in Montreal, on the topic: “Pierre Claverie, Hope at the Heart of Violence”. On March 22, Emmanuel Pisani, OP took part in a roundtable discussion on the topic: “Live Testimonies of Dialogue”, alongside the Imam of Sassari, Abdellaoui Salaheddine, and Professor Afsaneh Seyed, from the Bahaï community of Sassari. On March 24, Jean Druel, OP gave a lecture at the Saint Dominic University Parish in Dakar on the topic: “Christians and Muslims, Why is it So Difficult to Understand Each Other?”. On March 26, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave a lecture at IDEO on “The Role of Islamic studies in Interreligious Dialogue in Egypt”, for students from the IHEDN (Institute for Advanced Studies in National Defense). Iftar As part of the Anawati Chair project and on the occasion of the publication of the Arabic translation of the book by Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP titled “Father Georges Anawati: A Life for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue”, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Emil Ameen for a lecture titled “Father Anawati and the Dialogue of Cultures”. The lecture was followed by an Iftar bringing together the partners of the Anawati Chair project. Visit On March 29, we welcomed Mrs. Asma Elzeiny, Director of the Tatweer Center of al-Azhar, and Mr. Jakob Wiren, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Lund, Sweden, along with 17 students. Scholars’ House During the month of March, we had the pleasure to receive at the Scholars’ House Mr. Francesco Antonini, a PhD student in medieval Arabic and Latin philosophy at the École Pratique des Hautes Études. Upcoming – Activities of the Anawati Chair On May 2 and 3, IDEO, in partnership with the American University in Cairo and as part of the Anawati Chair project, will organize a conference in English titled “The Authority of Silence: Constructing the Figure of the Salafs (7ᵗʰ-15ᵗʰ centuries)”. Registration is required before April 30 at the following email address: inscr-salafs@ideo-cairo.org. The “Religions and Human Sciences” Certificate from the Anawati Chair will focus this year on “Islam and Other Religions”. It will take place over four sessions on Fridays, May 9ᵗʰ, 16ᵗʰ, 23ʳᵈ, and 30ᵗʰ, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. As the number of seats is limited, applications must be submitted before April 20 to the following email address: certificate.anawati-2025@ideo-cairo.org. For the program and application details, please visit the IDEO website. Upcoming research workshop On May 6, 7, and 8, Jean Druel, OP will participate in the 5ᵗʰ International Workshop on Manuscript Studies, organized in Fez, Morocco, by the Rawafed Center for Studies and Research, in partnership with the German project Corpus Coranicum and the IDEO.

It is with great joy that we announce the publication in Arabic of the biography of Father Georges Anawati, written by Jean Jacques Pérennès. A founding figure of IDEO, a man of dialogue and intellectual rigor, Father Anawati has left a lasting impact on generations of researchers far beyond the Christian sphere and continues to inspire our work. This masterful translation by our friend Aziz Hilal is also a bridge between cultures, traditions, and sometimes distant sensitivities. Making the life story of a Dominican religious figure engaged in Christian-Muslim dialogue accessible in Arabic is also a pedagogical challenge. How can we convey the vocabulary of a specific tradition, that of the “Catholic tribe”, to readers unfamiliar with it? How can we express in Arabic concepts such as “convent”, “vows”, or “Dominican province”, and how can we convey the uniqueness of a religious commitment in an academic setting in a way that is understandable to an Arabic-speaking Muslim audience? This translation work has been an opportunity for clarification and contextualization. It was not merely about transposing words but about making this “Dominican” universe intelligible—where the scholar, who is also a preacher, found himself immersed for several years in Rome in the whirlwind of a council. May this translation allow new Arabic-speaking readers to discover the richness of a life dedicated to encounter, dialogue, and knowledge! Anawati Chair Sībawayh Seminar On February 28, Professor Abderrahmane Boudraa, a specialist in Arabic linguistics at the University of Tétouan, delivered a lecture titled “Reflections on the method of reading Sībawayh’s Kitāb” as part of the “Sībawayh Seminar”, coordinated by Jean Druel, OP. Talks and lectures On February 10, Mr. Guillaume de Vaulx gave a bilingual lecture at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies on the topic “Facing untranslatability: in Praise of a Multilingual Thinking” On February 13, Mr. Guillaume de Vaulx also participated—through the voice and free interpretation of Frédéric Abécassis—in the event “Animal Condition and Area Studies”, with a presentation entitled “Animalist Issues in Muslim Cosmography”. Board of Directors of the Friends of IDEO On February 13, Emmanuel Pisani, OP remotely participated in the board meeting of the Friends of IDEO association. Networks On February 11, Emmanuel Pisani, OP participated remotely in a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the NCCRM network. On February 19, he also participated remotely in a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the PLURIEL network. Intern Starting February 12, we are welcoming Mr. Hildemar de Cointet for a seven-week internship at the library. His work will focus on authority cataloging and the indexing of old books (published before the 19ᵗʰ century). This internship marks the final stage of his academic program as an archivist paleographer at the École des Chartes. Visits From January 31 to February 4, we welcomed Mr. Bertrand Wallon, Secretary General of the Friends of IDEO association, as well as Mr. Martin de Bartillat and Mr. Guillaume Gorge, board members. On February 4, we received a visit from Shaykh Ibrahim Ibn Rashid al-Marikhi, President of the Islamic court of Bahrain. On February 5, we welcomed Mrs. Mona Sabry, Director of the French Language Teaching Center of al-Azhar. On the same day, we also welcomed Mr. Sadek Beloucif, professor and director of the Advisory Board of the French Foundation « l’Islam de France ». On February 6, we welcomed Mr. Islam Dayeh, a researcher and lecturer in Arabic and Islamic studies at the Department of Languages and Cultures of Ghent University. On February 6, we also received a delegation of major donors from French association Œuvre d’Orient, including: Mr. Philippe Meunier, Vice President of the Rhône-Alpes Region, Mr. Bruno Chiaverini, Director of International Relations, Ms. Christiane Grosjean Cervantes, Mission Officer. Mr. Fabrice Balanche, Lecturer in Geography at Lyon II On February 16, we welcomed Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline and Patriarch Ibrahim Ishaq, Head of the Coptic Catholic Church. Scholars’ House During the month of February, we had the pleasure to receive at the Scholars’ House: Mr. Flavio Canuzzi, beneficiary of the MEAE scholarship in Islamic Studies; Ms. Chloé Bordewich, PhD in History and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. Publications Dominique Avon, « Auteurs sunnites syro-libanais face à la problématique de la modernité européenne », Annuaire de l’École Pratique des Hautes Études, 2024, t. 131 (2022-2023), p. 637-654. Jean-Jacques Pérennès, al-Ab Ǧurǧ Qanawātī. Ḥayāt min aǧl ḥiwār al-diyānāt wa al-ṯaqāfāt, al-Qāhira, Dār al-Akwīnī, 2025, 195 p. Upcoming activities From March 17 to 21, Matthieu Palayret, OP will participate in the Spring School “Comparative Analysis of Religious Metaphor”, at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, organized by Dr. Nikita Artemov and Dr. Vicky Ziegler. Learn more…