Newsletter — April 2021

Dennis Halft, OP, Director of MIDEO (2021-2024); Adrien Candiard, OP, Director from October 1ˢᵗ, 2024. MIDEO 39, scheduled to be published this year and dedicated to the 1924 edition of the Qurʾān, is experiencing some delays. And for good reason… it’s a hefty volume, nearly 500 pages. Together with Antoinette Ferrand, our scientific secretary, we are meticulously reviewing the proofs, making sure to catch any lingering typos still hiding in the pages. At the same time, we are working to finalize MIDEO 40. Under the direction of Walid Saleh, Thomas Würtz, and Emmanuel Pisani, this edition will focus on the presence of other religions in tafsīr. All the articles are gathered, and time seems to be on our side to submit the manuscript to the publisher as we have committed to do. Concurrently, we must also finalize the Proceedings of the Abu Dhabi Conference on Human Fraternity, which will be published in the Cahiers du Midéo at the beginning of 2025! Fortunately, Simon Conrad and Amr Zakaria are providing invaluable support to Antoinette, both through their scientific expertise and their diligent proofreading. Thanks to this dedicated team, we should be able to stay on schedule, though it’s quite a pace to kick off the year!! Luckily, after the departure of Dennis Halft, OP who led the Review for three years with remarkable scientific seriousness, we can rely on a new director, Adrien Candiard, OP. We are already grateful for his willingness to take on this new mission, which he will undoubtedly approach with the same seriousness and dedication as his predecessor. Lectures and talks Dennis Halft, OP was appointed as a member of the European Union of Arabists and Islamicists (UEAI) during their 31ˢᵗ congress, held in Granada from September 9ᵗʰ to 12ᵗʰ. During this congress, he gave a lecture entitled “Imāmī Shīʿī-Jewish Encounters in Early Modern Iran: A Persian Translation of the Book of Psalms”. On September 19ᵗʰ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture in Lille entitled “Christians in a Middle East in Crisis: Situation and Perspective”. On September 24 and 25, Alberto Ambrosio, OP participated in the conference “Venerable Shores, Profane Struggles: Dialogues on Geopolitics and Religion in the Mediterranean”. This conference took place at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris, in collaboration with the Grenoble Institute of Political Studies. September 20ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave the inaugural lecture at the Baghdad Academy of Social Sciences, entitled “Bayn al-manhaǧiyya wa-l-ibistimūlūǧiyyā: muqārabat al-adyān wafqan li-l-Ġazālī aw kayfiyyat maʿrifat al-āḫarīn? [Between Methodology and Epistemology, Approach to Religions according to al-Ghazali or How to Understand Others?]”. Scientific Workshop On September 28 and 29, Matthieu Palayret, OP participated in the two-day Workshop on Research Methods in Arabic Studies,  held at the American University in Cairo (AUC). 50ᵗʰ Anniversary of the SNRM On September 12ᵗʰ, Mr. Dominique Avon, Director of Studies at the EPHE, and Jean-François Bour, OP, Director of the SNRM, participated in a day of discussions celebrating the 50ᵗʰ anniversary of the Service National pour les Relations avec les Musulmans (SNRM), formerly known as the SRI. This event was held at the Conference of Bishops of France in Paris. Mr. Dominique Avon gave a talk entitled “Dialogue between Catholics and Muslims: A Historical Perspective”, while Jean-François Bour, OP moderated the round table “The Pastoral Commitment of the Church Today”. Radio program On September 22ⁿᵈ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP participated in a France Culture radio program entitled Question d’islam discussing the Islamic-Christian pilgrimage of Vieux-Marché, with Mr. Manöel Pénicaud and Mr. Ghaleb Bencheikh. Call for applications The French Institute for Islamic Studies (IFI), the Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies (IDEO) and the French Institute for Oriental Archeology (IFAO) have announced a call for applications for a research scholarship in the field of Islamic studies. For more information, please refer to the call for applications in French… Scholars’ House In September, we had the pleasure of welcoming at the Scholars’ House: Antoinette Ferrand, scientific member at the IFAO and editorial secretary of MIDEO; Tessa Larivière-Ammari, history student and beneficiary of the annual IFI-IDEO-IFAO Islamic studies scholarship; Wilhelmus Valkenberg, emeritus professor at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America, working on the reception of Anawati in the Anglo-Saxon world. Publications Jean Jacques Pérennès, « La fondation de l’Institut dominicain d’études orientales : une histoire méditerranéenne », Chemins de dialogue 63, 2024, pp. 181-196. Catherine Mayeur-Jaouen, Le culte des saints musulmans. Des débuts de l’islam à nos jours, Paris, Gallimard, Bibliothèque des Histoires, 2024.

The students of the 2024 Certificate. Religions and Human Sciences. The summer at IDEO was marked by diligent labor and the serious dedication that accompanies the pursuit of knowledge. For the first time, in collaboration with our partners from IFI and IFAO, we hosted a summer school, bringing together twelve young scholars in Islamic studies, most of them doctoral students from French universities. Driven by a desire to deepen their understanding of Arabic and to immerse themselves in a centuries-old culture through the study of its texts, they uncovered the depth of its words and meanings. Our friends from al-Azhar delivered insightful lectures with great pedagogy, our colleagues at the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts welcomed them with the hospitality of true friendship, and Nuria de Castilla, visiting from London, introduced them to the art of codicology. The visit to the Museum of Islamic Art was not merely an aesthetic stroll but a journey into the depths of a history resonant with culture and the unseen. Through this textual and cultural journey, bonds were woven, and encounters occurred, like deep roots that will surely bear fruit. The linguistic session intended for Dominican friars also demanded our full attention, energy, and resources. This year, there were nine participants—nine souls in search of other rays of truth. Together, we accomplished beautiful work toward a holistic understanding of Islam. Now, the new academic year begins, bringing with it a procession of promises and new faces. Tessa and Andreas, this year’s scholarship recipients, have arrived safely. We are also expecting young scholars from the Avicenna Institute in Budapest. The researchers’ villa now evokes a procession, where each step leads to an encounter that, like an offering within the academic world, builds fraternity a little more each day. Introductory Course in Arabic language and Islamic studies From July 15ᵗʰ to August 9ᵗʰ, we organized a summer course with 9 brothers: Arsène Adoumbey Tirmadjingar, Chadian; Vince Iñigo, Filipino; Aimeric Jardin, French; Aloysius Kung, Indonesian; Herbert Mimokogna, Central African; Stanislas Rose, French; Wilfried Sindeu Peumedji, Cameroonian; Steve Sinelide, Congolese; Ireneusz Zając, Polish; The course was available at three levels: beginner (A1), advanced beginner (A1+), and intermediate (A2). The Islamic studies course was presented by Brothers Adrien Candiard, OP, Jean Druel, OP, and Emmanuel Pisani, OP while the Arabic liturgy classes was led by Brothers Jean Druel, OP and Mina-Athanase, OP. The brothers at the A1+ and A2 levels also attended classes with instructors from al-Azhar. Summer School in Partnership with IFI and IFAO From July 16ᵗʰ to 26ᵗʰ, 2024, the first summer school was held for PhD students enrolled in European universities or those who have recently completed their master’s degrees, to gain basic knowledge in Arabic language and Islamic studies. Among the lecturers from al-Azhar University, participants attended the following courses: Prof. Ibrāhīm ʿĀmir Ǧadīd on Tafsīr Prof. Yusrī Ǧaʿfar on Falsafa Prof. ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Mašadd on Sufism Prof. ʿAzza Ramaḍān on Kalām Prof. Hišam al-Azharī on Uṣūl al-Fiqh Anawati Chair: Session “Introduction to codicology” On July 23ʳᵈ, we welcomed Mrs. Nuria de Castilla Muñoz, Director of Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, for a session on codicology. Forty students from the al-Azhar Center for French Language Teaching (CEF), accompanied by Mrs. Mona Sabry, the Center’s director, as well as students from the Summer School and the Introductory Course in Arabic language, participated. Volunteer Specialized in Teaching French as a foreign language Since mid-July, we have welcomed Mr. Martin Séva-Laroche, who will serve as a French teacher for specific purposes as part of an International Cooperation Volunteer program for one year. Recruited by the Delegation of Catholic Cooperation, he will provide specific courses, espically on topics such as human rights, equality, and citizenship. The goal is to help students at the al-Azhar Center for French Language Teaching (CEF) better understand the current issues and debates in Europe. Distribution of “Religions and Human Sciences” Certificates On July 27ᵗʰ, during a ceremony attended by Professor Aziz Hilal, head of the “Religions and Human Sciences” certificate program, and Mrs. Anne Kofoed, representative of the European Union Delegation in Cairo, we distributed the “Religions and Human Sciences” Certificates to 38 students. Call for Applications for the 2025 Summer School The Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies is organizing, as part of the Anawati Chair and in partnership with the University of Insubria (Varese and Como), a Summer School on the topic of “Citizenship and Religious Pluralism” which will take place in July 2025. This school is intended for PhD students or those who have defended their thesis after January 1ˢᵗ, 2023. For more information… Conference On August 28ᵗʰ and 29ᵗʰ, Jean Druel, OP participated in Tokyo at the 7ᵗʰ meeting of the FAL group (“Foundations of Arab Linguistics”). His presentation focused on al-Mubarrad’s (d. 285/898) criticism of Sībawayh’s Kitāb (d. 180/796), based on the evidence from the manuscript versions and the marginal glosses. Lectures and talks On July 9ᵗʰ, Dennis Halft, OP participated in the international conference of the research group “Judæo-Persian and Persian Textual Landscapes: Towards an Intellectual History of Medieval Iranian Jewry”, held at the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He presented a lecture entitled “Persian Bible Translations Leaving the ‘Literary Ghetto’ (W. J. Fischel) of Judæo-Persian”. On July 17ᵗʰ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture entitled “What Future for Christians in the Middle East in Crisis?” in Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer. On August 10ᵗʰ, Dennis Halft, OP gave a lecture on the topic of “Interreligious Dialogue in Times of Crisis: A Dominican Perspective” at the Saint Dominic’s Day celebration in Saint-Martin, Freiburg im Breisgau. On August 20ᵗʰ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture entitled “Israel-Palestine: What Future?”, in Trévou-Tréguignec. On August 21ˢᵗ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture entitled “The Spiritual Marks of the Tibhirine Monks”, in Kermouster (Pleubian). Visits On July 30ᵗʰ, we welcomed for lunch Mr. Asif Uddin, a PhD student in Islamic studies at Swansea University in the United Kingdom. He is working on the relationship between the names of the sūras in the Qurʾān and their content. On August 2ⁿᵈ,

The second phase of the Bibliothèques d’Orient project is coming to an end. The National Library of France (BnF) and the Bibliothèques d’Orient network organized three study days dedicated to the challenges of digitization from June 18 to 20. Supported by the Mellon Foundation and ALIPH, the goal was to unveil the documentary treasures of the Middle East through collaboration with prestigious libraries and institutions. This partnership with fourteen establishments across Egypt, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey, in collaboration with Gallica—the BnF’s free-access digital library—has already enabled the digitization of some remarkable works, offering a window into the cultural history of the Middle East. Guided by curators and expert researchers from the BnF, participants explored various collections, including those of the IDEO library, a partner since the project’s inception in 2016. Mr. Magdi Azab, Mrs. Engy Elgammal, and Mateus Domingues da Silva, OP represented our library and graced the event with their presence. It should be reiterated that the IDEO library has significantly contributed to the identification and enhancement of essential documentary collections of Islamic heritage in Arabic, and we assure the BnF of our commitment to continue participating in this remarkable initiative. Lectures and talks On June 13ᵗʰ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) on the topic of “Eastern Christians in a Middle East in Crisis: Situation and Perspectives”. From June 24ᵗʰ to 26ᵗʰ, Claudio Monge, OP with Father Christophe Roucou, led a working group entitled “Islamo-Christian dialogue and paths to reconciliation”, during the conference organized by the Mediterranean Theological Network, in Palermo. LRM-CS On June 13ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP, Jean Druel, OP and René-Vincent du Grandlaunay, OP participated in the General Assembly of the LRM-CS association. Scientific Council On June 21ˢᵗ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP participated in the Scientific Council of the Bibliothèques d’Orient website. Framework agreement On June 6ᵗʰ, IDEO signed a framework agreement with the Center for education, training, and documentation on Islamo-Christian dialogue and integral development (CEFDICDI) in Dakar, founded by Pierre-Marie Niang, OP. Invitation On June 12ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP was invited by the Egyptian Geographical Society (EGS) to their event, “Promoting Ethnographic and Geographic Cultures through the Eye of the Egyptian Geographical Society and its Ethnographic Museum”, held at the Ethnographic Museum of Cairo. Library During the Bibliothèques d’Orient days organized by the National Library of France (BnF), from June 18ᵗʰ to 20ᵗʰ, the management of the IDEO library, made up of its director Mateus Domingues da Silva, OP and his two assistants Mrs. Engy Elgammal and Mr. Magdi Azab were invited to Paris. During these days, on June 20ᵗʰ, Mateus Domingues da Silva, OP gave a talk entitled “Les ouvrages de turāṯ dans les collections de l’Idéo. [Turāṯ’s works in the IDEO collections]”. Podcast On July 1ˢᵗ, the Oasis Foundation released a podcast presenting the IDEO: “Un convento nel cuore del Cairo. I domenicani che studiano l’Islam. [A convent in the heart of Cairo. The Dominicans who study Islam]”. The podcast is available in Italian… Visits On June 11ᵗʰ, we welcomed Mr. Éric Chevallier, Ambassador of France to Egypt. He was accompanied by Ms. Camille Thiébaut, Political Counselor of the French Embassy, in charge of religious affairs. Scholars’ House In June, we had the pleasure of welcoming at the Scholars’ House Mr. Nadir Boudjellal, a PhD student in medieval and modern Arabic studies; Mr. Gregory Vandamme, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chester (United Kingdom) and beneficiary of the IFI-IDEO-IFAO scholarship; and Ms. Eszter Csontos, a PhD student at the Avicenna Institute for Middle Eastern Studies in Piliscsaba, Hungary. Publications Claudio Monge, Strangers with God: A Theology of Hospitality in the Three Abrahamic Religions, ATF Press, Brompton, Australia, 2024. Claudio Monge, Per una Teologia dell’ospitalità, Terra Santa, Mi, 2024 Claudio Monge, en collaboration avec Giuseppina De Simone, La misura mediterranea dell’umano, Castelvecchi, Roma, 2024. Claudio Monge, I trappisti di Tibhirine e la svolta di una “chiesa della relazione”, in “Cristianesimo nella storia, Ricerche storiche, esegetiche, teologiche” 2/2023, pp. 483-502.