Newsletter April-May 2023

Since October, IDEO, in partnership with the French Institute of Islamic studies (IFI), has inaugurated a seminar on methodology applied to Islamic studies, whose studies unfold within the fertile soil of the human sciences. Ten students participate: enrolled in Egypt in master’s or doctoral programs, they attempt the challenging art of interrogating—and sometimes testing—the texts of the Islamic heritage, much like probing an ancient soil in search of its layers and eruptions. Under the guidance of Brother Adrien Candiard, they are introduced to research not as a body of knowledge, but as the unveiling of a heuristic tension. To define a research problem is to discern a paradox, a point of friction between the known and the unknown, where thought is born. To formulate a hypothesis is to embark on an adventure whose outcome is still elusive, for science does not consist in rehashing what it already knows, but in living through what it has yet to discover. Through carefully supervised presentations, our students are invited to present articles on Islamic studies—not to summarize them or paraphrase their ideas, but to extract their essence and interrogate them critically. In these initial sessions, we see them at work, engaging their minds in the traversal of these texts. The journey is not always easy, but we trust in the curiosity and vitality of their youth. This training in no way seeks to replace one method with another; rather, it aims to create a space for methodological transversality that allows these students to discover how each discipline within the human sciences illuminates the Islamic heritage according to its own genius: history, by restoring to the texts their context of origin and reception; sociology, by revealing the social and cultural dynamics that run through them; philosophy, by questioning their conceptual assumptions and universal significance. Anawati Chair Mobility Grant Mrs. Reham Salama, Director of the Observatory, received a mobility grant to participate in activities related to the 60th anniversary of the Nostra Aetate Declaration in Rome, on October 22 and 23. Lectures and talks From September 29 to October 2, Jean Jacques Pérennès, participated in the conference organized by the Dominicans of Istanbul (DOSTI) on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The topic of this gathering was “Reflecting on the Mystery of God from the Ruins of the Empire”. On October 13, Mr. Dominique Avon gave the inaugural lecture of the “Mediterranean, Religions, and Societies Chair”, organized in partnership with the French Institute Saint-Louis Center, with IDEO as a partner. On October 14, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP spoke in Saint-Brieuc on the topic “Can Shared Holy Sites Serve as Bridges Between Believers?”. On October 30, Emmanuel Pisani, gave a lecture in Rome on the topic “At the Service of Research and Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue: The Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies (IDEO) in Cairo, Egypt,” as part of the study day entitled “Constellations of Educational Networks”, organized by the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Formation in Islamic studies On October 7, we launched the Certificate in Islamic studies Methodology, led by Adrien Candiard, OP and attended by ten young students (eight Egyptians and two Congolese). For the inaugural session, we welcomed Professor Vinciane Pirenne-Delforge from the Collège de France, who gave a lecture entitled “What Is ‘Religion’? Constructing an Operational Concept”. Call for Abstracts | Conference “Priests and Sufis” The Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Department of Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures, in collaboration with the Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies (IDEO), invites researchers to participate in the international conference “Priests and Sufis: Rethinking Catholic Knowledge on Islamic Mysticism” (Cairo, June 6–7, 2026). Researchers from all disciplines are invited to submit an abstract by December 15, 2025. For more information… Visits On October 2, we had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Ibrahim Salama, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the British University in Egypt and Director of the Center for Human Rights Research and Training, as well as Ms. Reham Salama, Director of the al-Azhar Observatory. On October 3, we received Ms. Misun Pak Fedzer, Acting Deputy Management Counselor, Senior Financial Management Officer, U.S. Embassy Cairo, her husband, Mr. Glenn Fedzer, a retired Foreign Service Officer, and Mr. Rustin Zarkar, Field Director, Library of Congress Cairo Overseas Office. Scholars’ House During the month of October, we had the pleasure of welcoming to the Scholars’ House: Sophie Pommier, a researcher specializing in the Arab world and the Near East; Vinciane Pirenne-Delforge, Professor at the Collège de France, historian specializing in ancient Greek religion; Andrew Sutherland, a researcher holding a Master’s degree in History and History of Religions from the University of Lausanne. He is currently specializing in the history of medieval Islam, particularly Twelver Shiʿism; Charlotte Courreye, historian and lecturer in Arabic Studies at the University Jean Moulin Lyon 3, member of the Institute for Transtextual and Transcultural Studies; Nicolas Michel, Professor of Contemporary History at Aix-Marseille University, Head of the History Department, and Corresponding Member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. Publications Dominique Avon, « Récits de “Vie de Muhammad”. Auteurs sunnites et orientalistes. Une histoire tressée (XIXᵉ-XXIᵉ siècles) », dans Mohammad-Ali Amir-Moezzi et John Tolan (dir.), Le Mahomet des historiens, Paris, Cerf, 2025, p. 1193-1266. Jean Jacques Pérennès, Georges Anawati (1905-1994). Un cristiano egiziano davanti al mistero dell’islam, traduction de Francesco Antonini, Milano, Castelvecchi, 2025. Upcoming activities Sībawayh Seminar The next session of the Sībawayh Seminar, organized by Jean Druel, OP, will take place on Friday, November 7 at 5:00 PM, both in person at IDEO and on Zoom. The speaker will be Dr. Muhammad Gomaa al-Dirbi, a lecturer at the University of Luxor. He will present his project on the bibliogram of Sībawayh’s Kitāb. More information can be found here (In Arabic)… Teaching In 2025–2026, Jean Druel, OP will begin teaching a course in liturgical Arabic for first-year students at Dar Comboni (two sessions of 30 hours each). Conference | The Divine One and Its Multiples On November 27–29, Emmanuel Pisani, OP and Adrien Candiard, OP will

“Al-ʿilm ḥayāt al-qalb min al-ǧahl” – knowledge is the life of the heart against ignorance – and Imam al-Nawawī (d. 1277) added, “the lamp of the eyes against darkness, the strength of the body against weakness.” This phrase summarizes a conviction we share at IDEO: to seek, in the sources of Islam and their contexts, the light of wisdom that illuminates and elevates both mind and body. While our research has resulted in numerous publications, from the very founding of the Institute, we have also been attentive to requests for teaching. Father Jacques Jomier, for example, trained generations of seminarians in Islamic studies in Kinshasa, and today, many of us teach in various academic settings. September 22 marks, however, a turning point in the Institute’s history, since for the first time, IDEO is taking on the risk and responsibility of institutionally offering a full university program: a Master’s in Islamic Studies, in partnership with Domuni Universitas. This initiative is both faithful and innovative. Faithful, because it continues IDEO’s original mission: to engage with Islamic thought “from within,” as close as possible to its texts and to their own intellectual logic. Innovative, because it commits the Institute to a new, structured pedagogy aimed at a broad audience, beyond traditional academic circles. Today in French, tomorrow in English, and soon also in Arabic: the project already embraces the multilingualism inherent in the Islamic tradition itself. By launching this program, IDEO does not turn away from its research vocation: it extends it, shares it, and puts it into motion. As al-Ghazālī (d. 1111) taught in the Iḥyāʾ – an unparalleled spiritual summa – knowledge without living transmission is sterile. It is precisely to this living transmission that we wish to contribute. Anawati Chair IDEO – CEF Volunteering On September 1ˢᵗ, we welcomed Mr. Jean-Baptiste Saliot, who began a volunteer assignment for IDEO at the French Teaching Center of al-Azhar, directed by Mrs. Mona Sabry and dedicated to the French-language training of “preachers”. Lectures From September 8 to 11, Jean Druel, OP and Dennis Halft, OP participated in the 35ᵗʰ Deutscher Orientalistentag (DOT), held in Erlangen, Germany. On September 8, Jean Druel, OP moderated a panel on the history of classical Arabic grammar, during which he presented a paper entitled: “Ṣīda ʿalayhi yawmāni: Sībawayhi’s Analysis of the Grammatical Logic behind Non-Analogical Expressions in Classical Arabic Usage and its Reception in the Grammatical Tradition”. On September 9, Dennis Halft, OP gave a lecture entitled: “Die Isfahaner Karmelitenbibliothek als Spiegel des Kulturaustauschs zwischen Europa und Persien (17.–19. Jahrhundert)”. Program | Master’s in Islamic studies On September 22, registrations opened for the Master’s in Islamic studies of Domuni University, directed by Emmanuel Pisani, with personalized mentoring provided by Jean Druel. Scholarships are available and awarded based on students’ financial situation. This online program offers rigorous academic guidance along with close support for research. Three main topics will be covered during the e-seminars: “Spiritual Figures of Islam” “Islam and Modernity” “Authority in Islam” Teachings Since September 20, Mr. Aziz Hilal has been giving weekly courses on Arab-Islamic philosophy at the Coptic Catholic Seminary in Maadi, while Adrien Candiard, OP teaches Introduction to Islam there. On September 24, Jean Druel, OP resumed his introductory course in Biblical Greek (60 hours) at the Faculty of Religious Sciences of Sakakini. Emmanuel Pisani, OP is teaching two online courses at the Theologicum as part of the Certificate Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Secularism, including a course on The Foundations of Islam. Dominican Students This year, we are welcoming two Congolese brothers, Laurent Ontere and Steve Sinelide, who are enrolled in Arabic studies at Dar Comboni, in their second and first years, respectively. The Islamic studies courses will be offered at IDEO. Framework agreement On September 29, Emmanuel Pisani, OP signed in Rome a framework agreement and a specific agreement with Father Wassim Salman, President of Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), in order to promote the formation in Islamic studies of Dominican students. Media On August 13, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave an interview to al-Bawabh News (in Arabic) with journalist Mrs. Reem Mokhtar. Visits On September 9, we had the honor of welcoming Mr. Makram Abbes, Director of the Department of Contemporary Arabic Studies (DEAC) and of the University Institute for Teacher Training (IUFP), accompanied by Ms. Manal Guindi, Assistant Director of both institutions. On September 15, Emmanuel Pisani, OP visited al-Azhar to present to the Grand Imam issue 40 of MIDEO. He was received in a friendly and warm manner by the Grans Imam, who expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation activities carried out with IDEO. On the same day, we had the honor of welcoming a delegation of eight French senators on a mission as part of the preparation of a report on cooperation with Egypt in the fields of education and research. The French delegation was composed of: Mr. Laurent Lafon, President of the Committee; Ms. Catherine Morin-Desailly, Vice-President; Ms. Laure Darcos, Senator; Ms. Béatrice Gosselin, Senator; Mr. Jacques Grosperrin, Senator; Mr. Pierre-Antoine Levi, Senator; Ms. Marie-Pierre Monier, Senator; Mr. Mathieu Teoran, Administrator of the French Senate, Head of the Commission’s Office. Scholars’ House During the month of September, we had the pleasure of welcoming to the Scholars’ House Ms. Zsuzsanna Németh, researcher at the Avicenna Institute for Middle Eastern Studies in Piliscsaba, Hungary; Mr. Aurélien Lederer, PhD student at the Center for Studies and Research on the Ottoman World and the Maghreb (CERMOM), at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO); Mr. Xavier Baki-Mignot, Doctor of Law and Associate Professor at Jean-Moulin University Lyon 3. Publication Emmanuel Pisani, « Réinventer le dialogue : François au-delà d’Ecclesiam Suam ? », Chemin de dialogue 65, juin 2025. Upcoming Introductory Webinar for the Conference “Ethics and Aesthetics” The Pluriel network, in partnership with IDEO, is organizing a webinar on October 16, 2025, on the topic “Continuities, Transformations, and Reinventions in Muslim Societies” with Maria del Mar Griera Llonch (Spain), Emilio Gonzalez Ferrin (Spain), and Mohamed El Maâzouz (Morocco), as a prelude to the international congress

Summer is always, for scholars, a season both of writing and of intense reading. This year, we immersed ourselves in several works recently published by members of IDEO, and it was with particular enthusiasm that we delved into the critical edition of part of the Kitāb of Sībawayh, the great grammarian of the Arabic language. This edition, the fruit of many years of persistent labor by Jean Druel, OP presents the three recensions preserved in the Milan–Kazan codex, arranged in parallel columns. The stated ambition is to invite scholars to reconsider the shifting history of the Kitāb, its extraordinary plasticity during the early phases of its transmission, the role of its transmitters, and the richness of a tradition of commentary that continually deepened it. A singular mystery remains: that a scholar who lived in obscurity, and who never taught his own work, could nevertheless have engendered such a fertile and sophisticated legacy. Carried out with meticulous care and evident passion, this edition testifies to the ability of our researchers to produce scholarship that makes a significant contribution to both the academic community and the field of Islamic studies. We extend our warmest thanks to Jean Druel, OP for his patience and the quality of his research, and we wish you all a fruitful beginning to the academic year. Anawati Chair Postdoctoral Fellowship in Textual Editing From July 20 to 29, researcher Ahmed Mobarak, carried out a research stay at the British Library. The purpose of this visit was to consult the original manuscript that is the focus of his research, entitled “The Noble Virtues in Human Qualities”. Delegation from al-Azhar Observatory to the European Academy of Religions From July 8 to 12, a delegation from the al-Azhar Observatory—composed of Mrs. Reham Salamah, Mr. Abdullah Abdeen, Mr. Ossama Raslan, and Mr. Ahmed Hamza—accompanied by the director of IDEO, Emmanuel Pisani, OP, traveled to Vienna to participate in the eighth annual conference of the European Academy of Religions, held under the general topic “Religion and Socio-Cultural Transformation: European Perspectives and Beyond”. The delegation moderated two panels entitled: Collaborative Solutions between the al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism and the Dominican Institute of Oriental Studies in Egypt (chaired by Emmanuel Pisani, OP). Cultural and Religious Challenges in Europe: The Case of Muslim Communities (chaired by Mrs. Reham Salamah, Director of the Observatory). Furthermore, each researcher presented a paper: 1. Human Fraternity: A Universal Call for Peace and Coexistence | Mr. Abdullah Abdeen. 2. Cultural and Religious Challenges in Europe: Muslim Communities | Mr. Ahmed Hamza. 3. The Role of the al-Azhar Observatory in Raising Awareness and Promoting Critical Thinking | Mrs. Reham Salamah. 4. Islamic Cultural Identity and the Quest for European Integration | Mr. Ossama Raslan. Summer School “Citizenship and Religious Pluralism” From July 15 to 21, the Summer School brought together nineteen European and Egyptian doctoral researchers and students for a week of exchanges and sharing. Each researcher delivered a keynote lecture, while the students presented their dissertation topics. Among the topics explored were the relationship between citizenship and freedom of belief, legal translation, gender and political transitions, confessionalism, religious pluralism, and family law in Egypt and Tunisia. Certificate Awarding Ceremony On July 21, a closing ceremony was held to mark the end of the Summer School and to present certificates to the participants of the program “Islam and Other Religions.” The event took place against the iconic backdrop of the Pyramids, in the presence of EU representatives Ms. Anne Kofoed and Ms. Ilaria Betti. The ceremony featured speeches by Emmanuel Pisani, OP, Director of IDEO, and Ms. Anne Kofoed. Introductory Course in Arabic Language and Islamic studies From July 14 to August 8, 2025, six Dominican brothers participated in an introductory course in Arabic language and Islamic studies. We were delighted to welcome: 1. Raymond Djaoyang, OP, Cameroonian 2. Arsène Tirmadjingar Adoumbey, OP, Chadian 3. Martin Zenga, OP, Congolese 4. Alphonse Wawey, OP, Congolese 5. Jaynnoã Fernando Silva Lopes, OP, Brazilian 6. Aloysius Luis Kung, OP Indonesian The course was organized with the support of the Church in Need (AED) and the Network of Centers for Christian-Muslim Relations (NCCMR). Lecture On July 24, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture at the Temple of Perros-Guirec on the topic of “Israel-Palestine: The Urgency of a Different Reading of the Bible”. Scholarships | Calls for Applications Scholarships to Participate in the 5ᵗʰ PLURIEL Congress in Córdoba PLURIEL is offering students a scholarship to enable them to participate in the 5ᵗʰ International Congress “Ethics and Aesthetics in Islamic Heritage”, which will be held in Cordoba from February 10 to 14, 2026. All details as well as the eligibility requirements are available in the call for applications (in French). Scholarship from the Chair “Mediterranean, Religions, and Societies” A second phase of applications is open for the first year of activity (2025–2026) of the Chair “Mediterranean, Religions, and Societies”. This call is addressed to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers interested in Mediterranean issues in the social sciences and humanities. The application deadline is September 20, 2025. Call for Applications – University Certificate in Islamic Studies In partnership with the French Institut for Islamic studies (IFI), IDEO is offering a one-year program for French-speaking students enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program at an academic institution in Egypt, aimed at acquiring methods applied to Islamic studies.  Applications are open until September 30: secretariat@ideo-cairo.org. The program will be led and directed by Adrien Candiard, OP. Research Seminar On July 5, Mr. Dominique Avon co-organized the seminar “Identifying and Deconstructing Intransigent Discourses: Contributions of the Human and Social Sciences in Relation to Religious Issues”, held at Campus Condorcet (Paris–Aubervilliers). The aim of this seminar was to strengthen the capacity of Muslim actors to analyze intransigent religious discourses by situating them within their historical context. Publication of MIDEO 40 The full volume 40 of MIDEO is now available online on the OpenEdition platform. This issue, devoted to The Religious Other in Quranic Tafsīr, brings together the work of several international