Newsletter January 2025

Kalidou Kassé, Porte de l’espoir (Dakar). Although geographically situated at the crossroads of the Near East, bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip, Egypt remains on the African continent. Inspired by this unique position, we wanted to offer and share our expertise in Islamic studies, hoping to enrich research and deepen its implications for Islamic-Christian dialogue. It was in this spirit that IDEO organized an international seminar on this topic in the Diocese of Dakar last November, at the invitation of Mgr André Gueye, Bishop of Thiès and with the support of Aid to the Church in Need (AED) Representatives from fifteen nations attended, with several academic institutions and research centers dedicated to dialogue affirming their mutual commitment. The event was significant for the participation of numerous former students from the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI) and the Institute of Science and Theology of Religions (ISTR) in Paris, who shared with their peers the fruits of their reflections and field experiences. Discussions included the Akbarian doctrine of waḥdat al-wuǧūd (the unity of being) as a potential foundation for building ontological fraternity, while Surah 112, al-Iḫlāṣ (The Pure Sincerity), revealed its potential as a basis for dialogue. In her contribution, “Religion, Religions, and Conflicts”, philosopher Ramatoulaye Diagne Mbengue, Rector of Iba Der Thiam University in Thiès, drew upon the Qurʾān, invoking the thought of Léopold Sédar Senghor and Leibniz’s conception of universality. African religious traditions were also highlighted as a common cultural foundation beyond religious differences. However, the discussions also revealed the impact of modernity, which often marginalizes or dissolves traditional legacies. The debate on the role of women as a vector for conflict resolution revealed, in this regard, the clash of perspectives between male and female participants. The seminar fostered fruitful exchanges and a heartening encounter with Sheikh Omar Tall. Idéo is pleased with this modest yet essential contribution to the pursuit of sincere dialogue and peacebuilding on a continent beset by too much violence. Lectures and talks On November 5ᵗʰ, Dennis Halft, OP gave a lecture entitled “Jewish-Muslim Encounter in Iran at the Beginning of the Early Modern Period: A Jewish Translation of the Psalms into Persian”, at the Society for the Study of Religions at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. On November 8ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave a lecture at the Lebret Center in Dakar on the topic of “The Current state of Dominican Presence in the Muslim East”, in partnership with the Center for Education, Training, and Documentation on Islamic-Christian Dialogue and Integral Development. From November 11ᵗʰ to 13ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP led the scientific direction of the international conference “Islamic-Christian Dialogue: An Opportunity for Africa”, held at the invitation of the Diocese of Thiès. He presented the main topic and delivered the final synthesis. On November 15ᵗʰ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture entitled “Christians and Muslims: What Paths to Encounter?”, at Saint-Pierre in Vieux-Lille. Then, on November 26ᵗʰ, he gave a lecture on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Paris during the plenary session of the National Service for Relations with Muslims (SNRM) of the French Bishops’ Conference. On November 16ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave a lecture in Arabic at the conference “Islamic Studies in Catholic Education”, organized by the Franciscan Cultural Center in Cairo, in partnership with PISAI (Rome), Al-Mesbar Studies and Research Centre (Dubai), and the IDEO. His lecture was entitled “Ḥuḍūr al-dūminīkan fī al-Qāhira : muqārabāt tārīḫiyya wa-rihānāt lāhūtīyya  [The Dominican Presence in Cairo: Historical Approaches and Theological Challenges]”. During the conference, Mina-Athanase Abdelmeseh, OP gave a presentation on Brother Emilio Platti, while Adrien Candiard, OP discussed the importance and relevance of studying Ibn Taymiyya for a Dominican brother. On November 28ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP participated in the webinar organized by the Faculty of Theology at UCLy on the 60ᵗʰ anniversary of the encyclical Ecclesiam Suam. He gave the following lecture: “Pope Francis, a Key Player in Ecclesiam Suam”. Scientific workshop On November 6ᵗʰ and 7ᵗʰ, Matthieu Palayret, OP participated in an English-language scientific workshop on Arabic codicology, entitled Arabic Manuscripts and How to Read Them. The workshop was organized by Dr. Olly Akkerman and Professor Petra Sijpesteijn at the Flemish Institute in Cairo (Netherlands-Flemish Institute). Interreligious dialogue From November 21ˢᵗ to 23ʳᵈ, Dennis Halft, OP participated in Rome at the 50ᵗʰ meeting of the Sub-Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the German Bishops’ Conference, where he contributed to discussions on a new working tool for Christian-Muslim dialogue in Germany. Thesis jury On November 4ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP participated as a jury member and first rapporteur in the defense of Mr. Benjamin Kabongo’s thesis entitled “The Evaluation of Theological Issues in the ‘Substitution-Compassion’ Concept in Louis Massignon’s Christian-Muslim Dialogue Theology”. The thesis, directed by Mr. Joseph Ellul, was defended in the presence of Ms. Évelyne Maurice, jury president, and Ms. Claire Reggio, second rapporteur. The candidate was awarded the grade of “very good” for the Doctorate in Religious Studies at the University of Domuni. Visit On November 20ᵗʰ, we welcomed Mr. Ali Abdelhakim, Director of the Islamic Sciences Department at the Faculty of Languages and Translation of Al-Azhar University. He was accompanied by seven other professors. Scholars’ House During the month of November, we had the pleasure of welcoming to the Scholars’ House: Gyöngyi Oroszi and M. Levente Teklovics, PhD students at the Avicenna Institute of Middle Eastern Studies in Piliscsaba, Hungary; Gianluca Parolin, professor of law at the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations at the Aga Khan University; Angeliki Ziaka, professor of the history of religions and interreligious dialogue at the Faculty of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as the interreligious dialogue coordinator for the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Publication Dominique Avon, The Paradigm of “Integral Islam” in Prescriptive Religious Discourse, Trends Researcher & Advisor, October 2024, 31 pages.

The Anawati Chair has opened three postdoctoral fellowships in partnership with the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts. This month, our three researchers presented, as part of the IDEO seminars, the progress, challenges, and prospects of their research towards establishing three critical editions of Islamic heritage. Dʳ. Mariam Shehata has begun an inquiry into The Commentary on al-Ḫuṭba al-Ġarrāʾ of Ibn Sīnā, by Šaraf al-Dīn al-Masʿūdī (6ᵗʰ/12ᵗʰ century). Dʳ. Ahmed Atiyya, meanwhile, is preparing an edition of the book Maḥāsin al-Ġurar fī Manāqib al-Bašar of Abū al-Suʿūd, by Muḥammad Ibn Ǧānī Bek al-Sayfī, an author from the 10ᵗʰ century of the Hijri, who does more than simply compile the sayings of earlier scholars on ethics but offers original teachings. Dʳ. Atiyya emphasized the uniqueness of this work’s reflections on the origins of ethics, its social consequences, the distinctiveness of each virtue through a precise definition of its characteristics and stakes, and an expansion into questions like politics… As for Dʳ. Abdulrahman Bin Khunayfir, he is preparing the study and critical edition of the manuscript Siyāsat al-Nufūs by Sinān Ibn Ṯābit ibn Qurra (d. 331/943), the only preserved work by this author. Intellectually, this epistle was written after the first generation of translators and authors in the field of moral philosophy (al-Kindī, al-Sarḫasī, Ibn Qurra, Ibn Abī Nūḥ, and al-Rāzī). It therefore, precedes the establishment of writing traditions in this field, that is, before the dissemination of al-Fārābī’s treatises, the Iḫwān al-Ṣafāʾ, and before the emergence of Ibn Sīnā, Miskawayh, and al-ʿĀmirī. In this initial presentation, our researchers have already conducted meticulous investigations, sometimes akin to detective work, to find manuscripts that will enrich their studies, enabling them to better delineate the context of writing, authenticate attribution, and understand the contributions of these works to the humanist heritage of Islam. Anawati Chair 1. Observatory on the fight against extremism On October 2ⁿᵈ, eight researchers from the French section of the Observatory participated in a seminar given by Dʳ. Ali Mostfa (UCLy) at IDEO on the topic of “Words Surrounding Islam in Debate: Semantic Issues and Discursive Derivations.” 2. Editions of Islamic Heritage Texts On October 14ᵗʰ, the IDEO seminar welcomed Dʳ. Ahmed Abdel Basit from the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts (IMA), together with the three postdoctoral researchers at IDEO who are working on the edition of texts from Islamic humanist heritage. Their work contributes to the enhancement of knowledge regarding ethical approaches to medieval Islamic heritage. Dʳ. Mariam Shehata is preparing the edition of The Commentary on al-Ḫuṭba al-Ġarrāʾ of Ibn Sīnā, by Šaraf al-Dīn al-Masʿūdī (6ᵗʰ/12ᵗʰ century).  Dʳ. Ahmed Atiyya is preparing the edition of the book Maḥāsin al-Ġurar fī Manāqib al-Bašar of Abū al-Suʿūd, by Muḥammad Ibn Ǧānī Bek al-Sayfī (10ᵗʰ/16ᵗʰ century). Dʳ. Abdulrahman Bin Khunayfir is preparing the study and critical edition of the manuscript Siyāsat al-Nufūs by Sinān Ibn Ṯābit ibn Qurra (d. 331/943). 3. Conference “The Authority of Silence” – Call for papers As part of the conference “The Authority of Silence: Constructing the Figure of the Salafs (7ᵗʰ-15ᵗʰ Centuries)” to be held on May 2ⁿᵈ and 3ʳᵈ, 2025, in Cairo, we invite researchers wishing to participate to submit an abstract of their proposal before the deadline of January 15ᵗʰ, 2025. For more information, please visit our website… Lectures and talks On October 14ᵗʰ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP gave a lecture in Tourcoing entitled “Israel-Palestine, One Year After October 7ᵗʰ: Situation and Perspectives”. On October 25ᵗʰ, Jean Jacques Pérennès, OP led a training session for volunteers of the Catholic Delegation for Cooperation (DCC) in preparation for their departure to Egypt and the Maghreb”. Visits On October 7ᵗʰ and 8ᵗʰ, we welcomed Ms. Marie Monnet, Rector of Domuni Online University, Ameer Jajé, OP, Director for the Arab World, and Michel Van Aerde, OP. The purpose of this visit was to work on finalizing a Certificate 2 and implementing a Master’s degree in Islamic studies. They were accompanied by Ms. Laure Chocun, Assistant to Ms. Marie Monnet; Ms. Cécile Boucherle, General Secretary of Domuni; and Ms. Justine Pinto, Head of Educational Programs. Scholars’ House During the month of October, we had the pleasure of welcoming to the Scholars’ House: Mr. Onsi Kamel, PhD student in philosophy and religion at Princeton University; Mr. Zoltán Páll, anthropologist specializing in transnational Islamic movements at the Avicenna Institute for Middle Eastern Studies and the Institute of Social Anthropology at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna; Mrs. Rocio Daga, professor in religious studies at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich; Mr. Alexandre Coleman, volunteer student at the IDEO library until March 2025; Mrs. Rachida Chih, researcher specializing in Sufism, particularly in the context of Ottoman Egypt, at the Center for Turkish, Ottoman, Balkan, and Central Asian Studies (CETOBaC) at EHESS; Mr. 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 Alberto Ambrosio, « Un goût de la danse soufie », Christus 284, octobre 2024, p. 36-42. Dominique Avon, « L’espace public sous la plume de penseurs catholiques et sunnites en milieu méditerranéen au XXᵉ siècle », Questions constitutionnelles. Dominique Avon, « Islam et pensée critique en contexte arabe au XXᵉ siècle. Explorations et sanctions », Recherches de science religieuse 4/112, 2024, p. 553-573. Emmanuel Pisani, « Enjeux théologiques du dialogue 60 ans après Nostra Aetate », Documents épiscopat 10, 2024, p. 31-42. Emmanuel Pisani, « Karim Arezki (dir.), Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi, Paul Neuenkirchen, Les origines du Coran et de l’islam, St-Légier, HET-PRO, 2022 », Études théologiques et religieuses 3/99, 2024, p. 564-565.

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: Ms. Antoinette Ferrand, scientific member at the IFAO and editorial secretary of MIDEO; Ms. Tessa Larivière-Ammari, history student and beneficiary of the annual IFI-IDEO-IFAO Islamic studies scholarship; Mr. 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.