Join panellists Christopher de Bellaigue and Zulfiqar Ali Shah for an illuminating conversation that charts the evolution of the Enlightenment, its Islamic influences and its relevance in the modern world, where those ideals still serve as the cornerstone of the world’s strongest democracies.

2024 marks 300 years since the birth of Immanuel Kant and 330 years since the birth of Voltaire, two of the best-known philosophers of the European Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that revolved around rationalist thought, scientific enquiry and religious toleration, all principles that were deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition.

Looking back at the work of Kant, Voltaire and others, our panel reveals the fascinating untold story of the cross-fertilisation of Western and Islamic philosophy, and the reformers who helped produce the modern world.

Zulfiqar Ali Shah

Zulfiqar Ali Shah received his BA and MA (Hons) in Comparative Religions from the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan and his PhD in Theology and Religious Studies from the University of Wales, UK. He has taught at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, the University of Wales in the UK, the University of North Florida and Cardinal Stritch University in the US.

He is the former president of the Islamic Circle of North America, Shariah Scholars Association of North America, the current Executive Director and Secretary General of the Fiqh Council of North America and Religious Director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

Christopher de Bellaigue

Christopher de Bellaigue is the award-winning author of six books. As a reporter in the 1990s and 2000s, he covered the Middle East, Turkey and South Asia. His writing appeared in the Economist, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the New York Review of Books. He has made several television and radio programmes and is an honorary fellow of the University of St Andrews.

Step into the realm of architect Mimar Sinan, considered the greatest architect of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, as we invite you to join author Husain R. Banna for a captivating discussion centered around his debut book, Mimar Sinan: The Greatest Ottoman Architect.

In this fascinating event, Banna explores the life and works of arguably one of the greatest architects of all time, whose work has inspired countless people and left an indelible mark on the world. So much so that his work captivated the mind, heart and spirit of the book’s author, Husain R. Banna, when he was just 10 years old.

In this inspiring event in discussion with Professor Saeed Khan, we will learn all about the young author’s insight into Islamic Architecture and the great genius of Mimar Sinan.

Husain R. Banna

Husain R. Banna lives in London, UK and is a student at Chigwell School, an independent school established in 1629. Husain spent two years living in Istanbul where he became fascinated with the architecture of the 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. With this debut, Husain becomes a third-generation author in his family, as both his father and grandfather are authors.

Saeed Khan

Saeed Khan is Senior Lecturer in Near East & Asian Studies and Global Studies at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. He is also the co-founder of the Institute for Social Policy & Understanding, and a panelist on Turning Point for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Join Mohammed Faris, executive coach and bestselling author of The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity, as he delves into his groundbreaking new book, The Barakah Effect: More with Less.

Reintroducing the ancient wisdom of Barakah and juxtaposing it with modern-day realities, Faris offers a renewed perspective on living more with less. This enlightening event provides the perfect opportunity for those seeking to create greater balance in their lives.

Don’t miss out on this insightful conversation that promises to reshape your approach to fulfillment and productivity.

Mohammed Faris

Mohammed Faris is the founder of ProductiveMuslim.com – an online social enterprise dedicated to boosting productivity in the Muslim world. He’s an international speaker, author and coach and has delivered many public workshops in cities around the world. In 2014, Faris was added to the list of 500 Most Influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center of Jordan.

Adela Suliman (Chair)

Adela is an international breaking-news reporter for The Washington Post based in London. Previously, she has worked for NBC News, Al Jazeera English, Thomson Reuters and The Associated Press. She is a graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, with a degree in Law, and Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. Before pivoting to journalism, she spent four years as an international corporate lawyer in London, Dubai and Libya. Adela grew up in Manchester, Kent and London but also spent long stints in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, where her father was born.