As a result of the lack of academic research and material on the subject of Islamicjerusalem and as part of the Academy ongoing programme to become an international platform for the discussion of the studies and issues relating to Islamicjerusalem. It has been decided to initiate an annual conference in the hope of establishing a new frame of reference. The conference aims to provide a forum for scholars working on the subject and all those who wish to enhance their appreciation of any aspect of Islamicjerusalem.

Since 1997 ISRA held five successful international Academic conferences on Islamicjerusalem. After the establishment of the 'Centre for Islamicjerusalem Studies' at the Al-Maktoum Institute / University of Aberdeen in Scotland, ISRA organised some of the following conferences in conjunction with the centre and have since organised another six conferences and ISRA will be organising the twelfth Academic conference on Islamicjerusalem in November 2010. Click below on the links below to see previous and upcoming conferences.

Previous Conferences | Coming Conferences
 

Below are the dates of previous conferences organised by ISRA and the titles of the academic papers which have been presented in them.  As well as conferences organised by/ with the 'Centre of Islamicjerusalem Studies'

1997: FIRST CONFERENCE ON ISLAMIC JERUSALEM

1998: SECOND CONFERENCE: "The Centrality of Jerusalem in Islam"

1999: THIRD CONFERENCE: "Muslim-Christian Relations in Jerusalem: Past, Present  and Future"

2000: FORTH CONFERENCE: "Jerusalem in Islamic Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and International Law"

2003: FIFTH CONFERENCE: "Prophetic Temples and Al-Aqsa Mosque – Demystifying Realities and Exploring Identities"

2004-2009: Conferences organised by/ with the 'Centre of Islamicjerusalem Studies'
 

On the 2nd of September 1997 the Academy held its first International Academic Conference in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London It was a great success, with a very positive response from all participants and very favourable comments and reports from various media attendees.  It was in both Arabic and English and simultaneous translation facilities were available. 
The conference was officially opened by Ernie Ross MP, who welcomed the advent of our Annual Conference and Outlined Labour Party Policy towards Jerusalem. Many new and stimulating ideas were to be heared from the various speakers at the Conference, and particulary thought provoking were those of the keynote speakers, Professor Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Karen Armstrong - their papers can be read in the Journal of Islamic Jerusalem Studies in Volume1 Number1 Winter 1997. Other notable speakers at the Conference were Dr. Mohsen Saleh, Professor S. A. Schleiffer, Alister Duncan, and Raid Salah.

The following papers were presented in this conference:

• Ernie Ross: The British Government and the Labour Party position on Jerusalem.

• Karen Armstrong: Sacred Space: The Holiness of Islamic Jerusalem.

• Abdallah Schleifer: Jerusalem as Archetype of Harmonious Islamic Urban Environment

• Yousef al-Qaradawi: Al-Quds Fī al-Wa‘ī al-Islāmī

• Muhsin Salih: Juhūd  Ba‘d ‘Ulamā’ Filastīn Fī Ri‘āyat al-Muqadasāt al-Islamiyah Fī al-Quds wa Himāyatuha: 1918-1931

• Abdallah Schleifer Jerusalem as Archetype of Harmonious Islamic Urban Environment.

• Alister Duncan: The Noble Sanctuary: An Illustrated Appreciation of al-Haram al-Sharif in Islamic Jerusalem.

• Raid Salah. Al-Hafriyāt wa al-Akhtār alatī Tuhaded al-Masjed al-Aqsa al-Mubarak: Taqrīr Shahed ‘Ayān.

Following upon the success of the1997 conference, the Academy organised a second conference on Saturday the 22nd of August 1998 with the theme "The Centrality of Jerusalem in Islam" at the Brunei Gallery of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.  It was both in Arabic and English and simultaneous translation facilities were available as usual.  There were nine distinguished speakers from Jordan, Morocco, Jerusalem and the UK. 
The Conference was officially opened by Lord Watson (Honorary President of the Academy) and Dr Phyllis Starkey (Chair of All Party Britian-Palestine Group; and Vice Chair of the Labour Middle East Council) their papers can be read in the Journal Volume Number2 Summer1999.  Keynote speakers were: Professor Ibrahim Zaid al-Kilani and Kenneth Cragg. Other notable speakers at the Conference were Dr Marwan Abu-Khalaf, Faris Glubb, Dr. Michael Dumper, Raif Nijem, andProfessor Abbas Jirari.  Some of the delivered papers can be read in the Journal of Islamic Jerusalem Studies Volume2 Number1 Winter 1998.

The following papers were presented in this conference:

• Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi: The Significance of Jerusalem in Islam: an Islamic Reference.

• Ibrahim Zaid al-Kilani: Markaziyat al-Quds wa Makānatuhā Fī al-Islam

• Kenneth Cragg: The Excellence of Jerusalem.

• Marwan Abu-Khalaf: The Significance of Jerusalem to Muslims

• Michael Dumper: Muslim Institutional Development in Jerusalem.

• Raif Nijem: Harīq al-Masjed al-Aqsa ‘Ām 1969 wa al-Hafriyāt alatī Tuhaded al-Masjed al-Aqsa al-Mubarak wa ma Hawlahu Haliyn.

• Abbas Jirari: al-Quds al-Sharīf: Hawyah Islamiyah Tatahada Al-A‘Dā’ wa al-Ihtilāl- Dawr Lajnat al-Quds.

• Faris Glubb: Jerusalem: the Central Point of Saladin’s Life.

In the Light of the end of the Millennium and the 99th anniversary of the Crusades, we felt it wasappropriate, to focus our third Conference on the theme of "Muslim-Christian Relations in Jerusalem: Past, Present and Future".  It was a great success with many encouraging comments from those who attended, and the proceedings were well reported around the world. The conference was held in Brunei Gallery of the School of Oriental and African Studies on the 7th September 1999.  The first and Second Exhibitions were shown during this conference.
The Conference was officially opened by Sir Cyril Townsend (Honorary President of the Academy) and Mr Tony Loyd (Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 1997-1999).
We were extremely happy that we managed to bring together so many distinguished speakers from Syria, Jordan, Jerusalem, and the UK.  Even the Conference's audience came from around the world, America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.  Fine speeches were given by the keynote speakers: Professor Muhammad Said Ramadan al-Buti and Duncan Macpherson. Other notable speakers at the Conference were Dr. Michael Prior, Dr. Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, Haithem al-Ratrout, Professor Shafiq Jaser, Dr. Geries Khoury, Dr. Carole Hillenbrand, and Professor Zaki Badawi.  Some of the delivered papers can be read in the Journal of Islamic Jerusalem Studies in Volume3 Number1 Winter 1999.

The following papers were presented in this conference:

•  Muhammad Said Ramadan al-Buti: Mu‘āmalet al-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah li Ghaīr al-Muslimīn-al-Quds Namūthjan.

•  Duncan Macpherson.: Jerusalem and Christian-Muslim Relations: the Contemporary Context

• Michael Prior: Christian Perspectives on Jerusalem

•  Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi: The Islamic Assurance of Safety to the People of Aelia (Jerusalem) in 363 A.D: A Historical Analysis.

• Haithem al-Ratrout, Nathariyah Jadīdah li Tafsīr al-Tasmīm wa al-Takhtīt al-Handasī li Qubat al-Sakhrah wa al-Fikr al- Takhtītī al-Handasī al-Islamī fī al-Fatrah al-Islamiyah al-Mubakirah.

•  Shafiq Jaser, Al-‘Alāqah Bayn al-Muslimīn wa al-Masīhiyn Fīal-Quds Khilāl al-Fath al-Islami al-Awal.

• Geries Khoury, ‘Alāqah Bayn al-Muslimīn wa al-Masīhiyn fī al-Quds Ila Bedāyat al-Hurūb al-Salībiyah.

• Martin Forward: Jerusalem the Golden: Christian Attitudes to Jerusalem during the Crusader Period.

• Zaki Badawi: Muslim-Christian Relations in Jerusalem: Present and Future- A Muslim Perspective.

On Tuesday 24 October 2000 the Islamic Research Academy (ISRA) held its Fourth Annual International Academic Conference at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. It was a great success, with a very positive response from participants and very favourable comments and reports from various media attendees. As every year the conference was in both Arabic and English and simultaneous translation facilities were available.

Dr Abd-Al-Fattah El-Awaisi, Secretary-General of ISRA opened the conference by welcoming all the speakers and participants. The Honorary President of ISRA Lord Watson started the day by stating ISRA's achievements in the last few years "for some years now the Academy has been establishing a new discipline in Academia, and a new frame of reference with regard to Jerusalem. Some will be familiar with our various activities, our exhibitions, lectures and research seminars. Others will have seen our publications, books and posters, and of course the Journal of Islamic Jerusalem Studies." He also made a special thank to the patronage of this year Conference His Highness Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. He also announced the establishment of "Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic & Islamic Studies" in Scotland.

Mr Ernie Ross MP, chairman of the Labour Middle East Council (LMEC), delivered the opening address. He Outlined the Labour Party Policy towards Jerusalem. Mr Mirza Al-Sayegh, the private Secretary to H.H.Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum outlined the history of Jerusalem from the first inhabitants to the Islamic time. The Legal status of Jerusalem: A View from Muslim Jurisprudence was a topic discussed by Professor Wahba Al-Zuhayli from the university of Damascus.

Dr Mark Hoyle, barrister and the Editor of the Arab Law Quartley discussed the 20th century models of international cities and mixed Jurisdictions. Professor Mohamed S. El-Awa, an attorney at law-Egypt discussed the Muslim View on the World Divisions and the status of Al-Quds. The problematic concept of Sovereignty and the question of Jerusalem was discussed by Dr Mahdi Zahraa from Glasgow Caledonian University. The vice-president of Alexandria University. Professor Mohamed El-Said El-Dakkak discussed the United Nations and the question of Jerusalem. "Jerusalem in Post-modern International Law: Deconstructing the past to build a constructive future" was a paper delivered by Dr Michael Heather from the School of Law at University of Northumbria at Newcastle.

Finally Dr Anas Abu Shady from Al-Azhar University in Egypt discussed the proposed options for the final status of Jerusalem from the view of Muslim Jurists.

The following papers were presented in this conference:

• Wahba Al-Zuhayli: Markaz al-Quds Aw al-Wad‘ al-Shar‘ī wa al-Qanūnī Lil Quds.

• Mark Hoyle: The 20^th Century Models of International Cities and Mixed Jurisdictions.

•  Mohamed S. El-Awa: Bayt al-Maqdis Fī Daw’ Fikrat Dār al-Islam wa Dār al-Harb.

•  Mahdi Zahraa: The Problematic Concept of Sovereignty and the Question of Jerusalem.

•  Mohamed El-Said El-Dakkak: Al-Umam al-Mutahidah wa al-Wad’ al-Iqlīmī  Ghayr al-Mashrū‘ Fī Bayt al-Maqdis.

• Michael Heather: The Post-Modern Posotion of Jerusalem in 21^st Century International Law.

• Anas Abu-Shady: Khayārāt al-Muqtaraha liWad‘ Bayt al-Maqdis Fī al-Taswiyah al-Nihā’iyah: Dirāsah Fiqhiyah

The 2003 International Academic Conference on Islamic Jerusalem was held on Monday 21 April 2003. The theme for this year's conference was "Prophetic Temples and Al-Aqsa Mosque - Demystifying Realities and Exploring Identities". This was the fifth time that a conference on Islamic Jerusalem was held by the Islamic Research Academy and the first time it is organised jointly with Centre of Islamicjerusalem Studies. The uniqueness of this conference is that it presented new and innovative theories in Islamic Jerusalem Studies.

The Conference was a great success, with a very positive response from participants who came from around the globe. As every year the conference was in both Arabic and English and simultaneous translation facilities were available. The conference was opened by The Lord Elder of Kirkcaldy, Chancellor of Al-Maktoum Institute. Mr Ernie Ross MP, member of the Institute Council, read the Opening Speech on behalf of His Excellency Mr Mirza Al-Sayegh. Also Lord Provost John Letford of Dundee attended the Opening Session of the conference.

Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi presented an innovative paper entitled "Exploring the Identity of Islamic Jerusalem". As the pioneer of this noble field of inquiry, Professor El-Awaisi explained what he means by the term "Islamic Jerusalem". He admitted that it took him three years to come to this definition and that it may take several years before the actual definition is accepted by the wider public. He concluded that from his own research, Islamic Jerusalem is a region that spans 40 miles by 40 miles with Al-Aqsa Mosque as the centre point. Professor El-Awaisi also pointed out that Islamic Jerusalem was built on the vision of inclusivity and plurality. Both led to the development of a peaceful and harmonious multicultural society in Islamic Jerusalem. Professor El-Awaisi indicated that Islamic Jerusalem can be used as the model for the advancement of a multicultural, multireligious society anywhere in the world. Professor El-Awaisi also explained the "Circle Theory", which is a new theory he developed based on new interpretations of the primary Islamic sources and history.

The other main speakers were Professor George Wesley Buchanan, New Testament Emeritus Scholar (USA), and Mr David Sielaff from Associates for Scriptural Knowledge (USA). Professor Buchanan presented a paper on "The Temple near the Spring of Siloan: Its Biblical Confirmation and Insights" while Mr Sielaff's paper was entitled "The Jewish Temple Above the Gihon Spring: 1700 Years of Eyewitness Evidence." Both speakers presented overwhelming evidence on the actual location of the Jewish Temple and they both confirmed that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is not the location of the Jewish Temple, as claimed by some. Both speakers expressed disappointment by the claims that Al-Aqsa Mosque was built on the ruins of the Jewish Temple as these claims were not based on solid evidence.

A paper by Professor Adel Hassan Ghoneim of Egypt entitled "Al-Buraq Wall (the Western Wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque): Historical Realities" was presented in the afternoon sessions by Dr Mohammad Nasser of Dundee University. Another paper by Dr Haithem Al-Ratrout of An-Najah National University (Palestine) entitled "Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Quranic Archaeology" was also presented by Mrs Aisha Al-Ahlas.

Dr Othman Al-Tel, presented another paper entitled "The Interest of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab in the Location of David's Temple in Jerusalem: Myth or Reality." Dr Al-Tel was also announced as the winner of the prestigious Islamic Jerusalem Prize for Young Scholars. The award was issued by the Islamic Research Academy to young scholars who submit outstanding published or unpublished academic research related to Islamic Jerusalem Studies.

Additionally, Shaikh Raid Salah was announced as winner of the Al-Maqdisi Award for his outstanding work in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Sixth International Academic Conference on Islamic Jerusalem was held on Monday 31 May and the 1 June 2004. The conference organised by the Centre of Islamicjerusalem Studies was entitled “The New Field of Inquiry of Islamic Jerusalem Studies: Background, Achievements and Future”. The Conference discussed the establishment of ISRA and its achievements and the introduction of this exciting new field of enquiry. It was attended by various individual from different countries such as Malaysia, Palestine, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the UK. Sir Cyril Townsend, the Honorary President of the Islamic Research Academy (ISRA) said in his opening remarks that he is happy and privileged to be associated with this great project. He was involved in the project from its early days when it was still in its initial stages. During the conference different areas on Islamic Jerusalem Studies were discussed: Knowledge and Power; Building Knowledge as well as the Future of Islamic Jerusalem Studies. Leading scholars such as Dr. Ahmad Hidayat Buang from Malasyia and Dr. Haithem al-Ratrout from Palestine presented some interesting papers during the conference, in addition to some other researchers. Professor El-Awaisi concluded by highlighting the success of the establishment of this new filed of inquiry of Islamic Jerusalem Studies. He stated that “ISRA has quickly become recognized as a unique international platform for research and debate on Islamic Jerusalem, set within ‘a new academic frame of reference’ and a new branch of knowledge on the international scene, known as ‘Islamic Jerusalem Studies’”. .

The Seventh International Academic Conference on Islamicjerusalem was held on Monday 6^th June 2005 in Dundee - Scotland. The conference was entitled “Islamicjerusalem Studies: Definition and Approaches” This conference was a response to one point stated in the important document produced by the 2004 conference on Islamicjerusalem Studies entitled ‘The Future Development of the New Field of Inquiry of Islamicjerusalem Studies’. Therefore, the 2005 conference was designed to review and explore the development of the new field of inquiry of Islamicjerusalem Studies, looking in particular at the definition along with examining new research on the three interlinked elements of the definition of Islamicjerusalem: its geographical location and boundaries (land), their population (people) and its vision. The Conference was attended by various individuals from different countries such as Egypt, Malaysia, Palestine, United Arab Emirates and the UK. During the conference different academic papers on Islamicjerusalem Studies were delivered from various scholars and reseaches in the field.

The Eighth International Academic Conference on Islamicjerusalem was held on Friday 2 June 2006 in Dundee - Scotland. The conference was entitled “Challenges of Islamicjerusalem” and it focused on the challenging issues presented in Professor El-Awaisi’s latest monograph, Introducing Islamicjerusalem. The conference tackled challenging issue for those in academic, religious, and political establishments who are interested in the region and who may have difficulty accepting this new concept – as it may go beyond their political or religious agenda and attachments. Thus the conference discussed the new concept and definitions of Islamicjerusalem and Islamicjerusalem Studies and their implications.

The Ninth International Academic Conference on Islamicjerusalem was held on Friday 1 June 2007 in Dundee - Scotland. The conference was entitled “Mapping Islamicjerusalem: A rediscovery of geographical boundaries”. The theme concentrated on the geographical dimension of Islamicjerusalem. Speakers from different countries such as Germany, Palestine, and the UK spoke on different aspects of this field. The keynote speaker Dr Khalid El-Awaisi spoke on how contemporary scholars and academics see Islamicjerusalem as only the walled city and its close procimity. Yet, he presented accounts from historical text that clearly showed the existence of a region for Islamicjerusalem to be a long rooted concept. A region according to the many accounts he presented such as al-Maqdisi, extends to cover in addition to the ancient city of Jerusalem, many other cities, towns and villages such as Hebron, Ramla, Zarnuqah, Jaffa, Nablus, Shuwaykah, Jama‘in, Jericho, Karak, Zoar and Kuseifa. Other conecpts discussed in the conference were the divine prototype and sacred connenctions between Makkah and islamicjerusalem (Dr Haitham Al-Ratrout), the Barakah Circle Theory Of Islamicjerusalem (Prof Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi), the centrality of al-Aqsa Mosque to the Barakah and Holiness of the surrounding regions (Abdallah Omar), as well as case studies of geographical terminologies used by historian’s such as Mujīr Al-Dīn al-Hanbali’s writing (Dr Robert Schick).

Another conference was held this year “Introducing the New field of Inquiry of Islamicjerusalem Studies to the Arab world” on 20 November 2007 in conjunction with the University of Science and Technology in Sanaa - Yemen. The conference presented the main findings of the field, the development and definitions, the geographical dimension, the architectural divine prototype of al-Aqsa Mosque and its connection with the Ka’bah. As well as a discussion on the Plan of Prophet Muhammad towards Islamicjerusalem and the Model of Islamicjeruslem for Multiculturalism. This conference brought together the key scholars of field from across the world and was well attended from within the Yemen and the Arab world.

The 2008 Conference was held on Monday 4 February 2008 in Dundee - Scotland. The conference which was entitled “Islamicjerusalem: Model for Multiculturalism In the early Muslim period”, brought together distinguished academics from around the world who presented on various issues within the field. In the keynote address, Prof Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, presented the hypothesises that during the first Muslim faith (conquest) the Muslims established a multicultural society. He noted that as plurality and diversity are inherent in core Muslim sources the Caliph ‘Umar implemented this inclusive vision by implementing policies that preserved human dignity and property, thus leading to mutual respect and peaceful coexistence between Christians, Jews and Muslims. Other speakers spoke on ideas of plurality and exclusion, a paper was presented on the frameworks of plurality in Islam comparing between Umar’s Assurance of Safety to people of Aelia and Madīnah Constitution (at the time of Prophet Muhammad) by Dr Alhagi Mata Drammeh. Dr. Yuri Stoyanov, of the Kenyon Institute in East Jerusalem, presented a paper on how Christians and Jews perceived the religious “other” within eschatological and apocalyptic terms. This was particularly significant because it explained the “expectant” attitude towards Muslims before the fatih of Islamicjerusalem. While a PhD student presented a paper on the re-admission of the Jews in 7th century Islamicjerusalem, based on evidence on early Muslim sources and a Cairo Geniza fragment and Karaite commentaries. Another theme in the conference was “Christians in Islamicjerusalem”, Dr. Maher Abu-Munshar presented on the attitude of Christians groups towards the Muslim conquest, which was mostly welcoming. This was supported by archological evidence presented by Dr. Robert Schick how during the conquested churches continued to be unaffected by the Muslims rather some new churches were constructed during that period. One other paper shed light on the status and role of Armenians in Islamicjerusalem which noted that while they were oppressed under the Byzantine rulers, this oppression was ended under the Muslim rule as was presented by Dr. Jacob Ghazarian of Wolfson College (University of Oxford) .