Civilizations Forum

    The Alliance of Civilizations Institute at Ibn Haldun University is launching the biennial “Civilizations Forum” as a platform for thinking and discussing civilizational issues bringing together representatives from di erent civilizations. The theme of the 2017 forum (20-21-22 October) co-organized with Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation will be ‘Religion and Civilization: Protection of Civilization as a Purpose of Religion’, where prominent scholars and speakers will deliberate on how best to re ect and research about the formation and development of the topics related to the theme of ‘Protection of Civilization as a Purpose of Religion’. In the history of social and political thought, there has always been interest in the spi- rit of society, and the respective roles of wisdom, law and power. Usually spiritual and ethical concerns have been addressed on a moral level, or positioned in the realm of culture, with less emphasis on religion and its impact on city life, architecture, art and civilization at large. The relation between faith and civilization has always been strong, and diferent civilizations have advocated the centrality and superiority of their respective religion, considering their version of civility as more ideal. Islam highlights civility as a main purpose of creation and as a mission for all human beings. Scholars of Islamic jurisprudence have deeply considered civilization and nurturing a social, economic and political good life as principal aims of religion. The Islamic precept of protecting the human life (hifz al-nafs) as a major ultimate goal of religion covers not only the right to life, but also the obligation of striving for a good life both individually and collectively. Keeping with the spirit of this profound and comprehensive precept, scholars and philosophers of Islam, have contributed with their seminal ideas and works to what is now regarded as a major civilization. The precept of protecting human life in its true sense encouraged the creation of profound scholarship in the domain of education, medicine, economy, arts, literature, urban life and the structure of rights and duties that cherish the common good in society, and the fostering of ethical norms supporting the ideal of civility. We observe that this is true for other civilizations and religions from east to west. Ibn Khaldun for example, considered religion to be a pillar of civilization, and a condition of civility, giving prophets as an example of ultimate overlap between reason and the wisdom gained from revelation. In his theory of the tribal/kinship bond in politics and establishment of civilizations, he gave special consideration to the role of religion in legitimacy and the ethical role of religion in bedouin as well as urban cultures. According to him, if moral integrity and depth are lost, civilization will go through the processes of decay and failure. This year’s topic is a reminder for today’s intellectuals about the role of religion in overcoming the crises of the age.

Forum Shuttle Services

Shuttles to the IHU Campus in Kayaşehir will leave on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from; 1. the bus stop in front of Capitol shopping mall in Altunizade 2. the bus stop in front of Kazlıçeşme Marmaray station, and from 3. the Metrobüs stop in Yenibosna at 08:00 am and at 11:00 am. (Shuttles will be ready at the pickup locations an hour in advance of the departure times) The evening shuttles will depart from the IHU campus on the same days at: 1. Friday at 07:00 pm 2. Saturday at 07:00 pm 3. Sunday at 5:30 pm and will take our guests to Altunizade, Kazlıçeşme - Marmaray and Yenibosna - Metrobüs respectively.