Based on the Academy’s belief in the importance of scientific communication and intellectual engagement with academic and scholarly institutions around the world, and in support of the values of dialogue and civilizational understanding, His Excellency Prof. Dr Koutoub Moustapah Sano, Secretary-General of the Academy, participated virtually in the international conference titled: “The Life and Contributions of Taha Jabir Al-Alwani.” The conference was organised by the Institute of Objective Studies in India on 7–8 Rajab 1447 AH, corresponding to 27–28 December 2025, and featured a distinguished group of scholars and researchers from various countries.
At the beginning of his address, His Excellency expressed his gratitude to the organising bodies for hosting this distinguished academic conference. He praised the choice of the late Prof. Dr Taha Jabir Al-Alwani as the subject of commemoration, given his remarkable contributions to contemporary Islamic thought. He also emphasised that this scholarly gathering reflects a deep awareness of the importance of revisiting pioneering intellectual experiences and drawing on them to address contemporary issues.
During the conference, His Excellency delivered a lecture titled “The Intellectual Legacy of Professor Taha Jabir Al-Alwani,” in which he highlighted the key features of Al-Alwani’s intellectual project. He explained Al-Alwani’s efforts in renewing jurisprudential thought, deepening the objectives-based (maqāṣidī) approach, and establishing a balanced scholarly methodology that connects the revealed texts with the realities of modern human life. He also pointed to Al-Alwani’s contributions to addressing the relationship between heritage and modernity, his methodology in understanding the sacred texts, and his continuous pursuit of an integrative vision that harmonises revelation and reason while accommodating intellectual and social transformations.
His Excellency further noted that Prof. Dr Taha Jabir Al-Alwani was not merely a jurist or thinker, but one of the prominent voices advocating for civilizational dialogue and mutual understanding among followers of different religions and cultures. His intellectual project emphasised Islam’s positive presence in pluralistic societies and its contribution to a shared human moral discourse. His Excellency stressed that Al-Alwani’s intellectual legacy will remain a source of inspiration for researchers, scholars, and those concerned with issues of reform and renewal.
In conclusion, His Excellency affirmed that honouring the lives and contributions of great scholars and thinkers is a fundamental pillar in building scientific awareness and in motivating continued pursuit of sound scholarly endeavour, contributing to the service of the Ummah’s causes and strengthening its civilizational mission.
It is worth noting that the conference was organized in cooperation between the Institute of Objective Studies in India, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, the AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences at the International Islamic University Malaysia, and Ibn Khaldun University in Indonesia, as part of an academic partnership aimed at deepening intellectual research and enhancing scholarly cooperation among global academic institutions.