Thought Leader Lecture Series
Join KARAMAH’s Thought Leader Lecture Series, a dynamic bi-monthly online program featuring leading scholars and practitioners exploring pressing issues in Islamic law, leadership, gender justice, and community empowerment. Each session offers fresh insights, meaningful dialogue, and the opportunity to learn directly from experts shaping contemporary thought.
Held virtually to welcome participants around the world, the series will highlight diverse topics—from classical jurisprudential debates to modern social challenges—while fostering a respectful and interactive learning environment.
Whether you are a student, professional, or lifelong learner, this series invites you to broaden your perspective and connect with a network of intellectuals and practitioners committed to justice and ethical leadership.
Stay informed. Be inspired. Register for our next Thought Leader Lecture and be part of the conversation.
KARAMAH’s Thought Leader Lecture Series is a program designed to bring leading scholars, practitioners, and community visionaries into a virtual conversation with a global audience. The program is organized annually from September to June to coincide with the academic calendar. The series offers intellectually rigorous, spiritually grounded discussions that deepen understanding of Islamic jurisprudence, leadership, gender equity, and contemporary social issues.
Each lecture features a distinguished speaker and a moderator, with sessions held virtually to provide access for participants across the United States and abroad. The program welcomes both male and female speakers and participants and prioritizes creating a respectful learning environment. The Thought Leader Lecture Series is carefully curated in partnership with senior KARAMAH scholars, who finalize speakers and topics for each program year. Topics span classical and contemporary issues—from jurisprudential principles like maslaha and collective ijtihad, leadership in Muslim communities, to the historical experiences of African-American Muslims.
The lectures are scheduled every other month, typically on Saturdays, with weekday alternatives offered when needed to accommodate speaker availability. Behind the scenes, a dedicated Program Committee—including KARAMAH Co-Hosts and Program Assistants—ensures a seamless experience for attendees.
The Thought Leader Lecture Series is a cornerstone of KARAMAH’s mission: fostering informed, empowered Muslim communities by elevating diverse voices and providing a platform for thoughtful, justice-centered dialogue. For the 2025-2026 Academic Year, the following events and topics have been scheduled:
- Saturday, October 11, 2025
Topic: “Understanding and Misunderstandings of Maslaha in Islamic Jurisprudence”
Speaker: Professor Mohammad Fadel - Saturday, December 13, 2025
Topic: “The Quranic Concept of Female Emancipation: A Reading in the Female Model”
Speaker: Dr. Hosn Abboud - Saturday, February 14, 2025
Topic: “A Criftical Analysis of Secular Educational Leadership Practices Impacting a Local Muslim Community”
Speaker: Dr. Amaarah De Cuir - Saturday, April 18, 2025
Topic: "Collective Ijtihad: The Evolution of Islamic Law"
Speaker: Dr. Yannis Mahil - Saturday, June 13, 2025
Topic: “History of African-American Muslims”
Speaker: Imam Matthew Ramadan - Saturday, August 15, 2025
Topic: “What Does Religion Have To Do With It? Religion, Ethics, and the Law”
Speaker: The Hon. Rosemarie Anunziata
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