The '3rd Al-İ Beyt Symposium', which will be hosted by Üsküdar University in commemoration of the 1500th Anniversary of the Prophetic Mawlid of the Messenger of Allah, Mercy to the Worlds, will bring together numerous academics, researchers, and opinion leaders on June 26-27, 2026. The symposium, organized with the theme 'Islamic Civilization in the Light of the Prophetic Heritage,' will address the universal message of Prophet Muhammad, the place of Ahl al-Bayt in Islamic civilization, and the solution proposals offered by the prophetic heritage to today's world, with an interdisciplinary approach.
The symposium, to be held at the Ibn Sina Auditorium of Üsküdar University NP Health Campus, will begin with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Hafiz İbrahim Yağız. Opening speeches will be delivered by President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Director of Amman-Mearic Institute for Islamic Studies Sheikh Avn el-Kaddûmî, Chief Caretaker of the Tomb of Sheikh Abdul Kadir Geylani and Trustee of the Complex Seyyid Afif El-Ceylani, Executive Director of Afro-Asian Universities Union Prof. Ashraf Abdul Rafi Al-Darfaili, and Symposium Organizing Committee Chairman Prof. Mehmet Zelka.
Prophetic heritage and the concept of civilization will be discussed from different perspectives
In the sessions to be held within the two-day symposium, many topics such as the civilization heritage left by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the place of Ahl al-Bayt in Islamic thought, family, ethics, education, sufism, law, communication, social life, and contemporary issues will be evaluated by expert speakers.
The first session of the symposium will be chaired by Prof. Alparslan Açıkgenç, a member of the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP). In the session, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir will first deliver his online presentation titled 'Civilization of Mercy: The Universal Heritage of Prophet Muhammad and His Founding Role in Civilization Building'. Then, Prof. Niyazi Beki, a faculty member at Üsküdar University's Institute of Sufi Studies, will discuss Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) conquest and captivating of minds, souls, hearts, and desires. Dr. İhsan Ünlü will also take part in the session with his presentation titled 'Ahl al-Bayt as a Role Model Family for the Ummah Throughout History'.
The second session, to be held after the lunch break, will be chaired by Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç. In the session, Prof. Gülgün Uyar will deliver her presentation titled 'Ahl al-Bayt in Islamic History: The Descendants of Ali-Fatima'. Dr. Kerim Güç will evaluate the love for Ahl al-Bayt in Anatolian Khalwatiyya and the establishment of Imam Ali’s spiritual authority. While Dr. İlahe Memmedova Kurşun will discuss the Sufi perception of Ahl al-Bayt under the title 'Ahl al-Bayt-i Mustafâ as Muhammadan Heirs,' Assoc. Prof. Gencal Şenyayla will explain the transformation of the meaning and scope of the concept of Ahl al-Bayt throughout history. The session will conclude with the chairman's evaluation.
Current issues from the digital age to the ethics crisis will be discussed
In the subsequent sessions of the symposium, the reflections of the prophetic heritage in today's world will also be discussed. Topics such as the reality of Karbala and the love for Ahl al-Bayt in Fuzuli’s Hadîkatü’s-Süedâ, the role of fiqh in the building of ethics and civilization, and the prophetic understanding of wisdom against the meaning crisis of the digital age will be evaluated by academics.
Additionally, the scientific, social, and cultural dimensions of the prophetic heritage will be discussed through presentations in various fields such as waqf civilization, healing centers, the phenomenon of addiction, and embryological concepts in the Quran.
Family, education, and the love of Ahl al-Bayt will be discussed in simultaneous sessions
Different aspects of the prophetic heritage will also be discussed in simultaneous sessions to be held in Z-21 Hall within the scope of the symposium.
In this context, topics such as the exemplary nature of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) family life in addressing contemporary family crises, the reconstruction of religious education from the perspective of prophethood, the role of the approach towards orphaned children in social transformation, and the ideal family model will be discussed.
In addition to topics such as the love for Ahl al-Bayt in Ottoman thought and literature, the concept of a just ruler, the relationship between prophethood and ethics, the evaluation of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem from the perspective of prophethood, the socio-political transformation in Medina after the Hijra, and the understanding of knowledge-wisdom in early Islamic literature will also be examined by expert speakers.
International participants will also take part in the symposium
In the international sessions of the symposium, which will be held in English and online, academics from different countries will discuss the universal dimensions of the prophetic heritage. Topics such as the place of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) life in Islamic education, the role of Khadijah (RA) in the founding process of Islamic civilization, and the importance of exemplarity in human relations within the framework of the Quran and Sunnah will be evaluated by international participants.
Civilization, epistemology, and artificial intelligence are on the agenda for the second day
On the second day of the symposium, Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) concept of civilization, the socio-cultural dimension of prophethood, contemporary epistemological crises, the unity of revelation-reason-heart, the historical role of Ahl al-Bayt, and current ethical issues will be discussed from different perspectives.
The program will also open discussions on current issues such as the crisis of knowledge and ethics in modern Islamic societies, Ahl al-Bayt from the Risale-i Nur perspective, ethical responsibility in artificial intelligence systems, environmental ethics, war ethics, human dignity in digital games, and communication ethics.
The Al-i Beyt Manifesto will be read
The two-day symposium, attended by numerous national and international academics, researchers, and thinkers, will conclude with the sharing of the 'Al-i Beyt Manifesto' with the public.
