Introduction: The Islamic Studies Group, American
Academy of Religion (1973 - 1981)
Jsma"il Riiji al Fiiruqi

Chapter 1: The Shahiidah 9

Muzzammil Siddiqi

Chapter 2: Isliim and Law 13

'Ala' al Din Kharrufah

Chapter 3: The Pilgrimage to Makkah 19

Victor Danner

Chapter 4: The Shari'ah on Music and Musicians 27

Lois Lamyii' al Ftiruqi

Chapter 5: Ibn Taymiyyah and the Crusades: An Inquiry 53

Victor Makkiirl

Chapter 6: On Al Maturidi's Notion of Human Acts 61

J. Meric Pessagno

Chapter 7: What is "Islamic" in Islamic Literature? 65

Muhammad lfamdun

Chapter 8: The Crusader in the Memoirs of Usamah lbn 73

Munqidh
Mul:wmmad Khalifah Ahmad

Chapter 9: Islamic Contributions to History 91

Michel Mazzaoui

Chapter 10: The Perfect Man in al Ji/i's Thought IOI

Victor Danner

Chapter 11: Dator Formarum: lbn Rushd, Levi Ben 107
Gerson and Moses Ben Joshua of Narbonne
Helen Goldstein

Following the AAR annual meeting of 1972, Dr. Franklin Littell,
then Chairman of the History of Christianity Section and my colleague
at Temple University, Department of Religion, suggested that there is a
possibility for setting up a sub-section on Muslim-Christian Encounter
under the aegis of the History of Christianity Section. This sub-section
would offer panels and lectures in the annual program. I welcomed the
suggestion and arranged a program for the 1973 annual meeting in
Chicago. The same invitation was renewed for the 1974 (Washington)
meeting. Dr. Littell also advised that we must seek independent status
as a program unit since his chairmanship of the section on the History of
Christianity was to expire soon. At the 1974 meeting a unanimous vote
was taken by the scholars present at the Islamics sessions to apply for
status as an independent program unit. An application was lodged with
the AAR Executive Director for presentation to the AAR Program
Committee.
The application was turned down, and we participated in the 1975
program under the aegis of "History of Christianity." At the 1975
meeeting, another unanimous vote was taken and a committee elected
to apply for independent status. Again, this was turned down. Althoug~
we were granted a "Consultation" status, yet our participation appeared
in the program under the History of Christianity. At the 1976 meeting, a
third unanimous vote was taken and the same committee reelected to
apply once more for independent status. This was granted in
December, 1976, and we began to operate as such. Since then, the
Islamic Studies Group participated in five annual meetings. At the
request of the AAR Executive Director, the Group's participation was
extended to cover the 1981 meeting at San Francisco.
lri all, we have been responsible for holding
9 sessions of I Yi hours each
17 sessions of 3 hours each
2 plenary sessions of 2Yi hours each.
The above-mentioned sessions involved 127 sr··akers and 24 sessions

chairpersons. This is exclusive of the current session, (our tenth) to be
held in New York in December, 1982.
We have also held an exhibit of Islamic Art, shown numerous films,
and raised $15,000.00 which we plan to spend on publishing three
volumes of papers presented to the AAR under our auspices, to be
entitled "Trialogue of the Abrahamic Faiths"; Islamic Thought and
Culture" and "Essays in Islamic and Comparative Studies."
II. CONSTITUENCY
Since we began with no constituency among the members of the
AAR, we worked very hard to promote Islamic Studies among them.
We advertised the AAR Islamic Studies programs throughout the U.S.
and Canada, and we sent out bulk mailings of 1000 or more pieces for
two years. We solicited papers from our friends and acquaintances.
Gradually, the responses came and they were encouraging. At any one
of our meeting, we could count 40 participants, and some sessions were
attended by more than IOO persons. Today, we estimate that "Islamic
Studies" is a live entity in the consciousness of at least 200 members of
the AAR though not all of them attend every session.
Ill. METHOD AND PHILOSOPHY
Most of the papers presented under Muslim-Christian Encounter or
Islamic Studies were by special invitation. We also received a number of
papers which were unsolicited. In every case, we tried to fit the offered
papers into the program without jeopardizing the planned themes for
sessions. However, the desire of the Steering Committee was to focus
each session around a chosen topic so that speakers and audience could
interact on a particular issue.
As much as possible, we tried to make the Islamic Studies Group a
mixed one, involving Muslims, Christians, Jews and others as speakers
and audience. We sought to sensitize every participant that our business
is scholarly and must meet the most exacting standards of scholarship;
but_ that our discipline deals with the values, attitudes, hopes and
aspirations of millions of living humans. We endeavored to make our
meetings lively by looking into problems of Muslims as a living
community. In our criticisms and suggestions, we sought a
phenomenological approach wherever possible. Over the years. our
meetings have become richer than those of the American Oriental
Society where the approach is basically linguistic and/ or textual, and of
the Middle East Studies Association where the approach is basically
strategist. We have succeeded in drawing to the AAR a number of new
members from both associations as well as a number of Muslim
scholars.

Over the entire period of ten years of activity (nine annual meetings)
there was perfect accord between the Steering Committee and the
audience. Members of the audience repeatedly expressed their approval
of, and gratitude for, the programs we had prepared. Their suggestions
were acted upon, and they were happy to return to the AAR meeting
year after year.
IV. A NOTE ABOUT THE FUTURE
The Islamic Studies Group has built up a small but growing and
vigorous constituency. Though small by comparison to total AAR
membership, this constituency is largely made of scholars who teach
Islam either in one undergraduate course, or as a smaller part of an
undergraduate survey course in the religions of the world. Already, a
number of specialized lslamicists have been pulled toward the AAR
because of our distinctive approach to comparative study. Moreover,
the papers so far presented in the field of Islamic Studies have been of
very high quality, and they are bound to improve in quality and
quantity in the future. It is our considered judgment - and hence, our
recommendation - that the Islamic Studies Group be upgraded to
"section" and that it be given a chance to realize this fuller development
in the coming decade.
Normally, a "Group" Program unit would sit for an election ofa new
steering committee every five years, assuming a decision on the part of
the AAR to continue same. However, the AAR Executive Director has
asked the present Steering Committee to continue for one additional
year. Elections will therefore be planned for the annual meeting, 1982.

 Book author :
Most of the papers presented under MuslimChristian Encounter or Islamic Studies were by special invitation. We also received a number of papers which were unsolicited. In every case we tried to fit the offered papers into the program without jeopardizing the planned themes for sessions. However, the desire of the Steering Committee was to focus ...