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THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY Presents
The Zaytuna Contemporary Issues Lectures Series
Winter Lecture 1 - ISLAM & THE DESTINY OF MAN
with renowned Muslim scholars
HAMZA YUSUF
ZAID SHAKIR
Sunday, February 8th, 6:00 p.m.
Stanford University
Main Quad Building 320-105 (Geology Corner)
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As humankind journeys into the 21st century, it becomes increasingly evident
that the destination of any future path will depend largely on the
relationship between the democratic West and the youngest of the revealed
traditions, Islam. There are those in the West who argue that Islam is spent
as a civilizing force, and that the West must bear the burden of both
initiating reform and dealing with the turmoil caused by dysfunctional
societies in the Muslim World. Conversely, Muslim intellectuals often posit
that despite its unprecedented hegemony, the West has gaping societal and
spiritual problems that could be effectively addressed by Islam. Hence, the
inclusion of Islam into the discourse of humankind's destiny is imperative.
The discussion will be centered around the book, "Islam and the Destiny of
Man" by Charles Le Gai Eaton, a wide-ranging study of the religion of Islam
from a unique point of view. The aim of this book is to explain what it
means to be a Muslim, a member of a community which embraces a quarter of
the world's population and to describe the forces which have shaped their
hearts and minds. The author is concerned not simply with Islam in
isolation, but with the very nature of religious faith, its spiritual and
intellectual foundations and the light it casts upon the mysteries and
paradoxes of the human condition.
Hamza Yusuf and Zaid Shakir are from among the most influential leaders and
scholars of Muslims in the West. They are actively shaping the emergence of
an Islamic tradition indigenous to America, and seek to reconcile
traditional teachings with an experience that is uniquely western.