Editorial Board
April 29, 2015
Change is such a trans-disciplinary term that its methods, prerequisites, challenges and outcomes are taken into account in administerial issues and plans, organizations, companies, governments and other bodies. The term has recently permeated the political scene of the worldwide Muslim communities undergoing drastic and very painful political changes marked by the growing acts of bloodshed, destruction, and systematic torture perpetrated by change-resisting forces.
Change is God’s order which envelops His natural universe and subdues His human creatures. It is also God’s law as revealed in the Qur’an and Hadith which makes human beings often evolved to renew their belief, seek God’s forgiveness, and win His proximity. Hence, the Ummah is in incessant transformation seeking ways to preach God’s word and achieve the ever-changing unlimited requirements of governance.
Upon this foundational principle, Imam Yassine (May God shed mercy upon his soul) established his detailed view of change. For him, change is not merely a prompt replacement of a status quo with another one or a transformation of some forms of behaviour into others to speed up outcomes. It is rather a complex deliberate action involving the reconstruction of the Ummah and the fortification of its cultural identity. That action –as Imam Yassine explains- requires the adoption of a cross-generational strategy which massively mobilises all Muslim communities so as to convince them of the necessity, the difficulty, and the feasibility of change, and more importantly to educate them to patiently contribute to bearing its costs; for change has joys and hopes as well as woes and worries.
If the intention behind change is to seek a better situation and improve peoples’ conditions, then that objective can only be attained through an accurate diagnosis of the diseases that require change within us. That is exactly what Imam Yassine said: “Change starts with a deep understanding of the decline we went into in the distant and recent pasts”. The Muslim Women: a Journey into the Light, (V1. p.38). A comprehensive and deep change can only be carried out through a method of patience and deliberation without weakness, resolve and firmness without violence. For him violence, being a frivolity expressing personality weakness, lack of experience, and short-sightedness, only leads to states of regret.
* Then, what are the conceptual meanings of change according to the theory of the Prophetic method? What is its inherent governing philosophy?
* Is it possible to determine the landmarks of a strategy for change in the Prophetic method theory?
* What are its ins and outs? What are its levels? How can we approach it?
* What is the position of the individual human being – man and woman- in the change project within the theory of the Prophetic method?
* What are the prerequisite conditions of change according to the theory of the Prophetic method? What are the challenges ahead and how to overcome them?
To tackle these questions, Imam Abdessalam Yassine Foundation in collaboration with ISAF and Medeniyetvakfi foundation organize the Second International Conference about the Theory of Prophetic Method on the theme of: “The Concept of Change in Abdessalam Yassine’s Theory of The Prophetic Method”.
The conference will, thereby, be a scientific opportunity to host scholars, researchers and intellectuals to study and debate the aforementioned and other questions through research papers along the following sub-themes:
1- The meaning and philosophy of change in Imam Yassine’s theory of the Prophetic method.
2- The centrality of the human being in the project of change in Imam Yassine’s theory of the Prophetic method.
3- The question of change in Imam Yassine’s theory. (Psychological, intellectual, educational, societal, and political,… obstacles).
4- The horizons of the strategy of change in Imam Yassine’s theory of the Prophetic method: (the Muslim community, the covenant, the nation state, Islamic governance …).
5- The issues of change in Imam Yassine’s theory of the Prophetic method: (the woman issue, the position of the opponents, change between elites and masses, the spiritual change, the political change and the role of the transitional period, social change and the role of the educational system and media).
Conference Languages
* Arabic
* English
* Turkish
Important Dates
* May 15th, 2015: Abstracts deadline
* May 30th, 2015: Notification of abstract acceptance
* September 27th, 2015: Final paper deadline
* October 31th, 2015: Notification of paper acceptance
* November 22th, 2015: Revised research papers deadline
* January 16th and 17th, 2016: Conference date
Selection Process
* All submissions will be reviewed by a scientific committee.
* Reviewers will evaluate submissions on criteria such as originality, significance, soundness, clarity, and relevance.
* Selected papers will be considered for publication.
* Participants can refer to the online encyclopedia ‘Siraj’ which comprises all of Imam Abdessalam Yassine’s writings; it can be downloaded from the following link: encyclopedia ‘ Siraj’
Referencing Guidelines
* Qur’anic verses should be referenced by citing the chapter and the verse number(s), separated by the explanation marks. eg. (Quran 2:4-5).
* As for Hadiths, the narrator, the book, the chapter, and hadith number should all be cited.
* Books and articles should be referenced in accordance with the MLA referencing style.
* Footnote numbers should be re-started each page.
Paper Format
* Final versions of accepted papers must be submitted as Word files.
* The paper should be written according to the following format:
Font: Times New Roman 12 in Text and 10 in Footnotes
Please mention under the title of research your full name, the affiliation you belong to, your email address.
Provide an introduction including your paper’s general idea, its scientific value, its main topics and results as well as the approach adopted in constructing it.
End the research with a conclusion consisting of the most important results and recommendations.
List the references at the end of the research and write the names of authors according to the alphabetical order of their family names.
* The paper should be no less than 5000 words and no more than 10000 words including endnotes and references.
* For proceedings, abstracts must be submitted in two languages: Arabic and English.
Abstracts and Papers must be sent to the following emails: scientificommitte@yassine.org
Travel and Accommodation Funds
* The participants will be offered complete funding for travel and accommodation costs.
* There are no registration fees.
Application Form
Full Name: …………………………………………………………………………
Title: ………………………………………………………………………………….
Major field: ………………………………………………………………………..
Field of specialization: ………………………………………………………….
Work institution: …………………………………………………………………..
Country: …………………………………………………………………………….
Email: ………………………………………………………………………………..
Phone number with extension: ……………………………………………
Researchs and Publications: ………………………………………………
Presentation title: ………………………………………………………………
Sub-theme: ………………………………………………………………………
Abstract: ………………………………………………………………………….