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Noted Islamic scholar to discuss interpretations of jihad

By Peter Hill '08
October 30, 2007

Sohail Hashmi, associate professor of international relations and Alumnae Foundation chair in the social sciences at Mount Holyoke College, will address "The War over Jihad" on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m. in Viking Theater. The lecture, part of the college's semester-long academic theme of "Liberal Arts in Times of War," is free and open to the public.

Different theories of jihad
Hashmi's talk will focus on contemporary interpretations of the Islamic concept of jihad, a concept used by Muslims in discussions of the justice and validity of war. For at least two centuries Muslims and non-Muslims alike have debated both the definition of jihad and the characteristics of a "just" holy war. In addition to examining possible definitions, Hashmi will consider how American colleges and universities should address this contentious subject.

Raised in a largely Baptist community in America's south, Hashmi became interested in the role of religion in politics while observing the Iranian revolution. Now the author of numerous articles and editor of several volumes on Islamic ethics, he studies the ways in which Western and Islamic moral philosophy intersect. In 2005 Hashmi was chosen by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to participate in the Carnegie Scholars research program that currently emphasizes the study of Islam within the United States.

Liberal Arts in Times of War
Hashmi's talk is part of a semester-long academic theme, "Liberal Arts in Times of War." Part of the college's two-year academic focus on "Global Citizenship," the theme's purpose is to encourage college-wide reflection on the contributions of liberal arts to understanding war, terrorism and the war against it, morality in war and competing traditions in the analysis of war.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.