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The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) held its annual Al Faruqi Memorial Lecture and Reception at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) in Boston on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. Dr. Salih Sayilgan, Georgetown University, delivered the lecture based on his newly published book, Following the Prophet: The Life and Legacy of Muhammad (Fortress Press), and signed copies of the book afterwards as well.
During the lecture which was titled, “A Transcending Portrait of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ),” Dr. Sayilgan emphasized the need for scholars to portray the life of the Prophet (s) and what he means to Muslims beyond the limited historical 7th century context which tends to focus mainly on his genealogy, wars, and marriages. He explained that he sought to share the widespread love and deep connection Muslims around the world have for their Prophet (s) through his book which often gets overshadowed when Muslim academics feel compelled to keep responding to controversies. In fact, the point was also made that this unbalanced centering of battles and skirmishes too many times shapes how the seerah is taught even in Muslim contexts so much so that his spiritual and transformative influence is eclipsed despite the enduring impact he continues to have on Muslims. Dr. Sayilgan encouraged fellow academics to shift the overarching discourse on the Prophet (s) from an apologetic or historical lens to a celebration of his character and ways in which he is loved and remembered by Muslims across time and space.
The lecture was moderated by Dr. Fatima Siwaju, University of Virginia.
To view a recording of the lecture, please click here.
To read bios of Al Faruqi, Dr. Sayilgan, and Dr. Siwaju, kindly visit this page.
The post IIIT Al Faruqi Memorial Lecture appeared first on IIIT.
During the lecture which was titled, “A Transcending Portrait of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ),” Dr. Sayilgan emphasized the need for scholars to portray the life of the Prophet (s) and what he means to Muslims beyond the limited historical 7th century context which tends to focus mainly on his genealogy, wars, and marriages. He explained that he sought to share the widespread love and deep connection Muslims around the world have for their Prophet (s) through his book which often gets overshadowed when Muslim academics feel compelled to keep responding to controversies. In fact, the point was also made that this unbalanced centering of battles and skirmishes too many times shapes how the seerah is taught even in Muslim contexts so much so that his spiritual and transformative influence is eclipsed despite the enduring impact he continues to have on Muslims. Dr. Sayilgan encouraged fellow academics to shift the overarching discourse on the Prophet (s) from an apologetic or historical lens to a celebration of his character and ways in which he is loved and remembered by Muslims across time and space.
The lecture was moderated by Dr. Fatima Siwaju, University of Virginia.
To view a recording of the lecture, please click here.
To read bios of Al Faruqi, Dr. Sayilgan, and Dr. Siwaju, kindly visit this page.
The post IIIT Al Faruqi Memorial Lecture appeared first on IIIT.