About Al Qasas

We derive our inspiration from the stories in the Quran. Allah repeats stories in the Quran to internalize and recognize the subtle threads. We believe that without vivid recollection and regular reiteration, the ummah will lose these memories. We believe that memories are important. Our goal is to offer deep and meaningful interaction with history through courses and teaching. For Muslims, learning Islamic history is essential to understanding the foundations of their faith. It helps them connect with the historical events, figures, and the evolution of Islamic practices and beliefs. This knowledge aids in strengthening their faith and spiritual connection.

Instructors

Dr. Yakoob Ahmed

Dr. Yakoob Ahmed is currently an Assistant Professor at Istanbul University’s Ilahiyat (Theology) department as well as a researcher at the Institute of Islamic Studies (ISAMER) at Istanbul University. He holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Languages and Cultures, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) - University of London. He also graduated from the same institution with a Master’s degree in Near and Middle East Studies, focusing on Ottoman history and Turkish politics. His research focuses are Late Ottoman History, Muslim intellectual thought in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Islamic constitutionalism, nation-state construction, ulema history of the Late Ottoman state, identity, and collective memory construction. Dr. Ahmed is also a regular contributor for Middle East Eye and TRT World where he has written about several subjects.

Dr. Jaan Islam

Dr. Jaan Islam is an accomplished scholar in Islamic Studies, specializing in early Islamic history and political thought. He has researched and taught at several universities, including the University of Oxford and King's College, London. He also teaches Prophetic biography (sīrah) and Islamic history at Mishkah University, based in Texas. Dr. Islam’s recent publications include his book entitled Islam and the State in Ibn Taymiyya: Translation and Analysis (Routledge 2022). His forthcoming book project examines the premodern origins of divine sovereignty in classical Islamic sciences.

Abdelrahman Mahmoud

Abdelrahman Mahmoud is currently pursuing his doctorate in Ottoman history at Harvard University. His doctoral research project examines the intellectual and institutional links between the Ottoman legal system and the translation movement in early modern Ottoman Egypt. In addition to Ottoman history, the broad scope of Abdelrahman’s research encompasses the history of Islamic law, early modern Inner Asia, and the Mongol-Timurid empire. His teaching background as a teaching assistant at Harvard, however, covers historical subjects as broad as the history of Zionism, the British empire, and international history in the 20th century.

Courses