10th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON RELIGIOUS STUDIES AND HUMANITIES
The Scientific and Political Legacy of Bilad al-Sham and Its Impact on Intercultural Coexistence
Distinguished Scientists, Educators, and Esteemed Participants,
In Islamic history, Bilad al-Sham has been one of the important centers of both science and politics; this geography, where science, wisdom, and the spirit of resistance were forged, has been the cradle of many ideas and actions that have shaped human history. Damascus, Aleppo, Jerusalem, and their surroundings bear the traces of numerous scholars, thinkers, artists, and mujāhid, leaving indelible marks on the scientific, intellectual, political, and cultural memory of Islamic civilization. In this context, Bilad al-Sham encompasses a scientific and political heritage, a memory of the past, and an ancient tradition that deepens our understanding of today and tomorrow and broadens our horizons.
Any assessment made without examining the intellectual roots and sphere of action of a civilization, without understanding the history, geography, sociology, belief system, and artistic and literary climate of the region in question, will be incomplete and misleading. For this reason, analyzing Damascus’ political legacy from a broad perspective —from French colonialism to the modern nation-state order; from the quest for Arab-Islamic unity to the wars of 1967 and 1973; from the management of social crises under Ottoman rule to the current practices of conflict and resistance— is a vital step toward understanding not only this region but the entire Islamic world.
In Bilad al-Sham, topics such as scholar-state relations, concepts of legitimacy and responsibility; inter-sectarian dialogue, the role of religious references in crisis management, the experience of coexistence between Muslims and Christians, ethnic diversity, refugeehood, and practices of cultural resistance shed light on the problems faced by the Islamic world in the modern and post-modern era. In addition to all this, cultural heritage elements such as calligraphy, architecture, music, literature, and Sufism will also make important contributions to the deepening of Islamic identity and the reconstruction of the vision of civilization.
With this goal in mind, the symposium aims to examine the scientific and political heritage of Bilad al-Sham, its experience of coexistence between civilizations, the reconstruction of urban culture, the administrative, economic, legal, and religious policies of the Ottoman period, modernization processes, and social reactions. We aim to identify the unique perspective offered by the Damascus model on the relationship between science and civilization, understand how it resonated in the Islamic world and beyond, and communicate this understanding through the 10th International Symposium on Religious Studies and Humanity.
We are honored to welcome all scientists, enthusiasts, and seekers of knowledge who will contribute to the symposium, which will be attended by expert researchers in their fields, to Damascus, the heart of Bilad al-Sham. We look forward to the participation of all attendees who will listen to the sacred scientific heritage of ancient Damascus.
Date: November 23-24, 2025
Location: Damascus / Syria
Abstract Submission Deadline: October 25, 2025
Announcement of Accepted Abstracts: November 1, 2025
Full Paper Submission Deadline: April 10, 2026