Digital Commons Network^™

Countering Social Encounters: Darwish’S “Speech Of The Red Indian”, J. Kristen Urban

The Journal of Social Encounters

In June 2025 the Washington D.C. Arab Center held a conference at the National Press Club titled, “A Historic Juncture: Israel’s Destruction of Gaza and the Palestinian Future.”  The discussion sparked an incisive question: Would such a future follow a Palestinian-owned trajectory?  Incisive, because Palestinians have not owned their trajectory since the 1915 Sykes-Picot Agreement, have consistently been defined in negative terms, and have lived with the ambiguity of existing while remaining unrecognized.  Growing up within Israel, Palestine’s national poet, Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008), experienced this paradox firsthand, and explored it directly in “Speech of the Red Indian,” a poem written …

Gender Justice Lessons From North-East Syria Amidst Patriarchal Perpetuation In The New Syrian Arab Republic?, Theresa Wagner

The Journal of Social Encounters

The overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, whose family had ruled Syria for over sixty years, and his government by Hai’at Tahrir asch-Scham (HTS) signified for many the beginning of a new era of democracy and freedom after thirteen years of civil war. People in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), a self-governing region that had not been ruled by the Syrian state since 2012, joined in with the celebrating crowds. However, they remained skeptical of HTS, which originated as a branch of al-Qaeda, known back then as Jabhat al-Nusra. Since taking on government responsibilities in the new …

Introduction: The Arab World And Middle East In An Age Of Dynamism And Change, Eslam Elbahlawan, Mawa Mohamed, Ron Pagnucco

The Journal of Social Encounters

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel began a massive joint military attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran to which Iran has responded. At the time of the publication of this issue, the fighting continues and could become more widespread; the ultimate outcome of the conflict is unknown.  This conflict highlights the importance of a deeper understanding of the region.

In the shadow of these events, people of the Middle East once again find their lives reordered by decisions taken far above their heads and far beyond their borders. The current war not only devastates cities, infrastructure, …

From Doctrine To Practice: Shūrā-Centred Islamic Ethics For Sustainable Ecological Solutions, Fatima Dhanani, Cecilee Glaus Jones

Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series

This paper examines how Islamic ethics, when translated into lived practice, generate both moral frameworks and scalable solutions to pressing ecological challenges. Focusing on shūrā, tawḥīd, khilāfa, and taʿaddudiyya, and drawing on case studies of Stewardship Canada and the Aga Khan University’s Carbon Management Tool, the authors show how Islamic values move beyond doctrinal abstraction to guide institutional decision-making, programme design, and community engagement. More than treating ethics as fixed theological propositions, they frame them as negotiated, context-sensitive processes that align with ecological resilience, distributive justice, and economic viability.

Grounded in shūrā …

Islamic Law Without Legal Authority: Sharia And State Governance In Kazakhstan, Duman Saifullin, Temur Amankul, Laura Toktarbekova, Erkinbek Daken

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the role and status of Islamic law (Sharia) in Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority country that has consistently maintained a strictly secular legal order. The background of the study is grounded in the apparent paradox between Kazakhstan’s Islamic historical heritage and the complete absence of Sharia from its formal legal system. The objective of the research is to explain how and why Islamic law has remained confined to private, moral, and ritual domains while being excluded from state legislation and judicial practice. Methodologically, the article employs a qualitative legal-sociological and historical approach, combining analysis of constitutional norms, legal regulations, …

Polygyny Between Sharia, Custom And State Law As A Persistent Dilemma In Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, Zharkynbai Sebetov, Mairambek Tagaev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article presents a comprehensive study of the century-long historical and legal evolution of state-imposed prohibitions on the institution of polygyny in Kyrgyzstan. The primary objective of the research is to evaluate the outcomes of a hundred years of repressive policies – originally classified as “crimes of daily life” (bytovye prestupleniya) during the early Soviet era–and to uncover the transformed legal paradoxes of this phenomenon today. Drawing on historical archival materials, Communist Party reports, and contemporary regulatory acts, the authors investigate the fundamental reasons why polygyny persists as a resilient “shadow” institution in Kyrgyz society despite its criminalization. Within the …

Charity Simone, Mark Naison, Anthony Abd-Al Shafi Rosado

Oral Histories

Simone’s path to leadership was inspired by her late mentor, Charles Foster, who encouraged her to be an active voice in their community. After seeing issues with building maintenance and a lack of clear communication, Simone ran for office and was elected Treasurer of her Building Association in 2023. Through this role, she noticed that community work is complex and needs navigating different opinions, yet the experience ultimately reinforced her belief that community is a “verb.” To her, it is an intentional, ongoing action that requires showing up every day to hold the system accountable.

A significant aspect of Simone's …

Parallel Concepts Found In The Thousand And One Nights And Sufi Hagiography, Walaa Kamal Emam Kamel

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis argues that The Thousand and One Nights functions as more than mere populist entertainment; rather, it constitutes a literary corpus imbued with Sufi mystical epistemologies that reflect the spiritual quests and Sufi concepts evident in hagiographical traditions. Through discourse and intertextual analysis of two Nights stories, “The City of Brass” and “The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad,” alongside Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār’s Tadhkirat al-awliyāʾ, this study demonstrates how shared rhetorical strategies—specifically David Pinault’s Leitwörter analysis and L.A. Paul’s Transformative Experience concept—reveal a narrative and rhetorical emphasis on the metamorphosis of the self from worldly attachment toward …

Literature Review: Crowdfunding And Political Fundraising, Saiful Ahmad, Palupi Lindiasari Samputra

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

Crowdfunding is an effort to raise relatively small amounts of money involving many individuals to support a specific project. Typically, crowdfunding is conducted online through fundraising platforms. The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse the utilisation of crowdfunding in fundraising activities that are related to or have political goals carried out by certain organisations or political groups. The method used in this paper is qualitative in the form of narrative analysis carried out through in-depth reading of several scientific literatures that discuss political fundraising through crowdfunding. The sources of scientific literature collection were obtained through the Google …

How A Stay-At-Home Father Plays A Role In Family Resilience?, Fatimah Fatimah, Eko Daryanto

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

One of the impacts of modernization is the loss of barriers between job and particular gender. This also happens in the family unit, more specifically in the role of husband and wife. The husband's job which is identical to earn money and the wife's job is to manage the household should be able to be done more flexibly according to family conditions. This adaptation process is needed in order to strengthen family resilience. Non-traditional family composition that usually consist of a stay-at-home father and a working mother can be used as a family adaptation strategy. This study uses the results …

Implementation Of Zero Trust Architecture On Local Server Management In Educational Institutions, Joko Purwanto, Safar Dwi Kurniawan

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

Educational institutions are facing increasingly complex cyber threats, particularly as they continue to rely on on-premises servers with limited cybersecurity resources. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) offers a security model that rejects implicit trust and requires strict verification of each access request. This study aims to examine the applicability of ZTA in managing local servers within educational institutions through a qualitative literature review approach. Relevant literature from 2014 to 2025 was analyzed using thematic synthesis to identify recurring concepts, strategies, and gaps. The results show that ZTA, when integrated with Identity and Access Management (IAM), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), …

Ammar Abdul Rahman, Mark Naison, Anthony Abd-Al Shafi Rosado, Jane Kani Edward

Oral Histories

As a leader, Rahman plays many roles beyond leading prayers. He serves as a counselor, advisor, and guide, especially for immigrants and first-generation college students who may lack extended family support. He helps community members navigate not only education but also careers, marriage, and faith-based decisions through an Islamic lens. At Fordham University, he works to build a Muslim community through programs such as Ramadan events, spiritual counseling, mentorship initiatives, and multifaith dialogue.

Overall, Imam Rahman's lived experience demonstrates the role of a religious leader who continues to support minority communities and immigrants. His messages and teachings show how Islam …

Grave Pilgrimage: The Interface Of Islam And Local Tradition In Indonesia, Nikmatullah Nikmatullah

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Grave pilgrimage is one of the important traditions for Indonesian Muslim communities, which is not only influenced by religious teachings but also influenced by local traditions. The harmonisation between Islam and local Sasak traditions forms the Sasak Islamic tradition practiced by the natives of Lombok Island. This article explains the motivations, meanings, rituals, and processions which pilgrims perform and the relationship between Islamic teachings and local traditions in the pilgrimage to the graves of Ulemas (Islamic scholars). To achieve this goal, the data of this qualitative research were obtained through observations, interviews, and online media to obtain in-depth data. The …

An Empirical Analysis Of Cooperation Among Muslim Countries: The Case Of Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement, M Jaenudin, Emil Haraki, Aam Slamet Rusydiana

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

This study evaluates the impact of the Indonesia–Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (IPPTA) on bilateral trade using the gravity model of international trade. Annual time series data from 1990 to 2023 are analysed through unit root testing, bounds testing, and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) estimation to examine both short- and long-run effects. The model includes four variables: bilateral trade, GDP of Indonesia and Pakistan, geographical distance, and a dummy variable for IPPTA to compare trade performance before and after the agreement’s implementation. The results indicate that Indonesia’s GDP has a positive and statistically significant impact on bilateral trade in both the …

Conundrums In The Realization Of Healthcare And Education Through Waqf In Nigeria, Isa Olawale Solahudeen

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 4 emphasize the importance of good health and quality education, respectively. However, based on available progress report released by Nigerian government, implementations of SDGs 3 (Good Health) and 4 (Quality Education) in the country were not promising. The unpleasant situation requires collaborative efforts of private sector. Meanwhile, waqf, an Islamic philanthropic instrument, has the potential to contribute significantly to the realization of these goals in Nigeria. Several conundrums hinder the effective utilization of waqf for healthcare and education. This paper identifies and examines some challenges ranging from lack of awareness, parochialism, religious …

Investigating Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction To Boost Islamic Mobile Banking Adoption In Indonesia, Abdurrahman Abdurrahman, Mohamad Anton Athaillah, Yadi Janwari, Asti Meiza

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of Islamic Mobile Banking (IMB) in Indonesia, focusing on technological, innovative, reputational, and Sharīʿah compliance dimensions. Using a quantitative approach with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), data were collected from 312 IMB users to assess both direct and mediating relationships among the variables. The findings reveal that perceived usefulness, firm reputation, innovation, and Sharīʿah compliance significantly and positively influence customer satisfaction, with Sharīʿah compliance emerging as the most dominant factor. Conversely, ease of use, though positively associated, does not significantly affect satisfaction, suggesting that functionality, trust, and ethical conformity outweigh …

Assessing Universal Basic Income: An Islamic Historical And Maqāṣidī Perspective, Abdulazeem Abozaid, Saqib Hafiz Khateeb

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

The constant concern for ensuring that the basic needs of every human are met has prompted various steps with an aim to promote equality. This concern has eventually led to an increasing demand to guarantee a reasonable standard of living. Some economists have recently revisited the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) that has caught the interest of some governments and policy makers. This paper investigates the concept of UBI from historical, legal (Islamic), and Maqāṣidī perspectives. It traces the conceptual origins of UBI back to the Islamic society since the early Islamic history. Adopting a conceptual–analytical methodology, the paper …

A Very Long-Term Analysis Of Cash Awqaf In Eastern Thrace: Capital, Socioeconomic Groups, And Temporal Shifts, 1544-1917, Bora Altay

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

This study examines the institutional and financial dynamics of cash Awqaf in the Eastern Thrace region of the Ottoman Empire, presenting a long-term quantitative analysis that extends beyond Istanbul. This analysis aims to clarify the evolution of capital levels, founders’ profiles, and the functions of cash Awqaf from the sixteenth to the early twentieth centuries. To address the paucity of regional data, a novel dataset encompassing cash Awqaf in Edirne, Kırklareli, and Tekirdağ from 1544–1917 was developed. The analysis integrates the longitudinal trends in waqf capital with the socioeconomic characteristics of the founders and the evolving allocation of waqf revenues. …

Bridging Governance Gaps In Islamic Banking: Palestine And Malaysia Compared, Murad Ayesh Ali Obaid, Abdulmajid Obaid Hasan Saleh, Fahd Mohammed Obad Al-Shaghdari

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

This study focuses on the most important governance issues that Islamic banking institutions in Palestine are experiencing and discusses what can be learnt from the Malaysian experience in helping to better govern Islamic banking institutions to improve governance efficiency, adherence to SharīÊ¿ah and regulatory oversight. Using a qualitative approach, research is based on the data collected from interviews with experts, document analysis and comparative case studies of both jurisdictions. The results indicate that lack of a centralised authority to monitor them, lack of professional expertise and the inadequate specified internal frameworks greatly constrain the effectiveness of governance in Palestinian Islamic …

Foreign Bank Competition And Financial Stability In Dual Banking Systems: Evidence From Islamic And Conventional Banks In Indonesia, Alwahidin La Pade, Alija Avdukic, Husain Insawan, Novita Kusuma Maharani

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

This study investigates how foreign bank presence affects financial stability, focusing on the differences between Islamic and conventional banks operating in Indonesia. Using a fixed-effects regression model of panel data of 108 banks over ten years (18 Islamic banks and 90 conventional banks), the Z-score is the dependent variable of stability, and foreign presence is assessed through foreign bank assets (FBA) and foreign bank number (FBN). This research finds that growing foreign bank number (FBN) positively affects stability, while growing foreign bank assets (FBA) negatively affects stability in the short run. In addition, Islamic banks are more stable than conventional …

Theology Of Moosa’S Significance In The Quran From A Unique Perspective Of A Muslim Student In The United States, Kashif J. Farooqi

CGU Theses & Dissertations

As a Muslim studying Islam in the United States of America, I want my paper to focus on the holy book of Muslims, the Quran. Specifically, my focus will be to discuss the significance of Moosa or Moses in the Quran, with a theological perspective. I will answer the following question regarding Moosa in the Quran. Is the mention of Moosa in the Quran linked to the Jewish influence on Muhammad and if not, what is the reason of Moosa being mentioned so many times in the Quran? To answer the above question, I will explore two aspects of Moosa …

The Birth Of Afghanistan: From Ancient Persia To A Modern-Day Multiethnic And Linguistic Country, Tyler A. Worm

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis offers a comprehensive historical analysis of the formation and evolution of Afghan identity from antiquity through the early medieval period, emphasizing the region’s role as a dynamic crossroads of civilizations. It traces the origins of Afghan populations to Indo-Iranian pastoralist migrations and examines the successive influence of major imperial formations, including the Median and Achaemenid Persian empires, the conquests of Alexander and the Seleucid period, and the rise of the Kushan, Parthian, and Sasanian states. Through this longue durée approach, the study demonstrates how Afghanistan’s geographic position facilitated continuous cultural interaction, economic exchange, and political contestation, producing a …

East To West: Cultural Attitudes And The Perceptions Of Death, Hannah F. Ahmed

UROP Posters

Death is a universal human experience, but cultures teach people to interpret it in different ways. These interpretations influence how individuals understand dying, how they cope with loss, what support looks like, and what meaning death makes in their lives. Eastern, spiritual, and religious traditions emphasize death as a natural transition or return to divinity rather than an endpoint, and as something one must prepare for. In these contexts, people often grow up hearing stories, prayers, and teachings that situate death within a broader journey. Because of this, death becomes something familiar and speakable rather than distant or frightening (Naderi-Afif …

Researching A New Religious Phenomenon Of The Central Asia: Digital Sufism, Bekzhan A. Azhimov, Nurlan Kairbekov, Jolaman Bulan, Tussipkhan Imammadi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This study examines the emergence of digital Sufism as a modern spiritual phenomenon. It investigates the participation of Sufi groups on social media, the themes conveyed in their online sermons, and the ways their digital strategies compare with other Islamic organizations. The article further explores how Sufi orders navigate virtual environments, questioning whether they reveal elements of esoteric knowledge in these spaces. The notion of digital Sufism is presented as a lens for understanding how Sufi traditions integrate modern technology to widen the influence and relevance of their teachings. The research highlights how Sufism has adjusted to the challenges of …

Islamic Education And Imperial Governance: Kazakh Institutions In Turkestan (1867–Present), Mavluda Smanova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores development of religious education among Kazakh populations within Turkestan Governor-Generalship from 1867 to the early twentieth century, placing it within wider context of imperial administration, Islamic intellectual heritage, and reformist initiatives. It contends that Islamic learning institutions were not merely shaped by colonial influence but operated as flexible and enduring systems deeply rooted in local social structures. Rather than suppressing these institutions, Russian imperial authorities adopted a policy of controlled integration, bringing them under administrative oversight while simultaneously promoting alternative educational models. This dynamic gave rise to diverse and negotiated educational landscape rather than a uniformly imposed …

Socio-Psychological Portrait Of Muslim Women Who Joined Radical Religious Organizations, Akerke Sakbayeva, Nagima Baitenova, Zhuldyz Zhorabek, Assel Alimkhanova, Raimbek Zeinullin

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the socio-psychological characteristics, motivations for radicalization, and the legal and social status of Muslim women who have joined radical religious organizations from gender and cultural studies perspectives. In recent years, the increasing involvement of women in violent extremist movements has intensified the need to investigate this phenomenon not only as a security issue, but also as a complex social, cultural, psychological, and gender-related phenomenon. The study analyzes both internal and external factors influencing the radicalization of women, including social marginalization, identity crises, emotional dependency, limited religious literacy, and perceptions of social injustice. Particular attention is given to …

Islamic Identity In Post-Soviet Kazakhstan: Between Nation-Building And Global Religious Transformations, Ainur Adaikhan, Ainur Shormanova, Nurlan Orynbekov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This study examines the formation and expression of Islamic identity in Kazakhstan within the broader post-Soviet transformation of religion, nationhood, and state governance. Following decades of Soviet-imposed atheism, Islam re-emerged as a significant cultural and social force after independence in 1991. The objective of this research is to analyze how Islamic identity is constructed, expressed, and regulated in contemporary Kazakhstan, and to assess the interaction between ethnocultural belonging, institutional governance, and global religious influences. Methodologically, the study employs a mixed analytical approach combining theoretical interpretation, quantitative analysis of census and survey data, and institutional analysis of religious policy frameworks. Empirical …

Marriage Governance In Kyrgyzstan: Convergence And Divergence Between Secular Law, Islamic Norms, And Customary Practices, Aisuluu Adylbekkyzy, Zailabidin Azhimamatov, Aiitmamat Kariev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Marriage governance in Kyrgyzstan is shaped by the coexistence of secular law, Islamic norms, and customary law), creating a plural legal environment in which multiple sources of authority regulate family relations. This study examines how these normative systems interact in the governance of marriage, identifies areas of convergence and divergence, and explores their implications for legal legitimacy and family regulation. Employing a qualitative socio-legal methodology grounded in legal pluralism theory, the research draws on documentary and comparative analysis of legal texts, Islamic sources, official religious guidance, and relevant scholarly literature. The findings demonstrate that marriage governance in Kyrgyzstan operates through …

Hybrid Identity And Religious Radicalization: On The Effectiveness Of Kazakhstan's State Policy, Sholpan Zhandossova, Marhabbat Nurov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the relationship between hybrid identity and religious radicalization in Kazakhstan, arguing that state policy has been built on a systematically inverted risk hierarchy. Drawing on secondary analysis of longitudinal sociological surveys, expert assessments, and official statistics, the article demonstrates that the intensity of religious practice is a statistically non-significant predictor of radicalization (ρ=+0.18; p>0.05), whereas identity fragmentation– the internal incoherence between competing ethnic, Soviet-secular, Islamic, and civic- Kazakhstani identity layers–carries the strongest positive correlation (ρ=+0.61; p<0.001). The normative architecture constructed between 2011 and 2024 is evaluated against these empirical predictors across four analytical levels: longitudinal trend analysis, regional identity profiling, factor correlation analysis, and institutional trust trajectories. The article finds that successive policy instruments have concentrated institutional resources on the weakest risk factor while leaving the strongest predictors structurally unaddressed. The post-2016 decline in registered criminal cases is attributed primarily to the organizational collapse of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as a recruitment structure rather than to domestic policy effectiveness. Trust in the state-affiliated religious authority declined by twenty percentage points over the period of maximum normative intensity–an outcome directly contrary to policy intent. The article concludes with three evidence-based corrective directions: reorienting the diagnostic framework toward monitoring identity fragmentation, recovering protective social factors as explicit policy targets, and restructuring formal religious authority to allow community-derived legitimacy to carry preventive functions.

Religious Transformation In The Post-Soviet Space: On The Example Of Kyrgyzstan, Atabek Galmamatov, Sagynbek Kozuev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the process of religious transformation in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, focusing particularly on its institutional, social, cultural, and political dimensions. The study aims to identify the main characteristics of religious transformation, analyze the factors that have shaped its development, and assess its implications for contemporary Kyrgyz society. Methodologically, the research combines historical, comparative, and qualitative approaches to examine changes from the Soviet period to the present. The analysis demonstrates that the collapse of Soviet atheistic ideology and the expansion of religious freedom created favorable conditions for the revival of religious institutions, the growth of mosques and madrassas 1 , …