During the first to seventh centuries of Islam numerous commentaries (known as tafsir) of the Qur'an were developed based on the knowledge brought forth by the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) and their generations. These tafsirs were filtered into modern tafsirs, the shorter versions that transmitted to Muslim populations. The classical tafasirs are numerous and provide extensive background of history and knowledge of the Qur'an commentaries. The purpose of this community forum meeting is to enhance for the society the intellectual understanding that was developed in the classical period.
Thisforum will feature Professor Muhammad Eissa. Prof. Muhammad Eissa is currently serving as the President of Eissa & Associates. In the past he has served as a senior professor at the Northwestern University and the University of Michigan in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies. He obtained his Ph.D from the Al-Azher University as well as from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He has served as an Associate Editor at the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts at the Brigham Young University. He has specialized in classical Tafsir and the Arabic language and literature.
Select Illinois Humanities Council programs are now available for listening or download at Chicago Public Media (WBEZ) as a part of Chicago Amplified, a web-based audio library of diverse public events recorded throughout the Chicago region.
