13th International Bediüzzaman Symposium To Be Held in Istanbul on 4–6 October 2026

28.11.2025

Since 1991, the Istanbul Foundation for Knowledge and Culture (IFKC) has partnered with many international organizations and academic institutions to host symposia honoring Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s scholarly and spiritual guidance, with the goal of creating a better, more livable world. As the latest link in this tradition, the 13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium will take place in Istanbul on October 4–6, 2026, under the title, “Qur’anic Solutions for Global Crises.”

Approximately 200 participants, including academics, Islamic scholars, influencers, media professionals, thought leaders, and NGO representatives, from approximately 40 countries across several continents, as well as a large audience, are expected to attend this symposium to identify the material and spiritual crises facing humanity today and propose solutions inspired by the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the broader Islamic tradition.


With the attendance of the representatives of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, the Turkish Office of Religious Affairs, and various cultural and educational NGOs, along with distinguished scholars and thought leaders, we expect the 13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium to be a means for building companionship and solidarity following Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s unifying message.

Broad International Participation

This event will be organized with the contributions of Üsküdar University (Türkiye), International Federation of Arab Islamic Schools (Organization of Islamic Cooperation), Union of Afro-Eurasia Universities, Arab Women Organization (League of Arab States), ISTAC – IIUM (Malaysia), El-Zitouna University (Tunisia), Darussalam GONTOR University (Indonesia), University of Kut (Iraq), Elrazi University (Sudan), and several other foundations and organizations.

Three Main Themes Stand Out

Within this framework, we are inviting high-quality scholarly papers and inspirational contributions on the following themes:

  • Vision of Civilization in the New World Order
  • Building Revelation-Centered Societies and Families
  • Spiritual and Social Problems of the Modern Era

In addressing these themes, we ask prospective participants to discuss their subjects in the light of the Qur’an, the prophetic example, and the broader Islamic tradition, especially – but not necessarily – as revitalized in the thought of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi

Travel and accommodation expenses of accepted symposium participants will be provided by the IFKC.

Presentations will be accepted in Arabic, English, Spanish, Russian, and Turkish. Simultaneous translations will be provided in Arabic, English, and Turkish.

Application Timeline Announced

Details regarding abstract submission, registration, and technical information can be found at: www.bediuzzamansymposium.org

  • Proposal Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026: 31 March 2026
  • Registration Deadline for Attendees: 30 September 2026

Scholars and Academics Will Gather at the Heart of the Islamic World: Istanbul

The symposium aims to bring together academics and thought leaders from around the world in Istanbul, to reintroduce the Qur’an’s timeless message to today’s world.

Contact

For further information on proposal requirements, registration information, symposium program (when available), and other technical details, please visit our website at:

 Website: www.bediuzzamansymposium.org


13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium

Press Release (English)

Seeking Qur’anic Solutions to Global Crises:
The 13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium to Be Held in Istanbul with Participants from 40 Countries

October 4–6, 2026 – Istanbul

In response to humanity’s profound spiritual crisis, social disintegration, and the collapse of moral and civilizational values, the 13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium will be held on October 4–6, 2026, in Istanbul, organized by The Istanbul Foundation for Knowledge and Culture (İFKC). The symposium aims to rediscover the Qur’anic remedies presented through the perspectives of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi in confronting the modern world’s materialistic worldview, loss of spiritual direction, fragmented family structures, erosion of values, and a global order drifting away from meaning.

This major gathering will address some of the most urgent challenges of our age, bringing to the forefront the timeless wisdom of the Qur’an as articulated by Bediuzzaman. It intends to discuss how Islam’s universal principles can offer comprehensive answers to contemporary social and spiritual dilemmas and how these principles can be expressed in an intelligible, modern language. The symposium, therefore, will serve as a true meeting of minds and hearts, uniting scholars who seek to illuminate today’s crises with Qur’anic guidance.The theme of the symposium, “Qur’ānic Solutions to Global Crises,” aims to explore how Islam’s eternal principles can respond to today’s burning issues. How should a new civilizational vision be shaped in the emerging world order? Is it possible to build a revelation-centered society and family structure? What alternatives does Islam present in the face of modern spiritual and social challenges? Scholars and intellectuals from around the world will come together to seek answers to these fundamental questions.

The 13th International Symposium will be jointly organized with the participation of the following universities, international institutions, and foundations:

  • Üsküdar University
  • Afro-Asian Universities Union
  • Organization of Islamic Cooperation (International Federation of Arab Islamic Schools)
  • League of Arab States (Arab Women Leaders Union)
  • Malaysia, ISTAC – IIUM
  • Tunisia, Zaytuna University
  • Indonesia, Darussalam GONTOR University
  • Iraq, Al-Kut University
  • Sudan, Razi University
  • Suffa Foundation
  • Şekercihan Foundation
  • Nur Foundation
  • İttihad Association

Approximately 200 participants—including academics, scholars, madrasa ulama, thinkers, authors, opinion leaders, representatives of civil society, and media professionals—from around 40 countries will attend this grand gathering. Members of the World Union of Muslim Scholars, representatives from the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and the Presidency of Religious Affairs, academics from national and international universities, and leaders of educational and cultural institutions will come together in Istanbul.

This diversity reflects the richness and universality of the symposium. Participants from different languages, cultures, and geographies will unite around shared faith and civilizational values, forming bridges of brotherhood and hope through Bediuzzaman’s unifying message. Istanbul, hosting this blessed assembly, will once again affirm its role as the heart of Islamic civilization.

For the detailed program, paper submission procedures, registration information, and other technical details, please visit:
https://www.bediuzzamansymposium.org
or contact the Organizing Committee of the 13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium – The Istanbul Foundation for Knowledge and Culture (İFKC).

All are invited to this historic gathering—to elevate the light of faith amid humanity’s darkness, translate the eternal message of the Qur’an into the language of our age, and share with the world the horizon opened by Bediuzzaman.

Thematic Focus and Subtopics

In this symposium on “Qur’anic Solutions to Global Crises,” we expect scholarly papers and inspirational contributions about the following themes and subtopics. Proposed papers should discuss their subjects in the light of the Qur’an, the prophetic example, and the broader Islamic tradition, especially – but not necessarily – as revitalized in the thought of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi.

1.⁠ ⁠Vision of Civilization in the New World Order

  • Qur'an-Centered Understanding of Justice and Civilization
  • The Qur'an's Message of Universal Peace
  • Human Rights and Freedoms in Islam
  • The Ideal of Islamic Unity

2.⁠ ⁠Building Revelation-Centered Societies and Families

  • Fitrah-Centered Family and Generational Upbringing
  • Fundamental Dynamics of Social Life
  • Revelation-Based Approaches to Governance and Politics
  • Societal Advancement through Education

3.⁠ ⁠Spiritual and Social Problems of the Modern Era

  • Instilling Sense of Responsibility and Purpose among the Youth
  • Contentment and Frugality versus the Culture of Waste and Consumerism
  • Coping with Spiritual and Material Calamities with Patience and Trust in God
  • Monotheistic Perspective in Art
  • Preserving Faith in the Face of Trends Antagonistic to Belief in God
  • Preserving the Heart and the Intellect in the Age of Media
  • Spiritual Approaches to Human and Environmental Wellbeing
  • The Role of Science and Technology for the Future of Muslim Societies
  • The Transformative Effect of Faith on Society

Timeline and Submission

  • Proposal Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026

    Notification of Acceptance: April 30, 2026

    Announcement of the Symposium Program: June 30, 2026

    Full Paper Submission: September 1, 2026

    Registration Deadline for Attendees: September 30, 2026

Contact:

  • Organizing Committee of the 13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium
    The Istanbul Foundation for Knowledge and Culture (İFKC)

Website: https://www.bediuzzamansymposium.org