Distinguished Professors, Scholars, and Colleagues,
As we bring the 13th Annual MIISSC symposium to a close, we find ourselves enriched by a shared scholarly odyssey. We began this journey under the banner of "Uttering the Unutterable," an invitation to traverse the periphery of human expression. Over the course of these talks, we have collectively ventured into the quietest corners of history, philosophy, and lived experience, attempting to give voice to that which often defies the constraints of syntax and sound.
Our discussions have demonstrated that the "unutterable" is not merely a void, but a fertile landscape of meaning. We witnessed how silence can be both a sanctuary and a site of resistance. We have explored the traumas of the unthinkable and the sacred interpretations of the soul, recognizing that our academic inquiry is most potent when it acknowledges the limits of its own instruments.
In this contemporary era, characterized so often by fragmentation and the friction of competing certainties, our gathering has served as an essential counter-narrative. We have practiced a form of intellectual pluralism, not as a mere academic exercise, but as a vital necessity for a flourishing world. This symposium has been a testament to the power of forbearance and patient listening—the ability to sit with the unfamiliar and the complex without the immediate impulse to categorize or diminish it.
As scholars of Islamic studies and diverse humanistic traditions, we are uniquely positioned to remind the world of a profound ontological truth found within the heart of our Sacred Scriptures: that humanity is woven from a single fabric, created from a single soul and recognized as the beloved children of the Divine. This spiritual egalitarianism demands that we view diversity not as a barrier to be overcome, but as a deliberate and beautiful design to be celebrated.
Our responsibility as academics transcends the walls of this institute. We are tasked with the alchemy of turning thoughts into words, and words into transformative actions. By seeking to articulate the obscured and the marginalized, we contribute to a global architecture of empathy. We strive to make the world a more luminous place, ensuring that our research serves as a beacon for justice and a bridge across the chasms of misunderstanding.
An event like this is never the work of only a couple of individuals. On behalf of myself and Sara, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to:
The MIISSC Members: Your dedication and attention to the numerous arrangements behind the scenes have been the bedrock of our success.
Our Faculty Members and Panel Chairs: Thank you from the depth of our hearts for your guidance and for fostering an environment where such ambitious dialogue can thrive.
Our Speakers: You have enriched our community with your insights, spanning from the local to the global, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.
The Attendees: Your presence and engagement have transformed these rooms into a living forum of ideas.
As we depart, let us carry the resonance of these two days with us. May we continue to find the courage to speak the unspoken and the wisdom to honor the silence that remains. Let us go forth with the conviction that our shared humanity is our greatest strength and our most sacred charge.
May your paths be filled with light and your hearts with the peace of understanding.
Goodbye. Au revoir. فی امان الله, and خداحافظ.
Seddigheh Kardan & Sara Mrouwe
Symposium co-chairs