Future Studies and the Ummatic Horizon - Dr. Hamdija Begović | Sarajevo Conference 2026 "One might think of [future studies] as a civilizational muscle, and like any muscle it develops through use. The more a community engages in long-term thinking, explores alternative futures, and reflects on the consequences of present choices, the stronger its capacity for strategic action becomes." Dr. Hamdija Begović explores how future studies can help Muslims move from reacting to global change to actively shaping it, combining strategic foresight with Islamic conceptions of time, moral responsibility, and the Umma as a unit of civilizational analysis. Watch the full presentation here: youtu.be/GeG9Jo0OmGM

Islamofuturism: Why Muslims Should Write Science Fiction - Ahmed Elbenni | Sarajevo Conference 2026 “The value of science fiction lies not in the future it envisions but in the act of envisioning the future.” Ahmed Elbenni makes the case for Islamofuturism, arguing that Muslims need not only the predictive tools of future studies but also the artistic and political capacity to imagine radically different futures. Drawing on science fiction, Islamic literary aesthetics, classical traditions of wonder, and contemporary Muslim speculative writing, Elbenni argues that science fiction can function as a laboratory for political and civilizational imagination. He distinguishes Islamic science fiction, which depicts Islam or Muslims in future settings, from Islamofuturism, which places Islam at the centre of future possibility and asks how Islamic commitments might transform the future itself. He concludes that the political importance of science fiction lies less in predicting what will happen than in preserving a community’s capacity to dream beyond the limits imposed by the present. youtu.be/UVjl5QEepfA

Confronting the Umma’s Predicament: Perspectives from Leading Contemporary Muslim Thinkers 📃 New Publication by Dr. Saif Abdelfattah @saif_abdelfatah examines how four influential Muslim thinkers—al-Kawakibi, al-Sanhuri, Bennabi, and el-Bishry—understood the Umma’s civilizational challenges and proposed pathways to renewal, emphasizing political reform, Islamic unity, intellectual revival, and overcoming internal divisions. This article is part of the Hadara translations series. ummatics.org/publications/ha…

Beyond the Liberal “Peace”: Managing Deep Difference in the Umma - Panel Q&A | Sarajevo Conference 2026 “Your anger, your hatred is not going to eliminate the other; rather, will exacerbate tensions in society.” — Yasir Qadhi Dr. Ovamir Anjum, Dr. Yasir Qadhi, Dr. Ahab Bdaiwi, Dr. Yasmeen Daifallah, and Dr. Mairaj Syed discuss the limits of tolerable disagreement, sectarianism, agonistic politics, justice and mercy, institutional incentives, and how dialogue and ordinary human encounter can help Muslims manage deep differences without demanding uniformity. Watch the full presentation here: youtu.be/wjUj_Tcvcg4