The Fourth International Conference on Islamic History and Civilization in South Africa themed “The Representation of Prophet Muhammad (saw) in African Scholarship and Literature” was co-organized by IRCICA, OIC General Secretariat and Awqaf South Africa (Awqaf SA) on 12-14 September 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference brought together more than thirty scholars from different countries within and outside Africa to appraise the reflections of the spiritual and ethical legacy of the Prophet across vast areas ranging from commerce and economics to education, social justice, oral traditions, literature, waqf tradition, governance and migration.
The opening ceremony of the conference was addressed by Sheikh Sadullah Khan (CEO of the Islamia College), Molla Abdulkhaliq Allie (President of the Ulama Council of South Africa), Zeinoul Cajee (Chair of the Academic Committee), Dr. Lhoucine Rhazoui (Director of Cultural Affairs at the OIC General Secretariat) and Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç (IRCICA Director General). Then, two keynote addresses were delivered, by Prof. Dr. Halis Aydemir (Representative of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye) and Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç (IRCICA Director General). Discussions were engaged on topics relating to Islamic philosophy and tasawwuf.
The participants’ presentations were grouped in sessions on business, economic and social justice; historical and literary scholarship; education and pedagogy; oral traditions, songs and poetry; mawlid, praise poetry; waqfs and governance; culture and migration.
The formal opening in the evening of 12 September 2025 was held with the participation of around three hundred dignitaries from Cape Town. Opening addresses were made by Ebrahim Rasool (Former Ambassador), Sheikh Riaad Fataar (President of the Muslim Judicial Council), Mickaeel Collier (CEO of Awqaf SA), Dr. Lhoucine Rhazoui (Director of Cultural Affairs at the OIC General Secretariat), Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç (IRCICA Director General) and Honorable Thembi Siweya, Member of South African Parliament and Special Counselor to the Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
The participants were invited to a guided tour of the National Botanical Gardens in Kirstenbosch where a Tree Planting Ceremony were held in appreciation of their scholarly contributions. A Mawlid Al-Nabi Program was also organized in the Al Quds Masjid on the night of 13 September 2025.
The Closing Ceremony of the conference was held on Sunday, 14 September 2025 with the addresses of Zeinoul Cajee (Chair of the Academic Committee), Prof. Muhammed Haron (Deputy Chairman of the Academic Committee), Mickaael Collier (CEO of Awqaf SA), Prof. Dr. Aboubacar Senghore (Assistant Director General of IRCICA), Prof. Dr. Sadık Ünay (Senior Consultant to IRCICA Director General), Dr. Lhoucine Rhazoui (Director of Cultural Affairs at the OIC General Secretariat), and Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç (IRCICA Director General).
In his closing remarks, the Assistant Director General of IRCICA Prof. Dr. Aboubacar Senghore drew attention to the climate of spiritual and intellectual enthusiasm that reigned at each moment of the conference and the high quality of the presentations and the discussions which was the result of the profound significance of the lofty theme of the conference permeating throughout its events.
The Director General of IRCICA Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç closed the conference expressing his gratitude, on behalf of IRCICA, to the Presidency and the Government of South Africa for the excellent arrangements and hospitality; to Awqaf SA for their invaluable cooperation and excellent preparations, and to all paper presenters for their inestimable contributions to success of the conference.
Final Resolutions of the conference were announced by the journalist and writer Mr Shafiq Morton which proclaimed a long-term research agenda on the broader legacy of Prophet Muhammad (saw) in social life, economics, governance, faith and culture to be pursued with a series of academic events in the years to come.
