International Conference in Houston Maps Strategic Outlook for Muslim Issues in the West

Houston, Texas - In an academic endeavor aimed at 

addressing pressing contemporary challenges, the city of Houston, USA, hosted the International Academic Conference titled "Contemporary Jurisprudential, Legal, and Educational Developments for Muslims in the West: Reality - Future - Challenges – Solutions" over two days, August 29 and 30, 2025.

This prominent event was jointly organized by the Islamic University of Minnesota (Main Center) and Al-Ahliyya Amman University of Jordan, under the patronage of Professor Waleed bin Idrees Al-Meneesi, President of the Islamic University of Minnesota, and Professor Haitham Abu Khadija, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Al-Ahliyya Amman University.

High-Level Opening and Clear Vision

The conference commenced with a well-attended opening session, bringing together an elite group of scholars, experts, and researchers from various countries worldwide, both in-person and virtually. In her speech delivered on behalf of the University President, Dr. Zainab Basyouni, Deputy Vice President of the Islamic University of Minnesota, emphasized the university's steadfast mission in serving knowledge and fostering global academic cooperation.

For his part, Dr. Omar Al-Maqrami, University Vice President and Conference President, stressed that this event "represents a unique scientific opportunity to shed light on the rapid changes facing Muslims in the West," affirming the necessity of moving from diagnosis to providing practical solutions that contribute to enhancing their positive integration while preserving their religious and cultural identity.

Comprehensive Themes and Rich Sessions

Over two days, participants delved into in-depth discussions across seven main themes covering various aspects of Muslim life in the West, from jurisprudential developments, through legal, educational, and economic challenges, to the impact of political transformations and the role of artificial intelligence.

The first day featured two main sessions; the first addressed "Contemporary Jurisprudential Developments Between Law and Custom," where important research was presented on the role of endowments (waqf) in development, the history of Islam in Spain, and the concept of loyalty and disavowal from a moderate perspective. The second session focused on "Contemporary Jurisprudential Developments Between Education and Ethics," discussing ways to preserve Islamic culture and the impact of educational policies on the identity of Muslim generations.

The scientific momentum continued on the second day with a session on "Contemporary Jurisprudential Developments Between the Fixed and the Variable," which presented studies on arbitration by Sharia in commercial and family matters for Muslim minorities.

Notably, a full session was dedicated to discussing "Contemporary Jurisprudential Developments in the Era of Artificial Intelligence," chaired by Dr. Alaa Al-Qudah. This session showcased advanced research on digital fatwas, investing endowment funds through modern means, and the role of Islamic economic media in the digital age, reflecting the conference's awareness of the importance of keeping pace with the technological revolution.

Strategic Recommendations for a Better Future

The conference concluded its proceedings by issuing a set of strategic recommendations formulated by a committee of experts and presented by Dr. Zainab Basyouni. The recommendations called for:

Adopting Technology: Integrating artificial intelligence technologies to serve Islamic issues, with the necessity of developing specialized software subject to scientific and technical oversight.

Protecting Rights: Working to establish unified international standards for protecting the rights of Muslim minorities and organizing a specialized conference on minority jurisprudence.

Addressing Personal Status Issues: Discussing matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance to find solutions that reconcile Western laws with Sharia rulings.

Enhancing Partnerships: Encouraging cooperation between Islamic institutions in the West and their counterparts in the Islamic world, and supporting collective endowments to finance development projects.

Disseminating Knowledge: Issuing a practical guide that includes the most prominent solutions and proposals reached by the conference, and publishing outstanding research in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Thus, the curtain fell on a conference that served as a leading intellectual platform, not only for diagnosing the current reality but also for drawing a practical roadmap aimed at building a better future for Muslims in the West and enhancing their civilizational role in their societies.