Department of Prophetic Sunnah and Its Sciences Holds Its First Meeting
The Department of Prophetic Sunnah and Its Sciences at the Islamic University of Minnesota, main center, held its first meeting chaired by Dr. Majed bin Obaid Al-Salmi, the new head of the department, on Wednesday evening, 18th of Rabi' al-Awwal 1447 AH, corresponding to September 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM Mecca time, with the attendance of faculty members.
Dr. Al-Salmi opened the meeting with a welcoming speech, emphasizing his commitment to making the gathering a space for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas and experiences, contributing to overcoming obstacles and advancing the department towards greater academic and research excellence.
The meeting addressed several key topics, with a focus on student affairs. It was highlighted that supporting students with weak academic performance is essential, helping them to improve academically, encouraging active participation, and breaking the fear of making mistakes through forming workgroups and stimulating thought-provoking questions. Additionally, challenges faced by non-Arabic speaking students were discussed, with plans for specialized support programs.
Another topic covered was the development of the educational process, emphasizing the need to enhance critical thinking in graduate studies rather than relying solely on memorization and rote learning. The use of technological tools, such as presentations, was encouraged to attract and motivate students. A project was launched to prepare a university textbook for each subject in the master's and doctoral programs (23 subjects), with authorship tasks distributed among faculty members.
Regarding the university textbook project, Dr. Al-Salmi presented a future vision, describing it as a "beneficial work that leaves a lasting impact." He encouraged faculty members to write 5 to 10 pages after each lecture, sharing his personal experience that led to the publication of a refined academic work in a short time. He emphasized that every author has their unique mark, citing timeless works such as Al-Ajurumiyyah and the Voices of Readers.
The head of the department concluded the meeting by stressing that the Department of Prophetic Sunnah and Its Sciences should be globally recognized, stating that a second place does not befit the department and calling for leveraging university support to achieve this goal and serve the most noble of sciences.
In attendance at the meeting, in addition to the department head, were Prof. Yusuf Abdulrahman Mega, Dr. Abdullah Mahidat, Dr. Redhwan Al-Ahdal, Dr. Abu Al-Izz Al-Faqi, Dr. Samir Hosawi, Mr. Anas Nasr Al-Din, and Ms. Anisa Al-Zekri, the administrative affairs officer for the college.
