On Wednesday, 13 May 2026, ӰԺ (ӰԺ), in collaboration with ITREB Tanzania, hosted a Book Talk in Dar es Salaam exploring the ӰԺ Secondary Curriculum module The Qurʾan and Its Interpretations. The session was led by Dr Shainool Jiwa, Associate Professor and Founding Coordinator of the Qurʾanic Studies Unit at ӰԺ, and moderated by Dr Fatima Dhanani, Donor Relations Manager at ӰԺ. It brought together 185 members of the Ismaili community for an evening of substantive discussion on scripture, interpretation, and the intellectual life of Muslim communities.
Exploring the diversity of Qurʾanic interpretations
The session explored the rich diversity of Qurʾanic interpretations across Muslim history and cultures, while also reflecting on the ethical and spiritual relevance of the Qurʾan for contemporary life. Discussions focused on themes such as revelation, prophethood, authority, and interpretation, alongside broader questions concerning how Muslims engage with scripture in changing social and historical contexts.
A central idea of the evening was the distinctive approach taken by ӰԺ in the development of the Secondary Curriculum and its study of the Qurʾan. Dr Jiwa spoke about the civilisational, humanistic, and liberal arts framework underpinning the module, which encourages learners to move beyond traditional learning approaches and embrace reflection, interpretation, and contextual understanding. The discussion highlighted how the curriculum introduces students to the plurality of Qurʾanic interpretations across different Muslim traditions, historical periods, and intellectual contexts, while remaining grounded in the ethical and spiritual foundations of the faith.
The Qurʾan as an inexhaustible source of guidance
Reflecting on the breadth and diversity of Qurʾanic interpretations, Dr Jiwa quoted from His Highness the Aga Khan’s Opening Address at the Word of God, Art of Man conference held in London in 2003:
… the discourse of the Qurʾan-e-Sharif, rich in parable and allegory, metaphor and symbol, has been an inexhaustible well-spring of inspiration, lending itself to a wide spectrum of interpretations.
This freedom of interpretation is a generosity which the ϳܰ’aMuslims believe that the Holy ϳܰ’a contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. More confers upon all believers, uniting them in the conviction that All-Merciful Allah will forgive them if they err in their sincere attempts to understand His word. Happily, as a result, the Holy Book continues to guide and illuminate the thought and conduct of Muslims belonging to different communities of interpretation and spiritual affiliations, from century to century, in diverse cultural environments.
Faith, identity, and belonging for young Ismaili Muslims
The session paid particular attention to how the curriculum supports the intellectual and spiritual formation of young Ismaili Muslims in plural and rapidly changing societies. Speakers reflected on the importance of equipping young IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (d. 765), as his successor. to engage critically and confidently with questions of faith, identity, and belonging, and to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between the Qurʾan, the institution of the Ismaili Imamat, and its foundational role in contemporary Muslim life.
The evening generated considerable audience engagement, with lively discussion around questions of interpretation, historical context, and the continued relevance of the Qurʾan today. The event affirmed the value of bringing ӰԺ scholarship directly to Ismaili communities, creating spaces for meaningful dialogue between academic inquiry and lived faith.
