Al Kahf Institute · International academic congress

International
Al Kahf Congress

Four narratives. A shared horizon of knowledge.
A dedicated international gathering for rigorous scholarship, interdisciplinary dialogue and sustained reflection on Surah Al-Kahf.

Explore the four sessions →

Inaugural congress framework · Dates, venue and confirmed programme to be announced.
Conference imagery is illustrative, not a photograph of this congress.

Four main sessions

The central narratives of Surah Al-Kahf

Dates & venue

To be announced

Host institution

Al Kahf Institute

Participation

Expressions of interest welcome

Congress vision

A surah at the centre of a global scholarly conversation.

Al Kahf Institute’s ambition is to establish a pioneering, comprehensive congress devoted to Surah Al-Kahf: connecting the four central narratives with textual scholarship, humanities, education, ethics and carefully framed scientific inquiry.

The congress framework brings together conference lectures, thematic panels, academic forums and research exchange. Its purpose is a lasting contribution: a programme, a congress booklet, a research record and a considered final declaration.

Depth of scholarship

Arabic wording, context, classical and contemporary tafsir, transparent evidence and accountable interpretation.

Breadth of dialogue

Scholars, educators, independent researchers and students exchanging methods and questions across disciplines.

A lasting record

A framework for documented contributions, continuing research and a post-congress archive.

The four main sessions

Four narratives. Four research horizons.

Each main session is anchored in a defined passage and opens into connected disciplinary questions. Session titles are established here; chairs and contributors will be announced separately.

Canyon and cave landscape, a thematic illustration
Main session 01 · Quran 18:9–26

The Companions of the Cave & Al-Raqim

أصحاب الكهف والرقيم

Faith, refuge, memory and the human experience of time. A close reading of the companions’ narrative and the interpretive questions surrounding al-Raqim.

  • Al-Raqim: language, record and interpretive traditions
  • Faith, youth, refuge and social responsibility
  • Sleep, duration and the limits of retrospective scientific readings
  • Narrative, historical context and comparative tafsir
Related research page ↗
Flowering orchard, a thematic illustration
Main session 02 · Quran 18:32–44

The Two Garden Companions

صاحبا الجنتين

Wealth, ownership, gratitude and the fragility of worldly success. An interdisciplinary session on the moral and social questions of the garden narrative.

  • Possession, prosperity and human vulnerability
  • Agriculture, environment and responsible stewardship
  • Gratitude, accountability and ethical economics
  • Dialogue, persuasion and the structure of the parable
Related research page ↗
Sea and sailing boat, a thematic illustration
Main session 03 · Quran 18:60–82

The Journey of Musa & Khidr

رحلة موسى والخضر

Knowledge, patience and the limits of human judgement. A forum for epistemology, education and ethical questions raised by the journey.

  • Learning, mentorship and the discipline of questioning
  • Apparent harm and the limits of available knowledge
  • Interpretation, moral reasoning and narrative context
  • Patience, authority and educational philosophy
Related research page ↗
Mountain landscape, a thematic illustration
Main session 04 · Quran 18:83–98

Dhul-Qarnayn & His Journeys

ذو القرنين ورحلاته

Power, justice, movement and collective protection. A scholarly discussion of leadership and the boundaries of geographical and contemporary interpretations.

  • Justice, authority and public responsibility
  • The journeys: geography, language and interpretive proposals
  • Collective work, technology and the barrier narrative
  • Yajuj and Majuj: sources, interpretation and research limits
Related research page ↗
Congress formats

A complete academic meeting experience.

Planned formats will be developed around the four sessions. The final programme will specify confirmed events, speakers and participation arrangements.

Conference & keynote lectures

Substantial lectures situating the surah’s narratives within language, history, knowledge and contemporary questions.

Thematic panels

Chaired exchanges bringing complementary research perspectives into a focused scholarly discussion.

Academic forums

Moderated dialogue between researchers, educators and participants, with questions clearly separated from established findings.

Research presentations

Contribution sessions for close readings, methodological studies and interdisciplinary proposals.

Methodology workshops

Proposed spaces for Arabic terminology, source comparison, research practice and responsible scientific interpretation.

Early-career exchange

A proposed forum for emerging scholars and students to discuss research questions and receive constructive feedback.

Scientific programme · Planning framework

A clear programme, built around the text.

This is the proposed congress structure, not a dated timetable. Session durations, dates and speakers will appear after confirmation.

Opening

Welcome & congress vision

Introductions, objectives, research scope and the four-session framework.

Time & chair to be announced
Main session 01

The Companions of the Cave & Al-Raqim

Textual study, research presentations and moderated discussion.

Time & chair to be announced
Main session 02

The Two Garden Companions

Ethical, social and interdisciplinary readings of the garden narrative.

Time & chair to be announced
Academic forum

Across the four narratives

Methods, interpretive boundaries and shared research questions.

Time & chair to be announced
Main session 03

The Journey of Musa & Khidr

Knowledge, pedagogy and responsible ethical reading.

Time & chair to be announced
Main session 04

Dhul-Qarnayn & His Journeys

Leadership, journeys, collective protection and interpretation.

Time & chair to be announced
Final plenary

Findings & declaration discussion

Consideration of research outcomes and a draft final declaration.

Time & chair to be announced
Closing

Research priorities & continuing work

Congress archive, publication planning and future collaboration.

Time & chair to be announced
Participation & scholarly contributions

Bring a question. Contribute a perspective.

Register interest as a participant or submit a proposal enquiry. An expression of interest is not a confirmed place or an accepted paper.

Congress participation

For scholars, educators, researchers, students and interested participants. Tell the secretariat your name, email and preferred form of participation.

Contribution & abstract enquiry

Indicate one of the four sessions and outline your research question. Formal abstract limits, submission deadlines and review arrangements will be announced.

Contribution framework

Research that can be read, discussed and assessed.

Proposals should make their textual basis, research question, method and interpretive claims clear. The formal call for papers will confirm the requirements and publication policy.

A defined question

Explain the problem, the relevant passage and the contribution your research aims to make.

Traceable sources

Distinguish primary text, translation, tafsir, historical materials and modern disciplinary evidence.

Responsible comparison

Identify hypotheses and avoid presenting a modern analogy as a settled textual or scientific fact.

Originality & attribution

Acknowledge quotations, collaborators and source material. Disclose relevant conflicts or assistance.

Constructive discussion

Respond to disagreement through reasons and sources. Protect the dignity of participants and communities.

Publication planning

Review arrangements, author permissions and publication formats will be specified before any acceptance or publication commitment.

Congress booklet & participant guide

The programme in one elegant reference.

The booklet section brings together the congress vision, four main sessions, programme framework, committee structure and participant information. A draft overview is available here; the official booklet will be published when the programme is confirmed.

Draft overview in HTML format. Official PDF booklet, confirmed programme and speaker biographies: forthcoming.

AL KAHF INSTITUTE International
Al Kahf
Congress Four narratives.
A shared horizon of knowledge. DRAFT OVERVIEW
Congress governance

Organisation with clear responsibilities.

Committee roles are presented below as an organisational framework. Appointed names, affiliations and official responsibilities will be published after confirmation.

Congress leadership

Overall direction, institutional coordination and the congress’s academic purpose.

Appointments to be announced

Scientific committee

Academic scope, contribution assessment, session coherence and research standards.

Appointments to be announced

Organising committee

Programme coordination, participant services, event planning and practical arrangements.

Appointments to be announced

Session chairs & rapporteurs

Moderation, fair discussion and accurate recording of session outcomes.

Appointments to be announced

Editorial & publication team

Booklet preparation, permissions, research records and publication coordination.

Appointments to be announced

Secretariat & participant services

Registration enquiries, communications, accessibility requests and practical information.

Appointments to be announced
Final declaration · Draft framework

From discussion to a considered record.

The congress’s final declaration will be issued after the congress and its approval process. The framework below is a discussion draft, not an adopted declaration or a statement of participant consensus.

Discussion draft · Not adopted

Principles for scholarly inquiry into Surah Al-Kahf

  1. Textual integrity. Research should preserve the distinction between the Quranic text, translation choices, interpretation and disciplinary comparison.
  2. Methodological transparency. Arguments should identify their sources, assumptions and the limits of available evidence.
  3. Interdisciplinary dialogue. Different disciplines should meet through accountable methods and respectful discussion, without erasing their differences.
  4. Ethical responsibility. Participants should protect dignity, acknowledge authorship and engage disagreement through evidence and reasons.
  5. Education & accessibility. The congress should encourage clear communication, emerging scholarship and accessible research resources.
  6. Continuing research. Identified questions should be developed through collaboration, documented inquiry and a sustainable archive.
  7. A considered final record. A final declaration should be distinguished from individual opinions and issued only after its approval process is complete.
International participation

The information participants need.

Dates, venue & format

The congress dates, host location and in-person, online or hybrid arrangements will be announced together.

Languages & interpretation

Presentation languages and any interpretation services will be confirmed in the official participant guide.

Fees & participation conditions

Fees, any waivers, cancellation conditions and included services will be published before paid registration opens.

Travel & invitation enquiries

Contact the secretariat about travel information or invitation requests once dates and location are confirmed. No visa outcome is guaranteed.

Accessibility & inclusion

Participants may raise access, communication or assistance needs with the secretariat. Confirmed facilities will be described in the guide.

Recording & permissions

Recording, image use, paper publication and author permissions will be addressed before the relevant session or publication.

Questions & answers

Before you join.

Is this a confirmed dated programme?

The page sets out the congress framework and four main sessions. Dates, venue, speakers and the detailed timetable are awaiting announcement.

Can I register now?

You can send an expression of interest through the participation form. The secretariat must confirm a place and provide the formal participation conditions.

Can I propose a paper or panel contribution?

Yes, you can send an enquiry tied to one of the four sessions. A proposal enquiry does not constitute formal acceptance. The official call will set deadlines and review requirements.

Where can I obtain the congress booklet?

The draft overview can be previewed here and downloaded as an HTML document. The official PDF booklet will follow the confirmed programme.

Is the final declaration already adopted?

No. The page provides a clearly labelled discussion framework. The final declaration will be published after the congress and approval.

How does the registration form work?

The form prepares an email to info@alkahfinstitute.org in your mail application. You must send that email. This page does not automatically submit or confirm a registration.

Congress secretariat

Begin the conversation.

Participation, research contributions, institutional enquiries and accessibility requests.

info@alkahfinstitute.org ↗

Congress