2025 Annual Meeting Reminders

2025 Annual Meeting Reminders

The International Qur’anic Studies Association looks forward to welcoming its members and affiliates to its 2025 Annual Meeting, hosted by Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles, California, November 13–16, 2025.

This year’s meeting offers both in-person and virtual participation – join us in Los Angeles or connect online from anywhere in the world!

Registration & Membership [Required for All Attendees]

To participate, you must complete two steps:

  1. Have active IQSA membership → Join or renew here
  2. Register for the Annual Meeting → Register on the event website

Membership alone does not count as registration.
Presenters, observers, and virtual participants all need to register.

Accommodations [Rooms Going Fast!]

IQSA’s group hotel is Hotel June West LA, located within walking distance of LMU.

  • Check-in: November 12, 2025 (3 PM)
  • Check-out: November 15, 2025 (12 PM)
  • Rates:
    • Double Room (3 nights): $680.69 USD (tax included)
    • King Room (3 nights): $593.85 USD (tax included)
  • Limited availability — discounted rooms are first come, first served.

·        Stays can be extended depending upon availability, but not shortened.  If you would like to extend your stay, please email thomas.bost@thehoteljune.com.

**Book your room during registration or via your IQSA registration confirmation email.

Other nearby hotels (Hilton, Sheraton, Marina del Rey, and more) are listed on the Accommodations page.

Travel & Visa Information

LMU’s campus is only 10–15 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

If you need an invitation letter for a visa or funding, please email contactus@iqsaweb.org.

A limited number of travel grants (up to $500 USD) are available for those most in need, with preference for presenters. Please indicate your interest on your Registration Form.

Optional Activities

  • Graduate Student Luncheon: Network with senior scholars and peers in an informal setting (space limited; please indicate your interest on the registration form.).
  • Childcare: IQSA may offer childcare based on demand; please indicate your interest on the registration form.

Food & Drink Near LMU

You’ll find a wide variety of dining options near campus.

💡 Tip: Most restaurants don’t require lunch reservations, but dinner bookings are recommended.

Takeaway and delivery are widely available through UberEats, DoorDash, and Postmates.

We look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles or online for another exciting year of Qur’anic studies scholarship and community!

Warm regards,
The IQSA Team
contactus@iqsaweb.org

Registration OPEN for IQSA Annual Meeting 2025!

Registration for the 2025 IQSA Annual Meeting is NOW OPEN!

Follow the steps below to register for the International Qur’anic Studies Association’s Annual Meeting from November 13 – 16, 2025 hosted on the Loyola Marymount University campus in Los Angeles, California.

1. Verify that your IQSA membership is active

2. Visit https://event.fourwaves.com/iqsa2025/registration

3. Complete the form

4. Complete payment based on your IQSA membership level

Please note that the conference registration process is the same for both in-person and virtual attendees.

Travel grants
IQSA will make available a limited number of travel grants (up to $500 USD) for those most in need of financial assistance in order to attend. Preference will be given to those presenting. Please indicate your interest on the registration form.

Invitation letters
If you require an official letter for visa or institutional funding, please email contactus@iqsaweb.org. Please provide your full name and mailing address and our team will prepare one promptly.

Travel & Accommodations
We have compiled a selection of hotels near Loyola Marymount University (LMU) to assist with your travel planning. Find a list of dining options here.

Childcare
Depending on demand, IQSA will work to provide childcare accommodations. If you indicate your interest on the registration form, you will be contacted at a later date.

We look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles!

IQSA 2025 Annual Meeting Goes Hybrid + Extended CFP (June 15) & Preview of Vienna 2026

Dear IQSA colleagues,

After careful consideration of the increasing travel difficulties affecting many of our members, the Board of Directors has voted to add a full virtual track to the IQSA 2025 Annual Meeting, 13–16 November 2025, hosted on the Loyola Marymount University campus in Los Angeles. (IQSA 2025 Annual Meeting)

What this means for you

U.S.-based scholars: We warmly encourage you to attend on campus to enjoy face-to-face discussions, bookstore exhibits, and informal networking in sunny Los Angeles.

Non-U.S.-based scholars: If you plan to attend in person, we would be delighted to see you in Los Angeles. If you are unable to or choose not to attend in person, you can fully participate virtually, presenting your work and connecting with colleagues globally. 

Already submitted a paper? Log in to your Fourwaves account, open your submission, and select “In-person” or “Virtual” under “Presentation Type.” You may switch formats at any time before submissions close.

Still drafting? The Call-for-Papers deadline is extended to June 15 2025.

Travel support & documentation

  • Travel grants: A limited number of need-based grants will be offered for both in-person and virtual presenters; details and application instructions will follow in a separate announcement.
  • Invitation letters: If you require an official letter for visa or institutional funding, email contactus@iqsaweb.org and our team will prepare one promptly.

Looking ahead—Vienna 2026

Mark your calendars now: IQSA 2026 will convene in Vienna, Austria, in July 2026. Exact dates and venue details will be circulated once finalised.

Thank you for your flexibility and for helping us make IQSA gatherings accessible to scholars worldwide. We look forward to seeing many of you in Los Angeles—and online—this November. Questions? Write to contactus@iqsaweb.org.

Call for Papers: IQSA Annual Meeting 2025

The Call for Papers for the 2025 IQSA Annual Meeting is now open! 

The International Qur’anic Studies Association is delighted to hold its Annual Meeting in person from November 13-16, 2025, hosted by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. This conference is in-person only. There is no online option. 

Submissions are welcome as either individual papers, organized panels, or roundtable discussions. Find more information about submission types and formatting here. Find the submission form here.

For your proposal to be accepted and to attend the conference you must be an active IQSA member. You can join IQSA here. If you are a graduate student, contingent faculty, or are from the global south and are unable to pay, please contact us (contactus@iqsaweb.org).

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

 

 

 

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth and Achievement for IQSA

As we bid farewell to 2024, the International Qur’anic Studies Association (IQSA) celebrates a year of dynamic progress and global engagement. From conferences and publications to new initiatives and partnerships, our community continues to thrive as a hub for Qur’anic scholarship.

Annual Meeting in London: A Global Gathering of Scholars

In 2024, IQSA’s Annual Meeting took place in London, hosted by the prestigious Institute of Ismaili Studies from July 15–18. Over 150 scholars and participants convened at the Aga Khan Centre, a beacon of education, cultural exchange, and insights into Muslim civilizations, located in London’s vibrant King’s Cross.

Highlights of the event included a warm Welcome Address by Professor Zayn Kassam (Director, Institute of Ismaili Studies) and a thought-provoking Keynote delivered by Professor Ahmad al-Jallad (Sofia Chair in Arabic Studies, Ohio State University). Beyond the traditional panels and sessions, attendees enjoyed receptions, mentoring luncheons, the annual business meeting, and guided tours of the Aga Khan Centre, further enriching the experience. The gathering underscored IQSA’s commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and mentorship within the field of Qur’anic studies.

IQSA at the AAR/SBL Annual Meeting

IQSA also maintained its presence at the AAR/SBL Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, hosting a series of sessions from November 23–24. These sessions ranged from “Engaging the Qur’an and Tafsir” to a panel discussion on Tehseen Thaver’s Beyond Sectarianism. As we look ahead, we have exciting new plans for 2025. The Call for Papers opens this January—stay tuned for details!

Publications and Open Access Milestones

The ninth volume of the Journal of the International Qur’anic Studies Association (JIQSA) was successfully published under the expert editorial leadership of Sean W. Anthony (JIQSA), Shari Lowin (Review of Qur’anic Research), and Saqib Hussain (Associate Editor). Additionally, De Gruyter made all articles from JIQSA Volume 8 publicly accessible, with select articles from Volume 9 also available as open access. For information on subscriptions and submissions, visit our journal homepage at De Gruyter.

Celebrating Excellence: Andrew Rippin Best Paper Prize

We were delighted to award the seventh annual Andrew Rippin Best Paper Prize—honoring early-career scholars presenting at IQSA’s Annual Meeting—to Paul Neuenkirchen for his paper, “Fear/Remembrance of God, Prayer, and Constancy as Ways of Fighting Demons Between the Qurʾān and Late Antique Ascetic Writings.” This award not only includes a cash prize but also the opportunity for an expanded, peer-reviewed version of the paper to be published in JIQSA. The 2024–2025 Call for Submissions will open in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out!

Exciting Website Transition

IQSA is thrilled to announce the near-completion of its transition to a new and improved website and membership platform! Members can now join or renew their memberships through our new website. Please note that accounts on the previous platform cannot be transferred, so we encourage all members to set up new accounts. Bookmark beta.iqsaweb.org as the old platform will soon be retired.

Stay Connected

Stay up-to-date with IQSA’s latest developments through our blog, Facebook, Twitter, and our Google Discussion Group. For any questions, please feel free to email us at contactus@iqsaweb.org.

As we close the year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all members, partners, and participants for making 2024 a remarkable year for IQSA. Your contributions fuel our mission to advance the study of the Qur’an and its interpretive traditions.

Here’s to an even brighter 2025!

Call for Papers: IQSA in San Diego 2024

The International Qur’anic Studies Association has opened its call for papers for its Annual Meeting to be held in San Diego, California from November 22-25, 2024 in conjunction with the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature. Paper proposals should be submitted through the SBL’s online submission system by March 20, 2024.

For the 2024 meeting in San Diego, IQSA will accept papers addressing any aspect of the Qur’anic text. These may explore particular themes in a given surah or aspects of the Qur’an’s conversation with the religious traditions of Late Antiquity, or even discuss methodological concerns when studying the text or highlighting features of physical manuscripts. All topics are welcome.

Please note that all proposals must include:

  • Author name and affiliation
  • Paper title
  • 400 word paper abstract (written in English)

Eligibility for proposal submissions is contingent upon the following:

  • Active IQSA membership is required at the time of proposal submission for the IQSA Program, and the membership status of all applicants will be checked prior to acceptance
  • Participants must maintain current IQSA Membership through their participation in the Annual Meeting

Please also note that:

  • To ensure equity and diversity amongst participants, participants should submit only one paper presentation per IQSA Annual Meeting
  • All participants must adhere to IQSA’s Professional Conduct Policy
  • Participants will be required to register for the conference by submitting payment through SBL’s online system (users are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the “Super Saver” rates which end mid-May)

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2024. All rights reserved.

Keynote Speaker Announced! IQSA 2024 in London

The International Qur’anic Studies Association is excited to announce the keynote speaker for its 2024 Annual Meeting in London: Ahmad Al-Jallad.

Ahmad Al-JalladAhmad Al-Jallad is a philologist, epigraphist, and historian of language. His work focuses on the languages, writing systems, history, and cultures of pre-Islamic Arabia and the ancient Near East. His latest book reconstructs the religion and rituals of Arabia’s pre-Islamic tribespeople: The Religion and Rituals of the Nomads of Pre-Islamic Arabia: A Reconstruction Based on the Safaitic Inscriptions (Brill 2022). For more of Al-Jallad’s work, see https://leidenuniv.academia.edu/AhmadAlJallad.

Read about the keynote address, ʾAṣdāʾu kalāmi l-ḥiǧār fī luġati l-ʾaqlāmi wa-l-ʾasfār: The Quran in light of 1500 years of pre-Islamic Arabian epigraphy, at this link.

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Registration for the Annual Meeting in London is now open! Visit https://event.fourwaves.com/iqsa2024/registration to register.

Limited travel grants will be available, with preference given to paper presenters and panelists. To apply, please check the corresponding box on the registration form. Find discounted accommodations here.

We look forward to seeing you in London!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2024. All rights reserved.

Deadline Extended: Andrew Rippin Best Paper Prize 2023-24

The deadline for this year’s Andrew Rippin Best Paper Prize has been extended until February 7, 2024.

In honor of Andrew Rippin, the International Qur’anic Studies Association (IQSA) will award a prize to the best paper delivered at IQSA’s 2023 meeting in San Antonio by a graduate student or early career scholar (Ph.D. awarded 2018 or later). The prize winner will receive $250. In addition, the award committee will provide him/her with detailed feedback and guidance enabling him/her to expand the paper into a scholarly article that qualifies for publication in the Journal of the International Qur’anic Studies Association (JIQSA), subject to peer review.

Interested scholars should submit a draft of the paper which they read at the most current Annual Meeting; this draft should be no longer than fifteen double-spaced pages (or 3750 words including bibliography). Please do not submit slides. Submissions should be emailed to contactus@iqsaweb.org by February 7. The prize winner will be announced at the end of February. The winner should then be prepared to submit a fully revised version of the winning article by April 1, 2024. Publication of the final version is contingent upon review by the award committee and editorial staff of JIQSA.

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Deadline Approaching! IQSA Call for Papers (London 2024)

There is only one week left to submit your proposals for the International Qur’anic Studies Association’s Annual Meeting to be held in person from July 15-18, 2024, hosted by the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London!

We are accepting proposals for individual papers, panels, and roundtable discussions. Proposals will be considered on any aspect of the academic study of the Qur’an or its reception history. Proposals are due on January 31, 2024.

Individual papers: Individual paper proposals should be no more than 400 words long and should include the title of the paper, the name and affiliation of the presenter, and a 100-150-word biography.

Panel papers: Papers belonging to pre-arranged panels should indicate the name of the panel in the appropriate field in addition to providing a 400-word abstract and title for the individual paper. Only panel organizers should include a panel abstract in the submission. There is a dedicated field for submitting the panel abstract.

Roundtables: We will accept a limited number of proposals for lightning roundtable discussions. These are roundtables of up to seven participants, where two to three questions are given and each participant has no more than three minutes to address each question. Ample opportunity should be given for audience participation. Only roundtable organizers should submit an abstract which would include the rationale and the questions to be asked.

Please only submit one paper proposal (either individual or as a part of a panel); roundtable discussants may also give a paper.

Proposals for single and panel papers must include:

  • Author name and affiliation.
  • 100-150-word short bio (written in English).
  • Paper title.
  • 400-word paper abstract (written in English).

Proposals can be submitted here by January 31, 2024. For your proposal to be accepted and to attend the conference you must be an active IQSA member. You can join IQSA here. If you are a graduate student, contingent faculty, or are from the global south and are unable to pay, please contact us (contactus@iqsaweb.org).

Registration for the conference is now open at https://event.fourwaves.com/iqsa2024/pages. Information about discounts and travel grants is available at the same link.

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Copyright © 2024 International Qur’anic Studies Association, All rights reserved.

Registration Open! IQSA 2024 in London

Registration is now open for IQSA’s Annual Meeting in person in London from July 15-18, 2024, hosted by the Institute of Ismaili Studies. Active IQSA members can register at this link. If you are not an active IQSA member, please sign up here. Registration is open to conference participants as well as observers.

IQSA has negotiated special rates for accommodations to make the conference as affordable as possible for the attendees. The available options, along with a map of their locations, are provided at this link.

Please register and book your travel/accommodations as soon as possible to lock in the best possible rates!

IQSA will make available a limited number of travel grants (up to $500 USD) for those most in need of financial assistance in order to attend. Preference will be given to those presenting. Please check the corresponding box on the registration form for consideration.

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We hope you will join us for this exciting meeting in London!

REGISTER NOW

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2024. All rights reserved

Reminder: Call for Papers – IQSA 2024 in London

The International Qur’anic Studies Association is delighted to hold its Annual Meeting in person from July 15-18, 2024, hosted by the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London!

A friendly reminder that we are now accepting proposals for individual papers, panels, and roundtable discussions to be held in-person at the Aga Khan Centre, King’s Cross, London. Proposals will be considered on any aspect of the academic study of the Qur’an or its reception history. Proposals are due on January 31, 2024.

Individual papers: Individual paper proposals should be no more than 400 words long and should include the title of the paper, the name and affiliation of the presenter, and a 100-150-word biography.

Panel papers: Papers belonging to pre-arranged panels should indicate the name of the panel in the appropriate field in addition to providing a 400-word abstract and title for the individual paper. Only panel organizers should include a panel abstract in the submission. There is a dedicated field for submitting the panel abstract.

Roundtables: We will accept a limited number of proposals for lightning roundtable discussions. These are roundtables of up to seven participants, where two to three questions are given and each participant has no more than three minutes to address each question. Ample opportunity should be given for audience participation. Only roundtable organizers should submit an abstract which would include the rationale and the questions to be asked.

Please only submit one paper proposal (either individual or as a part of a panel); roundtable discussants may also give a paper.

Proposals for single and panel papers must include:

  • Author name and affiliation.
  • 100-150-word short bio (written in English).
  • Paper title.
  • 400-word paper abstract (written in English).

Proposals can be submitted here by January 31, 2024. For your proposal to be accepted and to attend the conference you must be an active IQSA member. You can join IQSA here. If you are a graduate student, contingent faculty, or are from the global south and are unable to pay, please contact us (contactus@iqsaweb.org).

Registration for the conference will open soon and information will be made available regarding accommodations including discounted rates, travel grants, and child care.

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We look forward to receiving your submissions!

london_logo

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2024. All rights reserved.

Call for Papers: IQSA 2024 in London

The International Qur’anic Studies Association is delighted to hold its Annual Meeting in person from July 15-18, 2024, hosted by the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London!

We are now accepting proposals for individual papers, panels, and roundtable discussions to be held in-person at the Aga Khan Centre, King’s Cross, London. Proposals will be considered on any aspect of the academic study of the Qur’an or its reception history.

Individual papers: Individual paper proposals should be no more than 400 words long and should include the title of the paper, the name and affiliation of the presenter, and a 100-150-word biography.

Panel papers: Papers belonging to pre-arranged panels should indicate the name of the panel in the appropriate field in addition to providing a 400-word abstract and title for the individual paper. Only panel organizers should include a panel abstract in the submission. There is a dedicated field for submitting the panel abstract.

Roundtables: We will accept a limited number of proposals for lightning roundtable discussions. These are roundtables of up to seven participants, where two to three questions are given and each participant has no more than three minutes to address each question. Ample opportunity should be given for audience participation. Only roundtable organizers should submit an abstract which would include the rationale and the questions to be asked.

Please only submit one paper proposal (either individual or as a part of a panel); roundtable discussants may also give a paper.

Proposals for single and panel papers must include:

  • Author name and affiliation.
  • 100-150-word short bio (written in English).
  • Paper title.
  • 400-word paper abstract (written in English).

Proposals can be submitted here by January 31, 2024. For your proposal to be accepted and to attend the conference you must be an active IQSA member. You can join IQSA here. If you are a graduate student, contingent faculty, or are from the global south and are unable to pay, please contact us (contactus@iqsaweb.org).

Registration for the conference will open soon and information will be made available regarding accommodations including discounted rates, travel grants, and child care.

Questions? Email contactus@iqsaweb.org. We look forward to receiving your submissions!

© International Qur’anic Studies Association, 2023. All rights reserved.