As part of the IIIT Lectures Series for CIS Countries, a lecture by Dr. Mykhaylo Yakubovych was held on March 23, 2025, dedicated to Ismail al-Faruqi’s book “Al-Tawḥīd” in its contemporary interpretation.
Mykhaylo Yakubovych holds a PhD in History and is a Ukrainian Orientalist and researcher of Islamic philosophy. He is the author of the first complete translation of the meanings of the Qur’an into Ukrainian and serves as a lecturer at the University of Freiburg (Germany).
The webinar explored the key ideas of the American-Palestinian thinker Ismail Raji al-Faruqi related to monotheism (al-Tawḥīd) and how belief in the One God shapes the social and intellectual life of Muslims. The speaker also highlighted the main concepts from al-Faruqi’s book that contribute to a contemporary understanding of tawḥīd, and discussed the broader influence of his ideas on the development of Muslim thought in the 20th and 21st centuries.
It was emphasized that al-Faruqi views tawḥīd not merely as a theological doctrine, but as a practical foundation for life, social justice, and interfaith dialogue. His work calls attention to the spiritual and intellectual journey of the Muslim in the light of divine unity. The webinar also examined the historical significance of al-Faruqi and his methodological contributions to contemporary Islamic studies. The speaker underlined the continuing relevance of al-Faruqi’s ideas in addressing global challenges and fostering dialogue between civilizations.
The lecture demonstrated that al-Faruqi’s work offers a modern approach to the traditional doctrine of monotheism, presenting him as a thinker who bridges theology, philosophy, and the social sciences. Furthermore, it was shown that the concept of tawḥīd plays a crucial role in preserving and revitalizing the Islamic intellectual tradition.
