Episode Title: Introduction: Why the Sīra Matters in the 21st Century
Guest: Dr. Safi Kaskas
All praise and gratitude belong to our Lord, Allah (SWT)—God alone. Without His will, none of this would be possible.
I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. It is an honour beyond words that Shaykh Dr. Safi Kaskas has graciously agreed to be interviewed. A scholar of immense stature, depth, and influence, his life’s work speaks for itself. Simply reading his biography is enough to appreciate the breadth of his knowledge, wisdom, and contribution to the Ummah and beyond.
Dr. Safi Kaskas has just completed a remarkable book that is now heading into publication. By Allah’s grace, the Global Halal Shura Hub community and family will be the very first to hear directly from him about the ideas, insights, and vision behind this important work.
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May Allah place barakah in this effort and allow it to be a source of benefit for all.
The interview will be recorded soon In sha Allah. Please keep your sister (Dr Thamina Anwar.) in your doa and also Dr Safi Kaskas .
Background: Dr. Safi Kaskas
Dr. Safi Kaskas is a Lebanese-American scholar, strategist, and interfaith advocate with a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in strategic planning, leadership, and business ethics. He began his professional life in the corporate and academic worlds, where his expertise in management and strategic development shaped organizations and guided leaders across industries.
He is a co-founder of East West University in Chicago, Illinois, and served as President of its Board of Directors from 1979 until 2005. Under his leadership, the institution gained accreditation and built a strong foundation for its continued growth. Dr. Kaskas continues to serve on the Board of Directors and also works as a strategy consultant for organizations in the United States and Saudi Arabia.
In the business realm, he founded Strategic Edge Management Consultants, a firm that helped mid-level and large corporations develop their portfolios, with an emphasis on strategic management. He also established the American Strategic Healthcare Management Company (ASHM), which operates diagnostic centers and plans further healthcare ventures in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Alongside his business career, Dr. Kaskas has devoted himself to interfaith understanding and Qur’anic scholarship. He has lectured widely throughout the United States, the Middle East, and other regions on topics related to Islam, the Abrahamic religions, interfaith dialogue, and reconciliation—particularly between Evangelicals and American Muslims. He holds a position as Senior Researcher in Islam and Multifaith Reconciliation at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.
A major part of Dr. Kaskas’s legacy is his contribution to Qur’anic translation and research. In 2015 he published The Qur’an: A Contemporary Understanding, an accessible English translation designed to resonate with modern readers, and in 2016 he produced The Qur’an with References to the Bible, which includes thousands of cross-references to the Old and New Testaments to foster deeper interfaith engagement. An Italian version of this work was presented to Pope Francis I.
Dr. Kaskas is also the Founder and President of the International Qur’an Research Association (IQRA), which collaborates with scholars and scientists worldwide to promote research, accessibility, and understanding of the Qur’an in contemporary contexts.
Throughout his life and work, Dr. Kaskas has been recognized for his efforts in peace, reconciliation, and interfaith dialogue, earning honors such as a Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) and the Peace & Justice Legacy Award from St. Stephen’s University in Canada.