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 Under the supervision of Professor Dr. Laith Majeed Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, our Center organized on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., in Professor Nabeela Abdul-Munem Dawood Hall, and in the presence of a number of professors and academics, a seminar entitled “Principles of Understanding among Muslims.”

The lecture was delivered by Professor Dr. Anas Essam Ismail, a faculty member at our Center, who discussed the disputes that arise among Islamic sects, both doctrinal and jurisprudential. Most of these disagreements, he explained, revolve around minor issues that have, due to disputes, evolved into major ones — leading each sect to accuse the others of misguidance or even disbelief.

He emphasized that such matters should be governed by fundamental principles that clearly define what constitutes a departure from Islam, while other differences remain minor disagreements that can be overcome. The researcher aimed to highlight the shared values among Muslims and to affirm the importance of constructive dialogue as a means to strengthen unity and coexistence.

Two faculty members from the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, Assistant Professor Dr. Rasha Issa Fares, the liaison member of the Women’s Affairs Division at the University of Baghdad, and Assistant Lecturer Juman Adnan Hussein, a faculty member from our Center, participated in the first meeting of the Women’s Affairs Division for the academic year 2025–2026.

The meeting was held on Tuesday morning, September 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in the late Dr. Mahdi Hantoush Hall / College of Engineering, with the attendance of Dr. Zainab Hadi, Director of the Women’s Affairs Division, and a group of heads of Women’s Affairs Units across our University.  This participation comes within the framework of the Center’s efforts to support and empower female academic staff, enhance the presence of women in various scientific and community activities, and emphasize the importance of strengthening cooperation and joint programs between academic institutions and the Division.

Under the supervision of Professor Dr. Laith Majeed Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the Department of Pure Sciences at Center organized, on Monday, September 22, 2025, in Professor Nabeela Abdul-Munem Dawood Hall, a special symposium (outside the academic plan) entitled:

“The Impact of Social Awareness in Protecting Youth from Drugs.”

The session was chaired by Professor Dr. Taha Subti Ibrahim, a faculty member in the Center, and the lecture was delivered by Dr. Haider Ghali Wadi from the College of Medicine – University of Baghdad, who spoke about the effect of social awareness in protecting young people from drugs.

He defined social awareness as the collective understanding of the members of society of its problems, values, needs, and common goals. He emphasized that social awareness has a significant impact on creating a healthy society that enjoys a high level of efficiency and the ability to face various challenges, including the issue of drugs. He explained that the higher the level of awareness among young people, the lower the rates of crime and drug use. Dr. Wadi also stressed the role of the family, society, and governments in promoting social awareness by providing the necessary social protection for the youth group.

The symposium included several discussions on this highly relevant topic in our present time. The Center’s administration thanked the lecturer and wished him continued success and prosperity.

Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, our Center organized a seminar on Sunday morning, September 21, 2025, in the Nabīlah  Abd al-Munim Dawood Hall. The event was attended by a number of professors and academics and was entitled “Solar Energy in Iraq: Between Reality and Ambition.”

The lecture was delivered by Assistant Lecturer Walaa Diaa Naseef, a faculty member at our Center, who spoke about solar energy as one of the most important renewable energy sources that can contribute to sustainable development in Iraq. She highlighted the country’s abundant solar radiation throughout the year, which presents great opportunities for expanded use of solar energy.

However, solar energy technology in Iraq faces multiple challenges that require effective strategies to overcome. Iraq has immense potential to develop this technology, but realizing this potential depends on addressing these challenges through collaboration between the government, the private sector, and the community. By doing so, Iraq can build a more sustainable and efficient energy future. At the conclusion of the seminar, the Center’s administration expressed its thanks to the lecturer, wishing her continued success in her academic career.

Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the Department of Humanities organized a panel discussion on Wednesday morning, September 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Nabīlah ʿAbd al-Munʿim Dāwūd Hall. The event was attended by a number of professors and academics and was entitled “The Phenomenon of Atheism between Heritage and Modernity.”

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Anas Issam Ismail, a faculty member at our Center, who discussed the historical presence of atheism, its beginnings in ancient times, and the main reasons for its spread before and after Islam. He explained the distinction between atheism and disbelief, traced the history of disbelief and paganism among the Arabs before Islam, and explored how atheism spread after World War II. He also highlighted the difference between secularism and atheism in contemporary times, as well as the impact of the knowledge explosion, social communication, and the internet on the rise of atheism among young people.

The researcher further noted that atheism in public debates is no longer merely an individual or personal stance but has become an expression of cultural, social, and political challenges facing societies, especially in light of technological development and exposure to global ideas through media and digital platforms. On the other hand, several intellectuals stressed that this movement, despite its diverse orientations, represents a form of intellectual dynamism and cultural diversity that calls for rational and balanced dialogue rather than confrontation or exclusion. They emphasized the importance of instilling values of tolerance and pluralism as a more conscious and effective approach to addressing the phenomenon.

The session also included several interventions and discussions on the topic.

Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, our Center organized a seminar on Tuesday morning, September 16, 2025 and academics and was entitled “The Art of Gilding in Manuscript Heritage.”

The lecture was delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Zainab Kamel Karim, a faculty member at our Center, who spoke about gilding as an artistic creativity and a distinguished, essential field within the knowledge frameworks of Islamic arts. She explained that gilding goes beyond being a craft or profession; its aesthetic quality suggests that it is a unique Islamic art, alongside calligraphy, painting, ornamentation, and bookbinding.

For this reason, many studies have focused on gilding, tracing its beginnings, stages of development, colors, and its influences across the different environments in which it flourished. Gilding evolved through various styles — Umayyad, Abbasid, Persian, Egyptian, Andalusian, and Ottoman — each of which became a distinct school of this art.

The researcher added that studying gilding in manuscripts holds great significance, as these works often represent rare pieces of extraordinary artistic beauty, especially Qur’anic manuscripts. Since gilding is an integral part of such manuscripts, it too has suffered damage over time, just as the manuscripts themselves have. Therefore, scholars and conservators must give due attention to preserving this art and safeguarding these precious works.

The seminar included several discussions on the topic, and at the conclusion, the Center’s Director thanked the researcher, wishing her continued success in her academic career.

Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the Baghdad Documentation Department of the Center organized a workshop on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in the Nabīlah ʿAbd al-Munʿim Dāwūd Hall. The event was attended by a number of academics and researchers, it was entitled “Parapsychology between Heritage and Modernity.”

The session was chaired by Assistant Professor Dr. Bashair Mawlood Tawfiq, a faculty member at our Center, while the lecture was delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Jabbar Frih Shuraydah from the Center for Psychological Research, University of Baghdad. He spoke about parapsychology — also known as the hidden science of thought and human behavior beyond the traditional senses — as a fascinating field that bridges cultural heritage and contemporary experiences. Throughout history, humanity has been intrigued by mysterious and unexplained phenomena such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis. These were often addressed in popular beliefs and ancient philosophies and were frequently linked to spiritual and religious practices, giving them profound spiritual and social dimensions.

Iraq has a history with this field: the first master’s thesis in parapsychology was completed in 1991, followed by the establishment of postgraduate studies during the years of harsh sanctions, from which many graduates obtained advanced degrees.

Dr. Julān Hussein Khalil, a faculty member at the Center for Psychological Research, University of Baghdad, added that parapsychology — also known as the science of energy or the study of the paranormal — encompasses all extraordinary human abilities. Globally, these abilities are categorized into three main types, which have been tested in many international laboratories: telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance. With the advancement of modern sciences, researchers have begun to study these phenomena in a more systematic and precise way, using modern scientific tools and experimental techniques to evaluate the validity of parapsychological experiments and to understand their possible mechanisms

Dr. ʿAtāʾ Mustafa ʿAbd al-Karim, a faculty member at the Al-Mustansiriyah University / Presidency of the University, emphasized that studying parapsychology between heritage and modernity provides a unique opportunity to understand the relationship between humans and their unseen world. It also highlights how traditional knowledge can be integrated with modern scientific research in exploring the mysteries of the human mind and consciousness. She noted the importance of this science in understanding the dynamics of gaining and losing positive and negative energies, the polarity of male and female, and the study of parapsychological interactions between any two persons or objects, along with methods of dealing with them.

The workshop also shed light on the founding of the Parapsychology Association, which brings together a group of faculty members, researchers, and enthusiasts in this field of extrasensory abilities. The association has been active in conducting various activities, research, and experiments carried out by individuals with such abilities.

The workshop included several discussions and interventions on the subject. At the conclusion, the Center’s administration expressed gratitude to the researchers and wished them continued success in their scientific endeavors.

Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the center organized a seminar on Monday September 8, 2025. The event was attended by a number of professors and academics and was held in the Nabīlah ʿAbd al-Munʿim Dāwūd Hall, under the title “The Demands of the People of Hellfire in the Holy Qur’an.”

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Taha Subti Ibrahim, a faculty member at our center, who spoke about the People of Hellfire in the Qur’an and the requests they make and declare. Among these demands are returning to worldly life, being released from Hell, or having the punishment reduced even for a single day. He explained that all these demands are voiced by the inhabitants of Hell, beginning with their wish to return to the world, then to be released from Hell, and finally to have the torment lessened — each carrying doctrinal and educational implications. He emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from the Qur’an in refining behavior and strengthening faith awareness