Welcome to Nūr: the magazine of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at St. Bonaventure University. The center seeks to promote an understanding of Arab and Islamic cultures, an appreciation of their historical and contemporary significance in the global community, and to foster respectful relations between Muslim and Christian people.
Please note: A limited number of paper copies of Nūr are available. If you would like to receive a paper copy, please send an email to Fr. Michael Calabria.
Winter 2022 — Vol. 6, No. 2
- From the Director’s Desk
- Imperial Kabul
- The Blue Stone of Badakhshan
- Ansari of Herat
- Art of Afghanistan
- Balkh: An Architectural Treasure
- An American in Afghanistan
- New & Noteworthy Books
Summer 2021 — Vol. 6, No. 1
- From the Director’s Desk
- The Middle East, 1921-2021
- The Pope’s Visit to Iraq
- Exhibition Reviews
- CAIS Events
- Alumni updates
- New & Noteworthy Books
Winter 2021 — Vol. 5, No. 2
- From the Director’s desk
- Dazzling diversity and Islamic art
- A multicultural mosque
- Muslim women and patronage
- A mystic and a minister
- India’s patrimony and democracy under attack
- New books in Islamic art and architecture
- Issues of Diversity
Summer 2020 — Vol. 5, No. 1
- 72 hours in Iran
- Muslims & COVID-19
- The plight of the Uyghurs
- Muslim Black Lives Matter
- The fight over Hagia Sophia
- St. Francis & The Sultan commemoration recap
- CAIS student news
- New & noteworthy books
Spring 2019 — Vol. 4, No. 2
Special Edition: The Sultan & St. Francis, 1219-2019
-
Scholarly and timely articles from St. Bonaventure faculty, friends and students
- Highlights of Pope Francis in the U.A.E and Morocco
- Book reviews and recommended reading
- CAIS news
- Art exhibit: Reviews with sneak peeks
Fall/Winter 2018 — Vol. 4, No. 1
-
Scholarly and timely articles from St. Bonaventure faculty, friends and students
- Art exhibit reviews with sneak peeks
- Grand opening of the Center for Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Book reviews and recommended readings
- Spotlight on SBU students
Spring 2018 — Vol. 3, No. 2
Special Edition: Turkey
- Turkey and Religion from the Ottomans to Erdogan
- Meet Dr. Zeyneb Sayilgan, visiting assistant professor of Islamic theology and religious pluralism at Virginia Theological Seminary
- Master Builder: Mimar Sinan (1490-1588)
- From the Bookshelf:
- Empress of the East: How a European Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire, by Leslie Peirce
- Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities, by Bettany Hughes
- Arts of the East in the Aga Khan Museum, with photos from the exhibit
Fall 2017 — Vol. 3, No. 1
Focus: Women and Gender
- Women and Gender in Islam: From Revelation to Revolution.
- Profiles of Muslim Women: Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631)
- Hijabs and Headscarves
- Book Review: The Sultan and the Queen: The Untold Story of Elizabeth and Islam.
- Dialogue in Delhi
- Interfaith Prayer Service at Francis Week
- Arab and Islamic Studies courses for spring 2018
Spring 2017 — Vol. 2, No. 2
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower's speech at dedication ceremonies for the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., June 28, 1957.
- An interview with Dr. Adil al-Humadi, Olean physician, prominent member of the Southern Tier Muslim community, and a founding benefactor of the CAIS at SBU.
- An update on the Muslim Students Association at SBU, known as Muslim Students & Allies.
- Book reviews: "Blood and Sand: Suez, Hungary, and Eisenhower's Campaign for Peace," by Alex Von Tunzelmann; and "What is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic," by Shabab Ahmed.
- Exhibit reviews: "The Art of the Qur'an," Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; and "Jerusalem 1000-1400: Every People Under Heaven," Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
- Meet the members of the Special Commission for Dialogue with Islam and their mission
- St. Bonaventure hosts February screening of "Sultan and the Saint."
Fall 2016 — Vol. 2, No. 1
- Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., first president emeritus of St. Bonaventure, on why it makes sense for a Catholic university to host the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies.
- SBU professors Durriya and Zahid Khairullah discuss their personal and professional journeys in and among Christians of India and the U.S.
- Book reviews: "ISIS: A History," by Fawaz A. Gerges; and "The Study Qur'an," edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
- Reviews of exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
Winter 2016 — Vol. 1, No. 2
- Letter from Fr. Michael Calabria, O.F.M.
- From Morocco to the Mughal Court: Crusading Commerce in Islamic Lands (1615-1415)
- Exhibition Review: "The Fabric of India," exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London
- Book Review: "Conquerors: How Portugal Seized the Indian Ocean and Forged the First Global Empire," by Roger Crowley
- Spring course offerings
- Summer program: Women and Gender in Islam, July 4-29
Fall 2015 — Vol. 1, No. 1
- "The Hajj: Journey of a Lifetime," by Fr. Michael Calabria, O.F.M.
- "Arabic: A Personal Journey," by Wardia Hart
- Reviews of exhibitions in Toronto and New York
- Recommended readings