I was forwarded the following general invitation from the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, for an iftaar dinner featuring Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr as the keynote speaker. Nasr is a true heavyweight scholar, originally from Iran, now teaching at Georgetown University. One of my favorite essays of his is online, entitled “Science and Civilization in Islam“. Here are a list of other essays of Nasr’s online. If you will bein the Alexandria, VA area on September 16th, then you should definitely make an effort to attend this iftaar! The registration form is also available online.

CSID Ramadan Iftaar Dinner The Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID) cordially invites you to our Annual Ramadan Iftaar Dinner: Before it’s too late: Peace and Reconciliation between Shias and Sunnis What can American Muslims do to unite Muslims and bring peace and reconciliation among Sunnis and Shias? Keynote Speaker: Prof. Seyyed Hossein Nasr Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the world’s leading experts on Islamic science and spirituality, is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University. He is one of the most important and foremost scholars of Islamic, Religious and Comparative Studies in the world today. Author of over fifty books and five hundred articles which have been translated into several major Islamic, European and Asian languages, Professor Nasr is a well known and highly respected intellectual figure both in the West and the Islamic world. An eloquent speaker with a charismatic presence, Nasr is a much sought after speaker at academic conferences and seminars, university and public lectures and also radio and television programs in his area of expertise. Possessor of an impressive academic and intellectual record, his career as a teacher and scholar spans over four decades. Professor Nasr is the author of numerous books including Man and Nature: the Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man (Kazi Publications, 1998), Religion and the Order of Nature (Oxford, 1996) and Knowledge and the Sacred (SUNY, 1989). Wednesday, September 16, 2009 – 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM Iftaar at 7:00 PM and Program starts at 8:00 PM at the Afghan Restaurant 2700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Alexandria, VA – (703) 548-0022 You can purchase your ticket online, or fill out the form below and send it with your payment/check to: CSID, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 601, Washington DC, 20036, no later than Sept. 12, 2009. Ticket Reservation Form Name: __________________________________________ Institution: _______________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ City: ________________ State:________ Zip:__________ Tel: ____________________ e-mail:__________________ Please Reserve: Members Non-Members ____ Dinner Tickets x $40/person x $50/person = _______ ____ Dinner Tickets x$60/couple x $80/couple = _______ _____Reserved Table$500 for a table of 8 _______ _____Donation _______ Total: _______ Signed:__________________________________________ Dated:_________ Title:____________________________________________ Please forward this invitation to all your friends and colleagues who might be interested in this event. Seats are limited, so please reserve your ticket as early as possible. We look forward to seeing you next week. Sincerely; Radwan A. Masmoudi Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy