ABSA Publications 2020

• ABSA Network is launching a new initiative to support students that want to write their class papers, for humanities / social science classes, on Islamic theme.
• We would like to create a sub-network so we can support each other and have a platform to seek external support for finding primary/secondary sources, help with translation, etc.
• Participants must fill out the interest form by September 15th 2020.
• Those who sign-up will get exclusive access to a portfolio of sample papers.
• Participants will be allowed to submit their class papers in January for top three cash prizes. Winning papers will be posted on ABSA Network’s website.

Introduction

ABSA Network is excited to launch ABSA Publications, a new initiative to facilitate the creation and compilation of academic papers written by Shi’a students on Islamic themes.

As a part of some majors or general education requirements, most colleges require students to take classes in humanities and social sciences. The objective of this project is to encourage students to pursue topics with Islamic themes for their term papers in humanities and social sciences.

ABSA Network’s goal in this initiative is as follows:

1. Repurpose the time we spend in researching and writing these papers as an ibadaa (worship) of Allah. So that we are in a constant state of pleasing Allah, even as we take our academic classes.
2. Leverage ABSA Network by using the community to help out with finding primary and secondary resources for researching our topics. Perhaps members can help each other with translations from various languages. In the near future, we want to expand this support to include experts, including Islamic Scholars. .
3. Present a positive view of Islam to our non-Muslim peers and instructors
4. In a snowball effect, encourage our Islamic student-peers to pursue more topics of such nature.

Topics

Topics include but may not be limited to:

• Islamic rites such as prayers, fasting, and hajj,
• Islamic arts such as Islamic architecture, vocals, calligraphy, movies, and photography,
• Social justice and freedom in the US and the globe,
• Uprisings in Islamic countries and Islamic political movements,
• Islamic history (including those juxtaposing contemporary issues),
• Islamic ethical principles such as kindness, modesty, and perseverance (sabr),
• Islamic beliefs such as Tauheed, Prophethood, Wilayah, and Imamat.

Eligibility

• Must fill the interest form by September 15th 2020 (link at the end of this post).
• Must submit the paper by the deadline (TBA).
• Must be an undergraduate or graduate student.

Paper Evaluation

Papers will be judged on the following criteria (in decreasing importance):

• Being written in the past 1 year.
• Being well researched, balanced and argued (A-, A or A+ papers in quality).
• Being impactful.
  • either relevant to everyone in today’s day and age .
  • or, relevant in broadening the examples of Islamic themes listed above
  • or, relevant in exploring a new and unique Islamic theme.

Awards

The papers will be evaluated by a council of ulema, ABSA Network Executive Board, and subset of ABSA Network alumni.

• $100 cash prize to the top THREE papers.
• Posting top papers on the ABSA Network website.