The Debt of Civilizations: The Islamic World and the West

We often hear of a Clash of Civilizations between the East and the West, a narrative that propagates the Western and Islamic worlds are diametrically opposed to each other and have always been.

But now accurate is such a narrative? What are the positive interactions and contributions between Islamic and Western societies? How vital were their contributions to the development of modern western validation and why have these interactions been erased?

Featuring Dr. Susan Douglass, Amir Muhammad, and Shad Imam, this diverse panel of academics, writers, and teachers seek to answer and explore these questions while highlighting the many technological, societal, and intellectual advancements made by the Muslim world in it’s 1,400 year history.

Part of the ADAMS Mosque Open House, make sure you arrive earlier to experience everything the open house has to offer. You can find our more about the Masjid Open House here: https://givebutter.com/mosque-open-house-2026

The following vendors will be on-site with food and desserts available to purchase: Trendy Mandi, Kebab and Beyond, Zalabia House,

Doors open at 3:30 with the event featuring a talk and concluding with an open Q&A session. Purchasing a ticket is encouraged but not mandatory and donations are always graciously appreciated to help support future events. We look forward to your attendance.

 

About Dr. Susan Douglass

Dr. Susan Douglass earned her Ph.D. in World History at George Mason University, and a M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. She is currently the K-14 Education Outreach Coordinator for the Georgetown Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, and has been a Senior Research Officer for the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations project.

She previously worked as a Research Associate and principal textbook reviewer for the Council on Islamic Education, and authored a number of teaching units for the organization. She is the author of Teaching About Religion in National and State Standards Documents, a report co-published by the Council on Islamic Education and the First Amendment Center, 2000 and “Developments in Islamic Education in the United States” (Chapter 14), Oxford Handbook of American Islam, edited by Jane Smith and Yvonne Haddad, Oxford University Press, 2014.

About Amir Muhammad

Amir Muhammad is an accomplished and noted researcher, historian, author, and poet whose works have gained him international recognition. Mr. Muhammad is the president, co-founder and curator of America’s Islamic Heritage Museum a division of Collections & Stories of American Muslims, Inc. (Traveling Exhibit, Archives, & Museum), established in 1996. He is among the foremost historians and researchers of the Islamic experience in the United States as well as one of the leading activists in creating public awareness of America’s rich Islamic history.

Amir Muhammad is an author of eight books and has been published in many articles for national and international magazines and newspapers. Muhammad has lectured and exhibited at Harvard University, Stanford University, Rutgers University, Howard University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Indiana Bloomington, University of Florida, the University of Illinois Chicago, and a host of other universities and schools across the country.

 

About Ust. Shad Imam

Ust. Shad Imam is married with 4 children and lives with his family in Sterling, VA. He obtained his MBA from the University of Maryland in May of 2007 with a concentration in Organizational Management and Strategy. He has studied the Islamic Sciences under Imam Mohamed Magid & Dr. Sherman Jackson.  Ust. Shad is a decades long member of the ADAMS Center community and conducts regular lectures in the Northern Virginia Area.

 

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• Date: June 13, 2026
• Time: Eastern Time Zone (ET)
• Venue: ADAMS Sterling Musallah