Dartmouth Events

Up to the twentieth century, Islamic charitable endowments provided the material foundation of the Muslim world. In Lebanon, with the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the imposition of French colonial rule, many of these endowments reverted to private property. In her recent book, God's Property: Islam, Charity, and the Modern State (University of California Press, 2021 and available as an open access text with Luminos), Nada Moumtaz (Religion, University of Toronto) examines these transformations, traces them to the production of the categories of "religion" and "economy," and follows their use in law to remake the Islamic tradition—and the world.

Mona Oraby (Political Science, Howard University) and Elizabeth Lhost (History, Dartmouth College) will be joining the author for this roundtable discussion of her work and its implications for understanding (1) Islam, religion, and the state; (2) secularism and secularization; (3) charity, capitalism, and property; and (4) how law shapes the relationship between religion, economy, and society.

Monday, April 18 | 4 pm | Carson L01 (light refreshments to follow)

A virtual option is available for those who cannot attend in person. Register to attend here: https://dartgo.org/godsproperty