As part of enhancing the practical aspect of religious studies and engaging with specialized academic and intellectual experiences, a student delegation from the College of Sharia at Al al-Bayt University visited today, Thursday (08/13/2026), the International Institute of Islamic Thought, Jordan Office, and the College of Sharia at the University of Jordan. This scientific visit aimed to expand students' knowledge and foster communication and academic exchange with institutions and programs related to religious studies and Islamic thought.

The delegation included some students specializing in Religious Studies at the College of Sharia, accompanied by Dr. Ghaith Al-Qudah, instructor of the "Worship in Religions" and "Family in Religions" courses. The visit is part of the scientific activities linked to the objectives of these courses, aiming to shift the study of religions from a purely theoretical framework to direct engagement with specialized academic and intellectual institutions and experiences. It also provides an opportunity for students to engage in dialogue with researchers and academics and benefit from their expertise.

The delegation began its program by visiting the International Institute of Islamic Thought, Jordan Office, where the office director, Dr. Raed Akashah, presented an overview of the institute's concept, its origins and establishment, its intellectual and scientific mission, and its main areas of work. The meeting also discussed the contributions of the Palestinian-American thinker Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, one of the most prominent figures associated with the institute's history, particularly his contributions to the field of religious studies and comparative religions, and his approach to understanding religious phenomena and dealing scientifically with different religious traditions. The meeting included an open dialogue during which Dr. Akashah answered students' questions and inquiries, and views were exchanged on a number of issues related to religious studies and contemporary Islamic thought. The institute gifted students some of its books, scientific journals, and publications.

In the second leg of the visit, the delegation headed to the College of Sharia at the University of Jordan, where they were received by Professor Dr. Alaa El-Din Adawi, Head of the Department of Fundamentals of Religion. He provided a briefing on the department and its academic programs, and explained the Master's program in Islamic Studies in the Contemporary World in English, including its philosophy, objectives, the nature of its courses, and the importance of presenting Islamic studies in an academic language capable of addressing contemporary intellectual and cultural contexts.

The students also met with Professor Dr. Ibrahim Burqan, Professor of Comparative Religions at the College of Sharia, who reviewed aspects of his academic experience in this field and offered a set of guidelines on how to study religions according to a scientific and academic methodology based on objectivity, understanding religion through its sources and contexts, and avoiding preconceived notions, thereby helping students to grasp the philosophy of religions and their doctrinal, ritual, and social formations more deeply.

The delegation also listened to Professor Dr. Omamah Emad Hamashah, who holds a Chevening Fellowship at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. She spoke about her academic and research experience and her expertise in teaching Islamic studies in English. She provided students with a number of tips related to academic excellence and the development of academic, linguistic, and research skills, as well as the importance of benefiting from international opportunities and engaging with advanced university experiences.

This visit holds particular importance in light of the newness of the Religious Studies specialization at the College of Sharia at Al al-Bayt University, which represents a pioneering academic experience and the first of its kind at the bachelor's level in Sharia colleges in the Kingdom. Its introduction comes in response to the growing need to qualify students capable of studying religions scientifically and methodologically, understanding religious and intellectual diversity, and addressing the religious questions and issues posed by the contemporary world.

The specialization offers a set of courses that combine Sharia knowledge with comparative academic study of religions, including the "Worship in Religions" and "Family in Religions" courses, which students are currently studying in the summer semester. Such visits aim to achieve some of their learning outcomes by linking theoretical knowledge with field experience and expanding communication with researchers, institutions, and specialized programs within Jordan.

The Religious Studies specialization attracts students interested in this growing field of knowledge, in light of the increasing need for specialists who possess scientific and methodological tools to understand and compare religions, contribute to religious and cultural dialogue, and build knowledge based on objective and mutual understanding.