The Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies was established at John Carroll University in 2003 in order to promote the teachings and vision of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi (1876-1960), a scholar of Islam from Turkey who dedicated his entire life to the teachings of the Qur’an.  A prolific writer, Nursi wrote over one hundred books and treatises on Islamic subjects.  His magnum opus is the multi-volume work Risale-i Nur (‘The Treatises of Light’). 

The Nursi Chair Endowment supports courses on Islam taught within John Carroll’s Religious Studies department. It also supports a variety of campus and community events, including:

1. An annual week of Islamic Art and Culture,
2. An annual community Iftar Dinner during the holy month of Ramadan,
3. A lecture series featuring internationally-recognized speakers on topics of interest to Islamic Studies,
4. Film and arts events about Islam
5. Community interfaith dialogues
6. Support for Muslim student group activities

Financial support for the work of the Nursi Chair at JCU is provided by two Turkish business leaders who wished Nursi’s vision to inspire others around the world.  The Chair is also supported by Cleveland’s Muslim community, particularly the Turkish community.