Islamic University of Minnesota Awards Ph.D. Degree to Al-Khalidi

As part of its mission to promote scientific research and advance specialized academic studies, the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Islamic University of Minnesota - Main Center held the public defense of the Ph.D. dissertation submitted by researcher Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Al-Khalidi from the Department of Islamic Studies in English, College of Islamic Studies, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

The dissertation was entitled: "The Parables in the Holy Qur’an: A Literary-Analytical Study"

The research examined the parables presented in the Noble Qur’an through a literary-analytical approach, aiming to highlight the eloquence and artistic beauty of Qur’anic parables, explore their rhetorical and semantic dimensions, and demonstrate the educational, intellectual, and spiritual values they embody. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the Qur’anic discourse while emphasizing its literary richness and its role in shaping human consciousness.

The dissertation was examined by a distinguished academic committee chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Manal Mustafa, Chair of the Department of Islamic Studies in English at the Islamic University of Minnesota. The dissertation was supervised by Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Al-Shaqiri, a faculty member at the University. The committee also included Dr. Samir Moulay Al-Hassan Faridi as the external examiner and Dr. Abdulkarim Idris Aitoro as the internal examiner.

The defense featured an in-depth academic discussion covering the dissertation’s methodology, findings, and scholarly contributions. Committee members provided valuable observations and constructive recommendations that enriched the study and affirmed the significance and originality of its topic within the field of Qur’anic studies in the English language.

At the conclusion of the defense, the examination committee approved the dissertation and awarded Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Al-Khalidi the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Islamic Studies, subject to the completion of the committee’s recommended revisions. The committee commended the researcher for his scholarly effort and wished him continued success in his academic and research career.

This dissertation defense reflects the Islamic University of Minnesota’s continued commitment to fostering high-quality scientific research and supporting specialized studies that serve the Holy Qur’an and its sciences, while further strengthening the University's position as a leading institution in higher education and academic research at both the national and international levels.