The Adult Program on Islam
Deepening faith through scholarly inquiry and intellectual community
Are you ready to engage more deeply with the intellectual richness of your faith? Join us from August 21st to August 23rd, 2026 at the Ismaili Center in Houston, Texas for the inaugural Adult Program on Islam (APOI). Engage with scholars and academics, and connect with fellow Ismailis from across the United States and Canada.
We invite all Ismailis ages 26–40 from the United States and Canada to apply.
“[W]e want to make sure that we understand the evolution of Ismaili thought, in the past. It is a religion of the brain, a religion of the mind. It is not just a religion of the soul. It is a faith of reason. And so we want to try to make sure that the philosophies of the past are well understood and can have adequate space in modern life.”
— Imam Shah Karim Shah, Expresso Magazine Interview (Lisbon, Portugal), July 21st, 2018
What is the Adult Program on Islam (APOI)?
The Adult Program on Islam (APOI) is a residential academic program designed for Ismailis ages 26–40 who seek to deepen their understanding of their Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim faith and identity through scholarly inquiry and intellectual engagement. APOI invites participants to explore the pluralism of intellectual traditions across the Ismaili faith and the broader intellectual history of Islam, engaging with questions of philosophy, ethics, and intellectual life that have shaped the Muslim world across centuries.
Through interacting with academic scholars in the fields of Islamic studies and the humanities, participants will develop the capacity and skills to critically reflect on the diversity and richness of Muslim traditions and deepen their connection to their Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim faith and identity. Through facilitated conversations with mentors and peers, participants will have the space to meaningfully engage with new ideas and perspectives.
This journey will be for the individual, but taken with the collective group, fostering shared learning experiences among participants, facilitators, and staff — and building lasting friendships with Ismaili peers from across North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is APOI for?
APOI is for adults aged 26–40 from the United States and Canada. The program fee is $850 USD and financial assistance is available for households with genuine financial hardship. The program fee covers accommodation, meals, program materials, and the cost of scheduled activities. The program fee does not include the cost of airfare.
For more information, contact us at adultprogramonislam@gmail.com.
Where is APOI held?
APOI is hosted at the Ismaili Center in Houston, Texas, a landmark of contemporary Islamic architecture and a hub for the North American Ismaili community. While most of the program will take place at the Ismaili Center, field trips in and around Houston will also be arranged. Learn more on the Location page.
For more information, contact us at adultprogramonislam@gmail.com.
What are the program dates?
The program runs from August 21st to August 23rd, 2026. Participants are expected to arrive in Houston on the evening of August 20th, 2026, and should schedule departing flights for the morning of August 24th, 2026 from Houston, TX.
For more information, contact us at adultprogramonislam@gmail.com.
When can I apply?
The application period opens on Friday, June 12th, 2026 and the deadline is July 5th, 2026. Visit the Apply page for details. Please note: applications must not contain AI-generated content. We use AI detection tools, and any application found to contain AI-generated text will be automatically disqualified.
For more information, contact us at adultprogramonislam@gmail.com.
Applications
This year, our program will be held at the Ismaili Center in Houston, Texas from August 21st to August 23rd, 2026.
“The main challenge for the study of Islam is to describe how its universalistic or abstract principles have been realized in various social and historical contexts without representing Islam as a seamless essence on the one hand or as a plastic congeries of beliefs and practices on the other.”
— Shahab Ahmed, What is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic, pg. 8