Re-examine your world through the complex study of Islam and Muslims
The Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) at the University of Toronto develops research projects that improve society’s understanding of Islam and Muslims.
By centering Islam and Muslims, the IIS offers a critical viewpoint from which we can better understand our world.
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Featured
Racializing the Ummah: Muslim Humanitarians Beyond Black, Brown and White
Date: April 13 | Time: 3:00 – 5:00PM | Location: OISE Room 5150, 252 Bloor St W, Toronto Register Here Description: An ethnography of Islamic Relief (IR), the largest Islamic NGO based in the West, Racializing the Ummah explores how a Muslim organization can do good in a world that defines Muslimness as less than human. Rooted in more than a decade of international research, Rhea Rahman’s study on […]
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Bleeding Vitriol: Mozarabs and Martyrs in 9th century Córdoba
How do concepts of martyrdom and sacrifice play a role in constructing anti-Islamic discourse? This piece reflects on the ninth century Córdoban martyr movement as a key watershed moment in which anti-Islamic discourse manifests and propels the cause itself. The afterlife of the ‘Martyrs of Córdoba’ movement survives, is commemorated and memorialized as a pinnacle episode in the ‘struggle’ against the ‘pernicious’ forces of Islamic conquest.
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Reading Europe with Muslim Eyes (REME): Historiographical Forays
Can there be epistemic defiance when reckoning with the knowledge that one’s religious identity has been distilled, caricatured, interrogated and misrepresented throughout the ages?
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Launch of new data report on Muslim demographics
The Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS), in partnership with Islamic Relief Canada (IRC) are excited to launch a new data report titled: Canadian Muslim Demographics, Socioeconomics, Social Attitudes, and Experiential Outcomes. The report offers a data analysis of the makeup of Canadian Muslim communities and how they are evolving over time. BackgroundIn 2023, IRC approached […]
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Research Engagements
Our research produces enriching perspectives about Islam and Muslims across four broad areas:
Academia
Research that questions, expands, and diversifies the production of knowledge on Islam and Muslims.
Policy
Research that critically looks at global governance, regulation, and policies through the Muslim experience.
Community
Research that integrates the lived experience of Canada’s diverse Muslims to support democracy and inclusion.
Culture
Research and programming that weaves Islamic and Muslim modes of cultural production as part of our shared, rich tapestry.