The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre

The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC) is an independent research institution devoted to the study and promotion of traditional, moderate, and orthodox Islam. It operates as a part of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, which is internationally recognized for its contributions to Islamic scholarship and interfaith dialogue (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

Location

RISSC is based in Amman, the capital city of Jordan (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

History

RISSC was established in 2007 (1427 AH) as a semi-autonomous affiliate of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. The Centre was created to promote the principles of traditional and moderate Islam, particularly as articulated in the Amman Message and the international Islamic consensus reached in 2005-2006 (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

Establishment and Founders

RISSC was founded as an initiative of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, under the patronage of the Jordanian royal family. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, a prominent Islamic scholar and advisor to the King of Jordan, played a key role in its establishment. The Centre’s leadership and direction are closely tied to the Institute’s board of trustees, which includes senior members of the Jordanian royal family and international Islamic scholars (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

Financial Sponsors

RISSC is financially and institutionally supported by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, which is funded by the Jordanian royal family and other donors from the Islamic world. There is no evidence of direct Iranian involvement or sponsorship in RISSC’s activities; its operations are primarily centered in Jordan with an international outlook (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

Website and Contact Information

• Website: https://rissc.jo
• Contact information is available via the official website, including forms and email addresses for inquiries (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-b).

Iran’s Perspective

From an Iranian perspective, RISSC represents a significant Sunni-led initiative for Islamic scholarship and interfaith dialogue. The Centre’s focus on Sunni orthodoxy, as defined by the Amman Message, is distinct from Iran’s own Shia scholarly traditions. However, RISSC’s emphasis on moderation and consensus may be viewed as complementary to inter-Islamic dialogue efforts. There is no indication of direct Iranian affiliation, but Iranian scholars may utilize RISSC publications for comparative and interfaith studies (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

Prominent Research Figures

The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC) features a range of prominent Islamic scholars from diverse backgrounds. Among these are Sheikh Salman al Ouda (Saudi Arabia), Sheikh Dr. M Sa'id Ramadan al Bouti (Syria), Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al Tayeb (Egypt), Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Pakistan), Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah (Mauritania), Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Iran/USA), and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson (USA). Notably, RISSC’s annual publication, The Muslim 500, includes influential Iranian figures such as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, highlighting the Centre’s recognition of Shia leadership alongside Sunni scholars (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a; Global Village Space, 2024).

Key Fields of Concentration (Research)

RISSC’s research primarily focuses on:

• Promoting traditional, orthodox, and moderate Islam as outlined in the Amman Message.
• Studying contemporary Islamic issues including jihad, terrorism, and Islamic governance.
• Interfaith dialogue and Muslim relations with other religions.
• Environmental ethics in Islam, as reflected in publications like The Holy Qur'an and the Environment (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

Relations to the Islamic World

RISSC maintains extensive relations with Islamic scholars and institutions worldwide, including Iran. Its inclusive approach is evident in its recognition of both Sunni and Shia scholars and leaders, fostering inter-sectarian dialogue. The Centre’s publications are widely used in Iran for academic and religious scholarship, contributing to intellectual exchange between Jordanian-based Sunni institutions and Iranian Shia scholarship (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a; Islam Resource Centre, 2017).

Publishing / Significant Reports

RISSC is best known for several key publications:

• The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims — an annual report profiling influential Muslim figures globally, including Iranian leaders (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-b).
• The Amman Message — a foundational document promoting Islamic unity and moderation (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).
• Other significant works include Forty Hadith on Divine Mercy, Jihad and the Islamic Law of War, and The Holy Qur’an and the Environment (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a).

These publications are freely accessible online, facilitating their use by scholars in Iran and beyond (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-b).

Impacts and Partnerships (From Iran’s Perspective)

From an Iranian viewpoint, RISSC represents an important Sunni-led platform that nonetheless embraces Shia scholarship and leadership, promoting Islamic unity and moderation. The inclusion of Iranian scholars and leaders in its reports underscores this inclusivity. RISSC’s research outputs serve as valuable resources for Iranian academics and policymakers interested in contemporary Islamic thought, interfaith dialogue, and global Islamic trends (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a; Global Village Space, 2024).

Additionally, RISSC’s partnerships with international Islamic organizations and academic institutions contribute to fostering dialogue between different Islamic traditions, including those in Iran, further enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation (Islam Resource Centre, 2017).

From Iran’s perspective, critiques or suspicions regarding the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC) often focus on its underlying affiliations, ideological orientation, and geopolitical positioning, which may be viewed through the prism of regional Sunni-Shia dynamics and broader Middle Eastern power struggles.

Critique and Perceived Hidden Objectives from Iran’s Perspective

1. Institutional Affiliation and Sunni Orientation

RISSC is affiliated with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, an institution under the patronage of the Jordanian monarchy, which is predominantly Sunni. From an Iranian (Shia-majority) viewpoint, this affiliation may raise concerns about RISSC’s potential alignment with Sunni political and religious interests, particularly those of Jordan and its regional allies. This could lead to skepticism about whether RISSC’s promotion of “traditional, orthodox, and moderate Islam” implicitly favors Sunni interpretations and political agendas, possibly marginalizing Shia perspectives (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a; Wikipedia, 2024).

2. Geopolitical Context and Regional Rivalries

Iran’s strategic culture is deeply influenced by its revolutionary ideology and regional ambitions, often positioning itself in opposition to Sunni-led states such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan (Washington Institute, 2021). RISSC’s role in promoting the Amman Message and Sunni-oriented Islamic unity may be perceived by some Iranian analysts as an attempt to counterbalance or dilute Iran’s ideological influence in the Muslim world. This is particularly sensitive given Iran’s efforts to assert leadership within the broader Islamic community, including Shia and Sunni populations (Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, 2014).

3. Criticism of Representation and Inclusivity

Critics, including some from Iran, have noted that RISSC’s flagship publication, The Muslim 500, tends to emphasize royal figures and Sunni leaders, with comparatively fewer women and Shia scholars featured prominently (Al Arabiya, 2014). This perceived imbalance may be interpreted as a subtle bias that reflects the Centre’s political and sectarian leanings, potentially limiting its credibility among Iranian scholars and institutions.

4. Concerns about Soft Power and Ideological Influence

Iran’s strategic culture combines hard and soft power to advance its regional goals (Washington Institute, 2021). From this perspective, RISSC’s intellectual and cultural initiatives—such as promoting a particular Islamic orthodoxy and interfaith dialogue—may be viewed as part of a broader Sunni-led soft power strategy aimed at shaping Islamic discourse in ways that counter Iranian revolutionary ideology. This could be seen as a “hidden objective” to influence Muslim public opinion and religious authority away from Iran’s model of Islamic governance.

5. Lack of Direct Iranian Involvement

There is no evidence that RISSC receives financial or institutional support from Iran, which may reinforce Iranian perceptions of the Centre as aligned with rival Sunni powers rather than as a genuinely inclusive Islamic research institution (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, n.d.-a). This absence of Iranian participation could be interpreted as a deliberate exclusion or a reflection of geopolitical divisions.