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The Center for Global Islamic Studies

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The Center for Global Islamic Studies (CGIS), now known as the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, is a multidisciplinary research center at George Mason University. It is dedicated to advancing a nuanced understanding of Muslim societies and the Islamic faith by supporting research, academic programs, and community outreach. The center’s strategic location in Fairfax, Virginia, enables it to draw on diverse resources and engage with one of the most multicultural populations in the United States (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.; Choudhury, 2022).

Establishment and Founders

CGIS was established in 2009 as the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies, thanks to a generous endowment from Turkish businessman and philanthropist Ali Vural Ak. The founding director was Prof. Cemil Aydin, who was appointed as the IIIT endowed chair of Islamic Studies at George Mason University. In 2022, following a significant gift from the family of the late Dr. AbdulHamid AbuSulayman and Dr. Yaqub Mirza, the center was renamed in honor of Dr. AbuSulayman, a distinguished scholar and educator in Islamic studies (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, 2022; Choudhury, 2022).

Mission and Vision

Mission:

The mission of the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies is to advance a sound and nuanced understanding of Muslim societies and the Islamic faith, its role in world history, and its current patterns of globalization. The center recognizes Islam as a universal faith and a world civilization with a global community, providing a global—rather than solely regional—framework for exploring Islam (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).

Vision:

The center aspires to be a leading hub for research and education on Islam as a lived tradition, fostering sophisticated scholarship and public understanding. It aims to develop 21st-century leaders with a comprehensive grasp of the complexities shaping Muslim communities worldwide (Choudhury, 2022).

Goals and Objectives

  • Support and promote interdisciplinary research on Muslim societies and Islamic civilization.
  • Develop and deliver academic programs that provide students with a global perspective on Islam, beyond traditional regional studies.
  • Engage the broader public through conferences, workshops, lectures, and digital platforms such as the Maydan publication.
  • Provide educational and professional development opportunities for students, faculty, and visiting scholars.
  • Foster community outreach and dialogue to enhance understanding of the diversity and dynamics of Muslim communities globally (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.; Maydan, 2025).

Location

The center is located at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus in Horizon Hall, Room 3200. The full address is:

• 4400 University Drive, MSN 1H3, Fairfax, VA 22030

This location places the center in a vibrant, diverse academic environment in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., allowing access to a wide range of resources and communities (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.; The Maydan, 2021).

Financial Sponsors

The center’s financial foundation was established by the initial endowment from Ali Vural Ak. Over time, it has received substantial support from several organizations and individuals, including:

  • Mirza Family Foundation (headed by Yaqub Mirza): Provided a $3 million gift in 2022, leading to the center’s renaming.
  • International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT): Contributed a $1.5 million gift to endow a chair in Islamic Studies.
  • Other sponsors: National Endowment for the Humanities, Carnegie Corporation of New York, El-Hibri Charitable Foundation, John Templeton Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, and the Barzinji Family Foundation have supported various programs and initiatives (Choudhury, 2022; Gift to rename Center, n.d.; George Mason University Receives $1.5 Million Gift, 2008; Programs: Minor in Islamic..., n.d.).

Website and Contact Information

AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies Horizon Hall, Room 3200 4400 University Drive, MSN 1H3 Fairfax, VA 22030

  • MEIS Masters Program Email: meis@gmu.edu

For further information, the center’s website provides details on programs, events, and faculty contacts (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.; Contact | About Us, 2025).

Key Fields of Concentration (Research)

The CGIS focuses on a broad range of interdisciplinary research areas, including:

  • Islamic Ethics and Intellectual History: The center supports research on Islamic messianism, ethics, and the role of the Mahdi in Twelver Shi'ism, as well as broader Islamic intellectual traditions (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Islam and Politics: Scholars at the center examine the intersection of Islam and governance, political Islam, and the impact of Islamic movements globally (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.; Choudhury, 2022).
  • Global Muslim Societies: The center emphasizes the diversity of Muslim experiences, including the study of diaspora communities, migration, and the formation of global Muslim identities (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Sectarianism, Identity, and Conflict: Research includes work on sectarianism, identity politics, and conflict within Islamic contexts (Maydan, 2024).
  • Humanitarianism and Social Change: The center investigates Muslim humanitarian networks, activism, and the role of Islam in social transformation (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Race and Islam: Faculty examine the intersection of race, racialization, and the legacy of African American Islam in the Americas (Maydan, 2024).
  • Islamic Texts and Contexts: The center supports analysis of Qur’anic studies, Sufi and Shi’ite traditions, and the historical development of Islamic thought (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).

Activities and Contributions

CGIS is highly active in both academic and public spheres:

  • Conferences and Workshops: The center organizes international conferences and workshops on topics such as Islam and social change, Islam in Africa, sectarianism, humanitarianism, and Islam in China (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Lectures and Seminars: It regularly hosts guest lectures, panel discussions, and seminars with leading scholars and practitioners in Islamic studies (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Academic Programs: The center supports undergraduate and graduate programs, including a minor in Islamic Studies, a minor in Arabic, and a Master’s in Middle East and Islamic Studies (Academic Programs, 2024).
  • Community Outreach: CGIS engages with the broader public through digital platforms, educational resources, and partnerships with organizations such as the Arab Studies Institute and the Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.; Maydan, 2024).
  • Student and Faculty Support: The center provides scholarships, research grants, and professional development opportunities for students and faculty (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).

Publishing / Significant Reports and Impacts

  • The Maydan: The center’s flagship online publication, The Maydan, offers expert analysis and multidisciplinary perspectives on developments in the Muslim world and is recognized as a leading resource for scholars, students, and the public (Maydan, 2024).
  • Podcast Series: CGIS launched the first academic podcast devoted to Islamic Studies, expanding its reach and impact in public scholarship (Maydan, 2024).
  • Notable Publications: Faculty and affiliates regularly publish in leading academic journals and contribute to edited volumes on topics such as medical anthropology, humanitarianism, and Islamic intellectual history (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Muslim Journeys Bookshelf: The center developed and distributed a curated set of books and documentaries to public and academic libraries nationwide, enhancing public understanding of Muslim diversity (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Pedagogical Initiatives: CGIS collaborates on educational modules and resources for instructors nationwide, supporting high-quality teaching about Islam and Muslim societies (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, n.d.).
  • Impact: The center’s research and outreach have established it as a leading hub for global Islamic studies, attracting international partnerships, major philanthropic gifts, and recognition for advancing nuanced, public-facing scholarship on Islam and Muslim communities (Choudhury, 2022).

Prominent Research Figures

  • Peter Mandaville

Dr. Peter Mandaville serves as the Director of the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies and is a Professor of International Affairs at George Mason University. He has extensive experience in government and think tanks, including senior advisory roles at USAID and the U.S. Institute of Peace, and has testified before the U.S. Congress on political Islam and human rights. Mandaville is the author and editor of several influential books such as The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power (2023) and Islam & Politics (2020). His research has been supported by major foundations including the MacArthur Foundation and Carnegie Corporation (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, 2024; Choudhury, 2022).

  • Sumaiya A. Hamdani

Serving as Research Director, Hamdani contributes to the center’s scholarly output and research initiatives, particularly in Islamic studies and related interdisciplinary fields (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, 2024).

  • Ahmet Tekelioglu

Research Fellow and Editor-in-Chief of Maydan, the center’s flagship publication, Tekelioglu plays a key role in disseminating research and fostering public engagement with Islamic studies scholarship (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, 2024).

  • Abdulaziz Sachedina

Professor and IIIT Chair in Islamic Studies at George Mason University, Sachedina is a prominent scholar whose work focuses on Islamic law, ethics, and interfaith dialogue (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, 2024).

Relations to the Islamic World

The center maintains a global outlook on Islam, emphasizing Muslim societies beyond the Middle East, reflecting the vision of its namesake, Dr. AbdulHamid AbuSulayman. AbuSulayman himself had a transnational academic and leadership career, including serving as Rector of the International Islamic University in Malaysia and contributing foundational scholarship on Islamic international relations. The center’s research and programming underscore Islam as a global religion with diverse cultural and political expressions, fostering understanding of Muslim communities in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and beyond (Choudhury, 2022; AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, 2024).

Partnerships

  • International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT):

IIIT has been a key partner since the center’s founding, providing endowed chairs and funding that helped establish the center’s academic foundation (Choudhury, 2022).

  • Mirza Family Foundation:

This foundation provided a transformative multi-million dollar gift in honor of Dr. AbuSulayman, enabling the center’s renaming and expansion of its research and educational programs (Choudhury, 2022).

  • National Endowment for the Humanities, Carnegie Corporation, Al-Hibri Charitable Foundation, John Templeton Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation:

These organizations have supported various projects and initiatives, helping the center to develop innovative research and public-facing programs (Choudhury, 2022).

  • Academic and Community Collaborations:

The center collaborates with scholars and institutions worldwide, and engages with community organizations to promote education and dialogue about Islam and Muslim societies (AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, 2024).


Critique of its work or hidden objectives There is no direct, publicly documented critique or explicit statement from official Iranian sources specifically targeting the Center for Global Islamic Studies (CGIS) at George Mason University or alleging hidden objectives of the center from Iran’s perspective. However, some contextual insights can be drawn based on the involvement of Iranian scholars and the intellectual environment surrounding Islamic studies at the center: • Engagement of Iranian Scholars: The center has hosted Iranian academics such as Seyed Mohammad Ali Taghavi, a political science professor from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, who has contributed research on Islamic reformism and sectarian conflicts. His work, published through the center’s platform Maydan, reflects critical engagement with political Islamic groups and sectarianism, topics sensitive in Iranian political discourse but approached academically (Islamic Studies Center, 2019)1. • Critical Perspectives on Iranian Religious Culture: Some intellectual critiques associated with scholars linked to or discussed at the center address Iranian religious culture in ways that might be perceived as contentious from an Iranian establishment viewpoint. For instance, the work of Aramesh Doostdar, critiqued for portraying Iranian religious culture as inhibiting critical philosophical questioning and social progress, has been debated and challenged by Iranian intellectuals. Such perspectives, when circulated in Western academic settings including CGIS-affiliated publications, could be viewed by some in Iran as part of a broader intellectual critique of the Islamic Republic’s religious-political system (Maydan, 2021)6. • Geopolitical Context and US-Iran Relations: Given the center’s location in the United States and its engagement with topics such as political Islam, US foreign policy, and Middle East conflicts, it is plausible that Iranian official narratives might view the center’s work with suspicion, interpreting it as aligned with Western academic and political frameworks that critique or challenge Iran’s political ideology. However, no explicit accusations or documented critiques from Iranian government or affiliated media have been found in the available sources. • Academic Independence and Pluralism: The center emphasizes a multidisciplinary and global approach to Islamic studies, including diverse voices and perspectives from across the Muslim world, including Iran. This pluralism may contrast with more state-centric or doctrinal perspectives dominant in Iran, potentially leading to differing interpretations of the center’s objectives. In summary, while Iranian scholars participate in and contribute to CGIS activities, and some intellectual critiques of Iranian religious culture circulate in affiliated forums, there is no clear documented evidence of an official Iranian critique accusing the center of hidden objectives. The available information suggests academic engagement rather than overt political opposition or denunciation from Iran’s perspective. References

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