The Center for Muslim Studies at the University of Chicago

The Center for Muslim Studies at the University of Chicago is an academic hub focused on the interdisciplinary study of Islam and Muslim societies. Its mission is to advance research, teaching, and public engagement on topics related to Islamic civilization, history, and contemporary issues (University of Chicago, n.d.-a). The center fosters both undergraduate and graduate scholarship, supporting lectures, research projects, and academic exchanges in Islamic Studies.

Location

The Center for Muslim Studies is housed within the University of Chicago campus, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States (University of Chicago, n.d.-a).

History

The University of Chicago has a long tradition of excellence in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, primarily through its Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC). Over decades, the university has built a reputation for rigorous scholarship in Islamic Studies, with faculty expertise ranging from classical Islamic civilization to contemporary Muslim societies (University of Chicago, n.d.-b).

Establishment and Founders

While the exact founding date of the Center for Muslim Studies is not clearly specified in public records, the center’s growth is closely linked to the efforts of faculty in the NELC department. Notable scholars such as Professor Fred Donner have played a significant role in developing Islamic Studies at the university (University of Chicago, n.d.-a). Alumni such as Jonathan A. C. Brown have also contributed to the center’s academic and financial resources (University of Chicago, n.d.-c).

Financial Sponsors

The Center for Muslim Studies is supported by university resources, external grants, and private endowments. For example, the Jonathan A. C. Brown Islamic Studies Research Award Fund was established with a $100,000 endowment to support student research and initiatives in Islamic Studies (University of Chicago, n.d.-c). Such funding is vital for sustaining research and academic activities.

Website and Contact Information

The Center for Muslim Studies operates under the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago. There is no separate website for the center; all inquiries should be directed to the NELC department.

Contact Information:

Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

University of Chicago

1155 E. 58th Street

Chicago, IL 60637, USA

Phone: +1 (773) 702-9512

Website: https://nelc.uchicago.edu/

Perspective from Iran

From an Iranian perspective, the Center for Muslim Studies at the University of Chicago stands as an important Western academic institution dedicated to the scholarly study of Islam and Muslim societies. Iran, with its deep Islamic heritage and tradition of religious scholarship, may view such centers as valuable platforms for cross-cultural academic dialogue and mutual understanding between the Islamic world and Western academia (Vanderbilt University Library, n.d.).

Prominent Research Figures

The University of Chicago’s Center for Muslim Studies, integrated within the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) and the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC), features several internationally recognized scholars. Notably, Dr. Ahmed El Shamsy, Associate Professor in NELC, is acclaimed for his research on the history of Islamic thought and the transformation of Islamic scholarship through print culture. His book, Rediscovering the Islamic Classics: How Editors and Print Culture Transformed an Intellectual Tradition, is widely regarded as a significant contribution to the field, exploring how classical Islamic texts were preserved and disseminated in the modern era (HBKU, 2020). Other prominent faculty members include Professor Fred Donner, a leading expert in early Islamic history, whose work is foundational for understanding the origins and development of Islamic civilization (University of Chicago, n.d.-a).

Key Fields of Concentration (Research)

The center’s research spans a wide range of disciplines within Islamic and Middle Eastern studies. Key fields include:

• Islamic intellectual history and manuscript traditions
• Classical and modern Islamic thought
• Arabic, Persian, and Turkish language instruction
• Comparative monotheisms and interfaith dialogue
• Social, political, and legal developments in the Islamic world
• Human rights and contemporary issues in Muslim societies

The CMES MA program offers tracks in Ancient, Modern, and Human Rights studies, allowing students to specialize in areas most relevant to their academic or professional goals (University of Chicago, n.d.-a).

Relations to the Islamic World

The Center for Muslim Studies maintains active academic and cultural exchanges with Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. The center regularly hosts visiting scholars from the Islamic world and collaborates on research and dialogue initiatives. For example, Iranian scholars have participated in conferences and teaching exchanges, and the center has facilitated learning tours and interfaith dialogues involving Iranian institutions (EMU, 2014). Such engagements foster mutual understanding and scholarly cooperation, which are particularly valued from the Iranian perspective as opportunities to present authentic views of Islam and engage with global academic discourse.

Publishing and Significant Reports

Faculty at the center are prolific in publishing influential books, articles, and reports on Islamic studies. Dr. Ahmed El Shamsy’s Rediscovering the Islamic Classics is a notable example, providing a detailed account of how classical Islamic texts were revived and integrated into the modern canon through the efforts of editors and intellectuals (HBKU, 2020). The center also organizes public lectures, conferences, and book talks, disseminating research findings to both academic and wider audiences (University of Chicago, n.d.-a).

Impacts and Partnerships

The center’s impact is significant both within the United States and internationally. CMES serves as a hub for research and advanced language and area studies training, with thousands of students and community members participating in its programs annually (U.S. Department of Education, 2022). The center’s outreach extends to K-12 education, public libraries, and community organizations, promoting accurate understanding of the Middle East and Islam. Notably, the University of Chicago has partnered with other major institutions, such as the University of Michigan, in the Islamic Studies Virtual Curriculum-a distance-learning initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to expand access to Islamic studies courses across the Midwest (University of Michigan, 2014).

From Iran’s perspective, these partnerships and outreach activities are seen as valuable channels for dialogue, cultural exchange, and the presentation of nuanced, scholarly perspectives on Islam and the Muslim world.

Critique of the Center for Muslim Studies at the University of Chicago

Critique of Its Work

From an Iranian perspective, academic centers such as the Center for Muslim Studies at the University of Chicago are sometimes viewed with skepticism regarding their portrayal of Iran’s religious, social, and political realities. Iranian scholars often argue that Western academic institutions may oversimplify Iran’s complex religious and sociopolitical landscape, sometimes framing issues in binaries such as “religious state versus secular society” (Shams, 2019). This critique is particularly evident when Western scholarship analyzes events like the 2009 Green Movement, where the creative use of Shi’a symbolism by both protesters and the state is sometimes reduced to simplistic narratives (Shams, 2019).

In the field of gender studies, Iranian academics have critiqued Western institutions for interpreting Iranian gender politics through liberal, secular frameworks, which can marginalize indigenous perspectives and the diversity within Islamic feminism (Alavitabar, 2002). This approach, from the Iranian viewpoint, risks “silencing the heterogeneity” of Iranian Shi’a gender discourse and underappreciating local agency (Alavitabar, 2002).

Hidden Objectives

There is also a perception among some Iranian analysts that Western centers for Islamic or Muslim studies may serve broader geopolitical or ideological purposes. Such suspicions stem from a history of perceived Western interventionism and the belief that academic research can be a form of soft power to influence both international and domestic opinion about Iran (Gheissari & Nasr, 2019; Baker Institute, n.d.). The export of particular narratives about Iran’s political system, religious authority, or civil society is sometimes interpreted as part of a strategy to undermine the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic or promote secularism and regime change (Gheissari & Nasr, 2019).

Furthermore, public events and panels hosted by these centers that focus on Iranian dissent or women’s rights have occasionally sparked controversy. Iranian observers may accuse such platforms of amplifying critical voices while downplaying the complexities of Iranian society, especially when panelists are perceived to have political motives or affiliations (Chicago Maroon, 2022).