Center for the Study of Islam in India (CSII)

Advancing the Study of Islam in India

A scholarly center dedicated to understanding Islam in India through research, education, and public engagement, with attention to its historical depth and contemporary significance.

MISSION

A Scholarly Focus on Islam in India

The Center on the Study of Islam in India (CSII) at American Islamic College advances rigorous, interdisciplinary scholarship on the historical, intellectual, cultural, and contemporary dimensions of Islam and Muslim life in India and their contributions to Indian society at large, in conversation with the wider Indian subcontinent. Grounded in the values of academic freedom, scholarly integrity, and pluralism, the Center seeks to document, analyze, and disseminate knowledge about one of the world’s largest and most influential Muslim communities through research, teaching, public scholarship, and digital engagement.

PURPOSE & VISION

A Hub for Research and Dialogue

Home to approximately 220 million Muslims, India is one of the largest global and historical spaces for the study of Islamic civilization and its contribution to Muslim life, though this remains historically understudied. The Center aims to address this gap in Western and South Asian scholarship.

The Center on Islam in India envisions American Islamic College as a leading global hub for the study of Islam in India, one that connects classical Islamic scholarship with contemporary inquiry, amplifies underrepresented intellectual traditions in Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, and fosters informed dialogue on Islam, India, and the subcontinent, pluralism, identity, and democracy. The Center aspires to shape scholarly discourse, educate future leaders, and contribute to a more nuanced global understanding of Islam in India through accessible, high-impact academic and public programming.

The Center aims to foster transnational dialogue that connects this scholarship to Muslim communities, academic institutions, and civic life in the US and beyond.

WHY ISLAM IN INDIA

An Understudied but Central Tradition

India is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the world and has played a significant role in the development of Islamic thought, culture, and institutions. Despite this, Islam in India remains underrepresented in broader conversations within Islamic studies and the study of religion.

The Center addresses this gap by highlighting India’s importance within the global history of Islam and by situating local traditions within wider intellectual and historical frameworks.

OBJECTIVES

Advance Scholarly Research

Support and produce original, peer-informed research on Islam in India, including theology, law, history, literature, media, culture, philosophy, politics, and social life, with attention to both classical traditions and contemporary realities.

Preserve and Amplify Intellectual & Cultural Heritage

Document and make accessible the rich scholarly and cultural legacy of Indian Islam, particularly in Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, through digital archiving, curated collections, and scholarly translation and analysis.

Support Curricular Activities & Resources

Develop academic courses, certificate programs, student exchange opportunities, and curricular resources that serve AIC students, scholars, and lifelong learners, utilizing virtual and hybrid formats consistent with best practices in higher education.

Promote Public Scholarship, Informed Discourse, & Intellectual Exchange

Engage broader audiences through lectures, conferences, publications, and media initiatives that connect academic research to contemporary discussions on Islam in India, pluralism, arts and culture, minority experience, and democratic life.

Foster Global Academic Collaboration

Build sustained partnerships with universities, research centers, and scholars in the United States, India, and the global diaspora to encourage collaborative research, faculty exchange, and joint programming.

Develop Media and Digital Literacy

Advance critical analysis of media representation and existing digital narratives, and their influence on public perception and policymaking.

Support Academic Freedom and Independent Inquiry

Provide an academic platform for sustained, critical engagement with the study of Islam in India, especially at a time when scholarly space for such inquiry is increasingly constrained.

Serve as a Bridge

Strengthen intellectual and institutional connections between scholars of Islam in India, the wider Indian subcontinent, and academic, civic, and interfaith communities in the United States.