Islamic Studies

Islam, which was founded almost 1,400 years ago is one of the widely acclaimed and practiced religions in the world. If we comprehend the true meaning of Islam, it means submission. The word “Islam” denotes submission to one God and Muhammad as the last messenger of God. It is believed that Islam originated from Saudi Arabia’s holiest city, Mecca, in the 7th century. However, with the spread of the 2nd largest religion of the world across continents, understanding the complexity and diversity of this field becomes essential to avoid confusion and clash of ideas. This is the reason why a plethora of degree programs are now being offered in religious studies, particularly, Islam. In this blog, we have collated all the quintessential information on Islamic studies, prominent courses, and universities from where you can pursue a program in this domain!

What is Islamic Studies all About? 

Islamic Studies is an interdisciplinary field that provides you with an opportunity to understand various nuances of Islam, the growth of Islamic language and culture, and religious importance from the time of Muhammad till present. Apart from the Islamic Theology and Principles of Jurisprudence, you will also study the Traditions, Criticism, Abrogations, Biographies of Messengers, Islamic Scholars, and institutions in detail. The subset of this field includes Quranic teaching (the holy book of Islam) and exegesis of the book. Its historical perspective and proper recitation are also thoroughly taught in such degree programs.

Popular Islamic Studies Courses 

A wide range of programmes is offered in this branch of Religious studies across the globe. Tabulated below are some of the most opted degree courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate levels in this field. 

Where Can you Pursue Islamic Studies? 

There are scores of universities across the globe that offer comprehensive degree programs in Islamic studies. Some of them have been listed below:  

• University of Oxford
• New York University 
• University of Exeter 
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Washington
• University of Melbourne 
• University of Malaya
• The University of New England 
• University of Edinburgh
• Western Sydney University
• University of Kentucky
• George Mason University
• The University of California, Riverside
• University of Toronto
• University of Leeds
• SOAS University of London
• Harvard University
• University of Birmingham 
• Columbia University
• McGill University

Moreover, here are the top colleges to study Islamic studies in India:

Online Courses

With the world turning towards online classes and courses, there are many Islamic Studies courses available online. Here are some of the top online programs:

Books

Some of the most popular books on Islamic Studies are:

• The Quran and the Bible – Authored by Ali Quli Qarai
• Women and Gender in Islam – Authored by Kecia Ali
• Iran: A Modern History – Authored by Abbas Amanat
• Islamism: A History of Political Exam From the Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of ISIS – Authored by Tarek Osman
• Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power – Authored by Jonathan Bloom
• An Introduction to Shi’i Islam – Authored by Moojan Momin
• Islamic Imperialism: A History – Authored by Efraim Karsh

Career Prospects 

Being a multidisciplinary discipline of contemporary times, pursuing a course in Islamic studies offers innumerable opportunities across various sectors. Enlisted are some of the job profiles you can work in:  

• Professor/Lecturer
• Business Consultant
• Administrator
• Translator
• Researcher
• Information Systems Officer
• Lawyer (Islamic)

Are you aiming to pursue Islamic Studies from top-notch universities abroad? Not sure how to proceed? Don’t worry! Professionals at Leverage Edu are ready to be your helping hand! Get in touch with our experts through an E-meeting and get assistance right from completing the admission formalities to writing an impressive SOP that highlights your achievements in a comprehensive way!