Institute of Islamic Research (IIR)

The Institute of Islamic Research has been established at the IUR since 1997.  The Institute of Islamic Research has a number of different tasks to fulfil, mainly:

·          Conducting scientific research,

·          Supplying the necessary logistic support as well as the facilities for promoting research, and

·          Preserving contacts with the national and international scientific institutions.

Research Frameworks

According to the paradigm of the Institute of Research, the concept of research and research frameworks is twofold: Theoretical and empirical (i.e., fieldwork). There are research projects conducted by the Institute of Research, by the faculties and departments (MA and PhD), and finally in joint coordination with external institutions and/or companies. The students and researchers under the supervision of promoters from the University can possibly conduct MA and/or Ph.D. research projects.  As outlined in the following Table, the IUR research projects generally fall in three categories.

Research developments

Within the realms of the IUR, a number of research projects and methodologies are being developed. The investigation of Islam in a minority position is still an uncharted area of research. Islam and Islamic issues are still under-researched given the myriads of developments in relation to Muslims and Islam. Second, such issues are seldom researched from the perspective of European methodological perspectives. It is high time researchers within the fields of Islamic Studies at the IUR developed their own research methodologies inspired by the burgeoning European empirical, statistical as well as methodological data.

Research Areas

The Institute of Research is operating with the maxim of relevance in developing research frameworks and methodologies. A number of themes are being elaborated on of crucial relevance to the Dutch society and with far-reaching implication for the European context. The following gives information about the typology of research projects currently undertaken by the Institute of Research of the University:

·          Islam in a Minority Setting

·          The Status and Function of Imams in a Non-Muslim Country

·          Integration from an Islamic Perspective

·          Law research

·          Islam and Human Rights

·          Democracy and Islam

·          The Rules of Living according to Islam in the "Land of Peace"

·          Guidelines for Muslims about Halal Food

·          Sacrifice Festivities between Islamic and European Law Regulations

·          Interpretation of Islamic Rules in Non-Muslim Country (i.e., the Netherlands)

·          Gender and Islam

·          Institutional/organizational research

·          The School Success of Children from a an Islamic Background

·          The Function of Mosques in the Netherlands

·          Islamic Organization in the Netherlands

·          The Outlook of Islam on Islamic Banking

·          History/Art research

·          The Artistic Uses of Islamic Calligraphy in Europe

·          The Relationships between the Netherlands and the Ottoman Emporium