Contemporary Islamic Studies Oxford
Contact Details
Telephone: +44 (0)1865 612302 | Email: ciso@sant.ox.ac.uk
Our People
Professor Raihan Ismail, H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani Professor in Contemporary Islamic Studies
Our Goals
Our goals are to promote academic exchange, research and scholarship in areas of mutual interest between the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and St Antony’s College. The collaboration focuses on three areas of contemporary Islamic studies: religious authority in Muslim societies, religion and politics, and modern Islamic thought.
Our Activities
Events
1-3 April 2026, Islam, Diversity, and Transformation: Perspectives from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Organised at the International Islamic University Malaysia, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, Fudan University and Peking University.
13-14 November 2025, Pahang and the Sea, a workshop exploring the maritime history of Pahang, Malaysia and its connections with the Islamic world, China and Europe. Organised at St Antony’s College, in collaboration with Muzium Pahang, Malaysia. Experts in the field from the US, UK, Europe and Malaysia shared their knowledge and research with us – a unique opportunity to exchange and learn about the maritime history of Southeast Asia. We are delighted to share the edited audio recordings of some of the presentations through our Contemporary Islamic Studies podcast series.
Image 1, from left to right: Prof Amal Ghazzal, Sonia Latha, Dr Jessica Rahardjo, Dr Jennifer Gaylor, Itamar Toussia Cohen, Prof Eugene Rogan (Panel Chair). Panel 1, Day 1 ‘Locating Pahang’s Maritime Position’.
Image 2, from left to right: Dr Federica Gigante, Dato’ Mohamad Nizar bin Dato’ Sri Mohamad Najib, Dr Scott Abel, Ms Nurul Hamizah binti Afandi, Mr Muhamad bin Muhd Idris, Prof Raihan Ismail (Panel Chair). Panel 2, Day 1 ‘Constructing Pahang’s Maritime History’.
Image 3, Professor Raihan Ismail
Image 4, HM Queen Azizah of Pahang with College Warden, Professor Roger Goodman and Director of the Middle East Centre, Professor Eugene Rogan
Further events are planned, details will be available in due course. All are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there.
Our History
Contemporary Islamic Studies Oxford (CISO) at St Antony’s College’s Middle East Centre was launched in 2009 through a cooperative agreement between St Antony’s College and the Qatar Faculty for Islamic Studies (QFIS), now the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).
Related Links
- Watch our Oxford Political Thought Podcast.
- Listen to our Recordings Archive.
- Browse our Middle East Centre Library Book Sale for pre-loved books with its online catalogue of books for sale – new titles are added regularly, including books relating to Islamic Studies and we can arrange postage if you can’t collect in person.
