Critical Muslim Studies (CMS)
The Critical Muslim Studies Hub is a collaborative initiative that brings together faculty, students, and community partners working on, or interested in, Muslim Studies across disciplines. The Hub creates an intellectual and relational space for critical research, dialogue, and community engagement concerned with Muslim Life, Muslim society, and Muslim cultures. Our primary purpose is to coordinate and make visible collaborative and critical multidisciplinary scholarship in this field.
logo design by Amina Ejaz
What is ‘Critical Muslim Studies’?
Critical Muslim Studies is an emerging subject in the global north drawing on traditional textual based Islamic studies, but distinguished from it in three ways: first, using a multidisciplinary and critical approach it explores complex and contemporary topics related and relevant to Muslim societies and cultures that touch on the social sciences, health, business, law, the arts, and environment; second, it has an intentional focus on methods, reflexivity and the embodiment of research and knowledge; and finally, it is rooted in anti-racism and decolonial principles.
We gratefully acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. As a guiding principle and form of practice, our work at the CMS Hub begins with critical reflexivity on Muslim-ness and global and locals forms of (de)colonisation, including considering our positionalities and responsibilities on Turtle Island and Coast Salish territory.
Our Steering Committee
Current Members:
Zaheera Jinnah, Co-Director, Assistant Professor, Social Work, UVic
Shemine Gulamhusein, Co-Director, Assistant Professor, Child and Youth Care, UVic
Rachel Brown, Associate Professor, Anthropology, UVic, CSRS Director
Mehmoona Moosa-Mitha, Professor, Social Work, UVic
Elena Pnevmonidou, Associate Professor, School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures, UVic
Farouk Mitha, Research Affiliate, UVic
Scott Dolff, Administrative Officer, CSRS Program and Communications Associate
Purpose and Vision
The Critical Muslim Studies Hub is a three-year initiative (2025–2028) bring together existing scholarship and initiatives at UVic into a visible and coherent intellectual project.
The Hub seeks to:
- Strengthen multidisciplinary research capacity across UVic
- Foster collaboration across faculties and with community partners
- Support graduate students and emerging scholars
- Enhance the visibility and impact of Muslim Studies at UVic
- Contribute to public dialogue on Muslim identities, cultures, and societies
The Hub aligns with UVic’s Strategic Plan (2023 Forward), the International Plan, and the Equity Action Plan, particularly commitments to social justice, civil engagement, and inclusive scholarship.
Our Elder
Terrie Barnhard is a proud lək̓ʷəŋən woman and member of the Songhees First Nation.
A Sixties Scoop Survivor, Terrie was born on lək̓ʷəŋən territory but grew up in Edmonton, disconnected from her birth family, community, and culture. She is a strong mother of two and returned to lək̓ʷəŋən territory in 1993. Inspired by her daughters and grandchildren, she is on the lifelong journey of reclaiming her roots and ancestral teachings, disrupted by genocide and the settler colonial system.
Terrie is also working to relearn lək̓ʷəŋiʔnəŋ, her People’s language, with the Language Revitalization Program at the Songhees Nation. This is essential work because due to colonization, there is only one first-speaker of lək̓ʷəŋiʔnəŋ left.
Terrie now supports the First People’s House at the University of Victoria as a keeper of lək̓ʷəŋən knowledge, culture, and traditions. While welcoming people and events to lək̓ʷəŋən territory, Terrie educates settlers and other visitors about the traditional keepers of the land now called “Victoria.” She approaches this work with humility, mentored by family Knowledge Keepers Uncles Butch and Skip Dick, and cousin Yuxwelupton Bradley Dick.
Contact and Affiliation
The Hub is funded by the Office of the President at the University of Victoria and operates under the auspices of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society (CSRS) at the University of Victoria. We welcome collaboration with scholars, students, and community partners interested in critical, interdisciplinary approaches to Muslim Studies.
Events
