Calling Global Scholars in Islamic and Muslim Studies

Are you a lecturer, PhD student, or researcher working on topics related to Islam and Muslim societies?

Join the Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (AAIMS) — a dynamic scholarly network that promotes interdisciplinary and inclusive research on Islam and Muslim communities across Australia and around the world.

AAIMS brings together scholars from a range of disciplines including sociology, anthropology, political science, education, religious studies, and history. We provide a platform to share ideas, collaborate on research, and support the development of innovative scholarship that addresses both local and global contexts.

Membership benefits include:

  • Free or discounted access to AAIMS conferences, lectures, and events

  • Monthly newsletter featuring publication highlights, calls for papers, and academic opportunities

  • Exclusive updates on developments in Islamic and Muslim studies

  • Opportunities to connect with a global network of scholars and professionals

  • Visibility through our member directory, social media, and publications

Whether you are at the beginning of your academic journey or an established researcher, AAIMS welcomes you to be part of a vibrant, supportive, and diverse research community.

Apply now: https://www.aaims.org.au/become-a-member/
For inquiries, contact us at: info@aaims.org.au

#AAIMS #IslamicStudies #MuslimStudies #AcademicNetwork #PhDCommunity #GlobalScholarship #CallForMembers

The Politics of Anti-Islamophobia in Australia: The Case of Muslim Community Organisations

By Dr. Sara Cheikh Husain

We are pleased to share the latest publication by Dr. Sara Cheikh Husain, an active member of AAIMS and a scholar of political sociology and Muslim community advocacy.

This book provides an in-depth analysis of how Muslim Community Organisations (MCOs) in Australia perceived and responded to Islamophobia between 2014 and 2018—a period marked by the rise of ISIS, a surge in anti-Muslim political rhetoric, and culminating in the Christchurch terrorist attack on praying Muslims in New Zealand. Grounded in an agency-structure framework, it explores how MCOs navigated systemic power to resist Islamophobia through civic, discursive, and political strategies.

Arguing that their agency is both pragmatic and transformative, the book reveals how these organisations operated within and against the constraints of Australian politics. Building on this analysis, the final chapter reflects on the author’s engagement with Muslim organisers to examine how the Australian state’s response to the 2023 War on Gaza—marked by its complicity—shook the Muslim community, catalysing new forms of activism that depart from the pre-Christchurch context and may redefine the contours of anti-Islamophobia and Muslim-led advocacy.

This study is essential reading for scholars of Islamophobia, social movements, and Australian politics, offering valuable insights into the intersections of power, resistance, and identity.

eBook Available: 28 August 2025
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan (SpringerLink)
🔗 Learn more: https://link.springer.com/book/9783031967542

Quranic Concepts in Islamic Psychology and Spirituality: Application in the Modern World

By Assoc. Prof. Zuleyha Keskin

We are pleased to share the latest publication by Assoc. Prof. Zuleyha Keskin, Vice President of AAIMS and Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University.

This book explores how the Qur’ân’s timeless teachings enrich contemporary psychological theories, bridging the gap between Islāmic wisdom and psychological well-being.

It offers a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying Qur’ânic concepts in the realm of mental health. Grounded in Islāmic scholarship, it references both classical and modern Islāmic sources to explain fundamental Qur’ânic concepts in Islāmic psychology. The book is structured around three key areas: first, an Islāmic perspective on human faculties, essential for self-knowledge and self-awareness; second, the five pillars of Islam, which play a central role in psychological resilience; and third, various Qur’ânic spiritual concepts linked to mental well-being, such as ṣabr (patience), shukr (gratitude), riḍā (contentment) and iṭmi’nān (peacefulness).

By integrating Islāmic principles with contemporary psychological insights and promoting a holistic approach to well-being, this book serves as a vital resource for personal development, academic study, and professional practice, particularly for mental health professionals working with Muslim clients.

This book is a valuable resource for mental health professionals, academic researchers, and anyone interested in the integration of Islamic principles with modern psychological insights.

eBook Published: 6 June 2025
Publication Location: London
Imprint: Routledge
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003494614

Member Publications June 2025

June 26, 2025

Congratulations to the following AAIMS Members on their publications!

Eva Nisa  on her article, “Emerging Middles: Class, Development and the Halal Economy in Indonesia and Malaysia.” Research in Globalisation.  See article here.
 
Zuleyha Keskin on her book, Quranic Concepts in Islamic Psychology and Spirituality Application in the Modern World. Published by Routledge.  See book here.

Jennifer Cheng on her article, “A labour of love: Muslim women carving out belonging in blue spaces”. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. Read article here.
 
All the best

More News

Member Publications – April 2026

We are pleased to share the latest publication from our member: Ali, Jan A,“Challenges to Character Education in Australian Muslim Schools” in Shaikh Abdul Mabud (ed) Islamic Philosophy of Education:
Read More

Member Publications – March 2026

Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Mundane or Mystical: Journeying from an Islamic Perspective, Research in Globalization, International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage. Read article here. Hajer Jemai, Faith, Birth, and Belonging:
Read More
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4a6e567063ed76897094c356959f115332f7fce8/0_0_8192_5464/master/8192.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none&crop=none

Community calls for the reinstatement of Islamic Studies Program at WSU

This article was originally published by AMUST The recent decision by Western Sydney University to remove Islamic Studies as a Major and Minor from its Bachelor of Arts program has
Read More

Member Publications April 2025

April 30, 2025

Congratulations to the following AAIMS Members on their publications!

Pam Nilan on her article, “Researching Young People and Far-Right Populism, Social Sciences. 2025; 14(5):270. Read article here.
 
Pam Nilan on her article, “Masculinities, Citizenship and Right-Wing Populism in Australia”. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 1–18. Read article here.

Suleyman Sertkaya on his book, “Modern Approaches to Sīrah Genre: Fethullah Gülen’s Contribution” Springer Nature. Read book here.

All the best,

More News

Member Publications – April 2026

We are pleased to share the latest publication from our member: Ali, Jan A,“Challenges to Character Education in Australian Muslim Schools” in Shaikh Abdul Mabud (ed) Islamic Philosophy of Education:
Read More

Member Publications – March 2026

Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Mundane or Mystical: Journeying from an Islamic Perspective, Research in Globalization, International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage. Read article here. Hajer Jemai, Faith, Birth, and Belonging:
Read More
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4a6e567063ed76897094c356959f115332f7fce8/0_0_8192_5464/master/8192.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none&crop=none

Community calls for the reinstatement of Islamic Studies Program at WSU

This article was originally published by AMUST The recent decision by Western Sydney University to remove Islamic Studies as a Major and Minor from its Bachelor of Arts program has
Read More

Member Publications March 2025

March 31, 2025

Congratulations to the following AAIMS Members on their publications!

Shahram Akbarzadeh & Ihsan Yilmaz on their article, “Social media, conspiracy theories, and authoritarianism: between bread and geopolitics in Egypt”, Journal of Information Technology & Politics. Read article here.

Adis Dudareja on his chapter Is “Progressive Islam” Still “Islamic”? Examining the Question through the Lens of Shahab Ahmed’s Approach to Conceptualising Islam in Book Conceptualizing Islam. Read chapter here.

All the best,

More News

Member Publications – April 2026

We are pleased to share the latest publication from our member: Ali, Jan A,“Challenges to Character Education in Australian Muslim Schools” in Shaikh Abdul Mabud (ed) Islamic Philosophy of Education:
Read More

Member Publications – March 2026

Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Mundane or Mystical: Journeying from an Islamic Perspective, Research in Globalization, International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage. Read article here. Hajer Jemai, Faith, Birth, and Belonging:
Read More
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4a6e567063ed76897094c356959f115332f7fce8/0_0_8192_5464/master/8192.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none&crop=none

Community calls for the reinstatement of Islamic Studies Program at WSU

This article was originally published by AMUST The recent decision by Western Sydney University to remove Islamic Studies as a Major and Minor from its Bachelor of Arts program has
Read More

Member Publications February 2025

February 28, 2025

Congratulations to the following AAIMS Members on their publications!

Shahram Akbarzadeh on his article, “Iranian Drones at the Service of Authoritarian Geopolitics”, Geopolitics. Read article here.

Eva Nisa on “Australian Beef and Lamb in Japan’s Growing Muslim-Friendly Tourism Industry.” Australian Institute of International Affairs. Read article here.

 
All the best,

More News

Member Publications – April 2026

We are pleased to share the latest publication from our member: Ali, Jan A,“Challenges to Character Education in Australian Muslim Schools” in Shaikh Abdul Mabud (ed) Islamic Philosophy of Education:
Read More

Member Publications – March 2026

Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Mundane or Mystical: Journeying from an Islamic Perspective, Research in Globalization, International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage. Read article here. Hajer Jemai, Faith, Birth, and Belonging:
Read More
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4a6e567063ed76897094c356959f115332f7fce8/0_0_8192_5464/master/8192.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none&crop=none

Community calls for the reinstatement of Islamic Studies Program at WSU

This article was originally published by AMUST The recent decision by Western Sydney University to remove Islamic Studies as a Major and Minor from its Bachelor of Arts program has
Read More