Vision
To cultivate an intellectually vibrant environment where scholars, students and community leaders work together to shape the future of Islamic thought, policy and practice.
Background
Who we are
The International Centre for Advanced Islamic Research is a pioneering institute for Islamic Studies affiliated to The World Federation of KSIMC. Its primary focus is Islamic and Shiʿi studies on both theoretical and applied levels.
The Centre works to promote Qurʾanic research, to explore ijtihādī methodologies, and to encourage research-based approaches to contemporary issues. Alongside this it seeks to foster communication and to build bridges of dialogue and collaboration between the traditional Islamic ḥawza seminaries and the diverse academic milieu.
That last aim is the one that distinguishes ICAIR. The seminary and the university have long studied the same texts with different tools and largely separate conversations. The Centre exists to hold both at once, bringing the ḥawza’s depth of training to questions the academy is asking, and the academy’s methods to questions the tradition is answering.
ICAIR works from WF House in Harefield, west London, where its facilities include an auditorium, workspaces, classrooms and a curated library. It collaborates with universities, seminaries and community institutions internationally.
Mission
To produce research that is rooted in the Islamic intellectual tradition and responsive to the contemporary needs of Muslim communities, and to build a global platform for high-quality scholarship, critical inquiry and thoughtful public engagement.
Principles
Three commitments that shape everything we do
1
Bridging Community, Seminary & Academy
We connect the seminary, the academy and the community, fostering dialogue and cooperation across religious, academic and communal spaces.
2
Advancing Shiʿi Studies in the West
We promote the study of Shiʿi Islam in western academic contexts, pursuing deep, scholarly engagement with Shiʿi thought.
3
Equipping the Global Shiʿi Community
We provide the KSIMC and the global Shiʿi community with intellectual resources drawn from the tradition to face the challenges of living in the modern world.
Areas of work
Six streams of research
Education
Examining educational philosophy, curriculum, pedagogy and character formation from within the Islamic intellectual tradition.
Biomedical Ethics
How Islamic ethical and legal principles should be understood and applied within rapidly evolving medical contexts.
Artificial Intelligence
Combining technical understanding with ethical analysis rooted in Islamic scholarship, so that Muslim perspectives shape the technologies being built.
Finance
Islamic economic and financial thought applied to the instruments, markets and obligations Muslims actually encounter.
Faith and Community
Where faith meets the everyday life of a community, beginning with mental health and wellbeing.
Texts & Traditions
Critical study of the textual sources of the Imāmī tradition and of the scholarly traditions built upon them.
Governance
Part of The World Federation
ICAIR is a department of The World Federation of KSIMC, the international body representing the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities.
The Centre is based at WF House in Harefield, west London, alongside The World Federation's other departments. Its facilities include an auditorium, workspaces, classrooms and a curated library.