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I trained as a sociologist with a focus on comparative social theory, in particular Islamic social theory and classical Western social theory. But I regard myself above all as an interdisciplinary scholar and I have a foot in religious studies among other fields. I maintain a strong interest in religion and secularism in the modern age as well as in inter-religious and inter-cultural exchange. Of late, my work is shifting away from theory to empirical analysis.
PhD, York University, 2007
MA, University of Alberta, 1998
BA, Queen’s University (Kingston), 1996
Currently, my interest in Islam and modernity focuses on the interpretive methods employed in the study of the Quran by two Pakistani-American scholars, the late Fazlur Rahman and Javed Ghamidi. The motivating question for me is: how do text and social context interact to determine the meaning of a foundational text (e.g. scripture, constitution, etc.).
My developing empirical interest is on tourism in Pakistan and the impacts of mass tourism on cultural and religious identity. I am also a Co-Investigator on a SSHRC funded project (Jason Neelis, PI; 2021-26) for the digital preservation and promotion of Buddhist Gandaran epigraphic (inscriptions) and petroglyphic (rock art) complexes in the Upper Indus region of Pakistan. Check out the the CBC national radio show/podcast Quirks and Quarks interview on our research (Sept 6, 2026).
- Laurier Merit Award, 2024 (Administrative Service)
- Laurier Faculty Teaching Award for Excellence in Internationalization, 2017 (Inaugural award)
- Laurier Merit Award, 2011 (Research)
I am not presently taking on any more doctoral supervisions or committee roles. I have served in the following capacities for PHD and MA students:
Internal/External Examiner for Doctoral Defense
- Selda Sezen, PhD, “Parenting in Canada: Lived Experiences of Immigrant Muslim Mothers”, Martin Luther University College (Human Relationships), Aug. 5, 2026
- Bibi Baksh, “Adrift in Uncharted Waters: A Case Study of a Muslim Family Involved with Child Protection Services in Ontario”, Faculty of Social Work, May 16, 2022
- Morgan Braganza, “Improving Encounters with People who Hold Contentious Differences: An Exploration”, Faculty of Social Work, Aug. 18, 2020
- Jason Sparkes, “Tradition as Flow: Decolonial Currents in the Muslim Atlantic”, Religious Studies, May 26, 2020
- Engin Sezen, "What are the Sohbet Experiences of Turkish Canadian Men in Ontario?”, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (Human Relationships, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy), May 22, 2019
- William Rory Dickson, “Living Sufism in North America: Between Tradition and Transformation”, Religious Studies, June 4, 2012
PhD Supervisions in the Religious Diversity in North America program:
- Azmat Abbas Butt, “Pakistani Canadians in the Age of Blasphemy: Impact of Anti-Blasphemy Ideologies on the Pakistani Diaspora in Greater Toronto Area, Ontario”. Defense: April 21, 2026. Received the Award for Outstanding Work at the Graduate Level.
- Fatima Chakroun, “Being Religious in a Secular Place: A Neo-Institutional Analysis of Twelver Shia Mosques in Ontario Through Congregants’ Narratives” (in progress)
- Malik Faisal Aslam, “Between Text and Justice: Reinterpreting Qur’an 4:34 Through Contemporary Hermeneutics” (in progress)
PHD Dissertation Committee Member (in progress):
- Sahver (Muserref) Kuzucuoglu, "The Jerrahis of Canada: Experiences of a 'Minority-within-a-Minority'"
- Mourad Agha
- Zahra Jaffer
- Hasaan Sobaan
PHD Dissertation Committee Member (completed):
- Ayse Erenay (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, Martin Luther University College), “Exploring Religious/Spiritual Struggles Among Muslim Immigrants in the Canadian Context”. PhD Defense: June 17, 2026
- Judy Wu (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, Martin Luther University College), “Lived experiences of Chinese family members who are caring for a family member diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)”. PhD Defense: April 6, 2026
- Muhammad Abuelezz (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, Martin Luther University College), “Dual Relationships of Psychotherapeutically Untrained Imams Who Counsel Their Congregants: a Qualitative Study”. PhD Defense: Sept. 13, 2023
- Sahir Dewji (Religious Studies), “Beyond Muslim Xenophobia and Contemporary Parochialism: Aga Khan IV, the Ismailis, and the Making of a Cosmopolitan Ethic”. PhD Defense: April 26, 2018
- Ali al-Barghouti (Religious Studies), “Interpreting on the Fault Lines: Ijtihad and Religious Interpretation among Muslim Academics and Community Leaders in North America”. PhD Defense: April 2013
MA Supervisions
- Morad Algrari (Religion, Culture and Global Justice), “The doctrine of al Wala w’al Bara (Loyalty and Disavowal) in Islam and the Challenges to Canadian Muslims”, Major Research Paper. MA Defense: Dec. 16, 2024
- Samantha Simmoes (Religion, Culture and Global Justice), “Beyond the Beyond Meat Dichotomy: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Green Consumerism in Plant-Based Meat Advertising”, Major Research Paper. MA Defense: June 1, 2023
- Jacqueline Craig (Religion, Culture and Global Justice), “The Challenges of Methodology in Women’s Readings of the Qur’an”, Major Research Paper. July 2018. Gold Medal for Academic Excellence.
- Joshua Northcott (Cultural Analysis and Social Theory), “Representations of Success: The Pitfalls of Ideology in Development Strategy for Rural Bangladesh”, Major Research Paper. May 2014
- Claire Morrison (Co-supervision with Dr. Jasmin Zine, Cultural Analysis and Social Theory), “Analyzing Borat and The Dictator: Revealing Ignorance Through Satire Post-9/11”, Major Research Paper. Sept. 2012
- Eric Leblanc (Cultural Analysis and Social Theory), “The Dogmatism of the New Atheists”, Major Research Paper. Sept. 2011
- Humera Javed (Cultural Analysis and Social Theory), “The Divine Light and its Many Shades: Muslims and Intra-Religious Dialogue”, Major Research Paper, August 2010
- Review of The Islamic Secular by Sherman A. Jackson. In Islamic Intellectual Traditions, 1: 120-124, 2026. Review of Islamic Secular
- Invited Presentation: “Rah Guzar (The Paths We Walk): Tourism and the Paths of the Future: Benefits and Consequences in Northern Pakistan”, University of Baltistan-Skardu, April 2025.
- “Human Rights, Muslim Communities and the Unintentional Secularization of Canada” in Gestures: the Study of Religion as Practice, edited by Michiel Leezenberg, Anne-Marie Korte and Martin van Bruinessen. New York: Fordham University Press, 605-622, 2022.
- Invited Presentation: “Interpretive Methods and their Presuppositions: A Comparison of Fazlur Rahman’s and Javed Ghamidi’s Hermeneutics of the Qur’an”, Al-Mawrid Institute, Lahore, Pakistan, June 9, 2022.
- Review of Repentance and the Return to God: Tawba in Early Sufism, by Atif Khalil. In Philosophy East and West, 72 (1, Jan) 2022.
- Review of Understanding Sharia: Islamic Law in a Globalized World, by Raficq S. Abdulla and Mohamed M. Keshavjee. In Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies, 5 (2, November) 2020: 80-84.
- "Quranic Hermeneutics as a Form of Modern Religiosity", in Muslims Between Conformity and Critique. Plural Publications, 2016.
- Islam, Modernity and the Human Sciences. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011
I have taught many undergraduate and graduate courses in the Dept. of Global Studies and the Dept. of Religion and Culture. Among these are:
- Religions and Cultures in Global Contexts (GJRC693, MA seminar, typical class size: 8-12 students)
- Dialogue and Difference in a Polarized Age (GS422/GJRC661, formerly Dialogue and Critique in an Age of Terror, typical class size 25 students)
- Being Human: Cultural Analysis in a Global Age (GS220/RE221, typical class size: 50-75 students)
- Islam and Muslims in Contemporary Contexts (RE643, typical class size: 8 students)
- Introduction to Global Studies (GS101, typical class size: 300-450 students)
- Islam, Coloniality and Tradition in Morocco (GS488c, field course, spring 2019, 15 students)
In 2023, I was an invited expert for a Freedom of Expression challenge at the Waterloo Public Library to review a book that was challenged on the grounds of Islamophobia.
In 2017-8, I was elected to Laurier's inaugural Task Force on Freedom of Expression to help craft Laurier's statement on freedom of expression.
In the broader community, I help organize or participate in public events. Events include:
- Co-organizer with WLU Sufi Circle, “Sufi Sounds: A Concert in Celebration of the Divine”, 2025, 2024, 2019, 2018.
- Panelist, “The Quran and the Significance of Ramadan”, al-Mawrid Institute Canada, Autaq Banquet Hall, Mississauga, March 23, 2025.
- Panelist, “Empowering Families”, al-Mawrid Institute Canada and the Coalition of Muslim Women-Kitchener Waterloo and New Horizon Seniors Program, Autaq Banquet Hall, Mississauga, July 27, 2024.
- Panelist, Brave Circle I: Spousal Relationships; Brave Circle II: Parents and Children, Coalition of Muslim Women-Kitchener Waterloo, July 28, Aug. 4, Nov. 9, 2021.
- Co-organizer, Muslim Studies Annual Public Lectures with Ismaili Council for Ontario, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014.
Contact Info:
Office location: DAWB 5-116 (Dr. Alvin Woods Building, Waterloo Campus)
Languages spoken: Urdu