Overview
Whilst studying for my PhD in Religious Studies at University of Lancaster, I worked as Research Fellow at the Islamic Foundation, Leicester. After completing my studies I went on to teach Islamic Studies at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education and Lancaster University.
Thereafter, I taught at the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, Cardiff University, before taking up my post at the University of Chester where I am currently Honorary Research Fellow, Director of the Centre for Applied Muslim Youth and Community Studies (CAMYCS) and, Islamic Studies lecturer. I am also an Executive Member of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS) (UK). My developed research interests are historical and contemporary issues relating to Islam in Britain and Muslim communities in Britain and the west.
Teaching
I currently teach on the BA Religious Studies Programme in addition to supervising Dissertation and postgraduate research students.
My teaching modules largely focus on both Islamic hermeneutics and contemporary issues in Islam with the aim of helping students understand the theological and sociological developments in Muslim thought. My taught subjects include; ‘Muslims Studies’, ‘Muslim Community Studies’, ‘Encountering Religions: Hinduism & Islam’, ‘Islam: Religion & Philosophy’, and, ‘Minority Faith Communities in Europe.’
Research
My research engages with pressing questions for individuals and communities in Britain and the rest of contemporary Europe. My research interests explore both historical and contemporary questions around what the political, social, legal and religious issues are by being both Muslim and British. What are the dynamics of ‘loyalty' and ‘belonging' for British and European Muslims? What are the different strategies of assimilation, acculturation, integration and segregation?
How far is religious identity constructed by ‘difference' or ‘resistance'? To examine these important issues through research publications and projects the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, has established the Centre of Applied Muslim Youth and Community Studies (CAMYCS) with the specific aim of advancing scholarship and public awareness of Muslim youth and communities in Britain, Europe and internationally by initiating and engaging in high quality teaching, learning and research activities that will impact locally, nationally and internationally.
Published work
Books - Monographs
2003 British Muslims: Loyalty and Belonging, (edited, with Dilwar Hussain and Nadeem Malik), Leicester, The Islamic Foundation and Citizen Organising Foundation.
2004 British Muslims Between Assimilation and Segregation, (with, Dilwar Hussian and Nadeem Malik), Markfield, The Islamic Foundation.
2009 The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Islam (with Raana Bokhari), London, Lorenz Books for Anness Publishing Ltd.
2011 Muslim Youth: Challenges, Opportunities & Expectations. Edited volume of Conference papers, London.
Books - Edited
2009 ‘Global Citizenry Ancient and Modern: British Yemenis and Translocal Tribalism, in, in Krause W. (ed.), Citizenship, Security and Democracy: Muslim Engagement in the West, (London: AMSS & SETA).
2009 ‘Reclaiming the Turk's Head: Deconstructing the Theo-politics of Islamophobia' in Sayyid, B. and Vakil, A.K., (eds.) Thinking thru' Islamophobia. Leeds: Centre for the Study of Ethnicity & Racism and Ashgate.
2009 (expected) ‘Constructing Identities of ‘Difference' and ‘Resistance': The Politics of Being Yemeni, Muslim and British', in, Allen, Chris (Ed.), Muslim Diversities: Communities and Contexts, Aldershot, Ashgate Publishing.
2010 (expected) ‘Negotiating Negation: Christians and Muslims making a space for the religious ‘other' in British society' in Hannah Bacon and Wayne Morris (Eds.). Theology, Religion and Exclusion: Towards Transformation. Contract under discussion with Continuum. Edited collection on the theme of theology, religion and exclusion including chapters written by members of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.
Journal Articles
2008 ‘Muslim Minorities under Christian Rule: A Comparative Study of 7th Century Abyssinia and Modern Britain', The Crucible, The Christian Journal of Social Ethics.
2010 (expected) ‘Constructing Identities of ‘Difference' and ‘Resistance': The Politics of Being Muslim and British', Social Semiotics Journal.
Invited Conference Papers
2009 ‘The Morrocan Cotton Traders of Manchester 1830-1930', at, Morocco and Britain: Shared History, Heritage and Future, 16th and 17th October 2009, Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc, Rabat, Morocco.
2008 ‘Reclaiming the Turk's Head: Deconstructing the Theo-politics of Islamophobia', at Thinking Thru' Islamophobia Symposium, Centre of Ethnicity and Racism Studies, University of Leeds.
2007 ‘Beyond Postcoloniality and Ummatic Universalism: Western Muslims and Minority Islam', at The Politics of islam(ism), AMSS Annual Conference, University of Westminster, London.
