Official Launch of the Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies

We are delighted to announce the official launch of the Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies—a non-partisan academic institution dedicated to the rigorous and expansive study of the Islamic intellectual tradition. Guided by a team of internationally renowned scholars, the Institute embraces a holistic and integrative approach to Islamic studies, engaging deeply with philosophy, mysticism, rational theology, science, logic, art, and literature.

Among the Institute’s many exciting initiatives are its grants and academic prizes, as well as its live, synchronous courses taught by leading figures in the field, including Professors Seyyed Hossein Nasr, William Chittick, and Oludamini Ogunnaike. 

The Institute will also inaugurate its Fall Online Lecture Series, featuring talks by prominent scholars such as Professors Asma Afsaruddin, Peter Adamson, and Carl Ernst.

We are also proud to announce three major scholarly publishing projects:

 Islamic Intellectual Traditions, a Diamond Open Access journal published in partnership with Brill.
 Studies in Islamic Thought, a Diamond Open Access book series published in partnership with Brill.
 The Tokat Library of Islamic Classics, a translation series published by Fons Vitae

These endeavors reflect the Institute’s commitment to fostering academic excellence in every domain pertaining to the study of Islam’s rich intellectual and spiritual heritage.

We also are proud to annouce the following prize competitions:

The Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies is pleased to announce its inaugural Book Completion Grant. Authors who are in the process of completing original, English-language research monographs on any aspect of Islamic thought are strongly encouraged to apply by sending (1) a CV, (2) a 400-word description of their book along with a tentative table of contents, and (3) a polished sample chapter from the work to the Institute’s Executive Director Professor Mohammed Rustom (mrustom@iaisglobal.org) by no later than September 1, 2025. Files will be evaluated by a committee of senior scholars in Islamic Studies and the winning entry will be awarded a cash prize of $3000. It is a condition for acceptance of the award that the book manuscript be completed by no later than December 1, 2025, and that the author submit their completed monograph to Brill’s new Studies in Islamic Thought book series for publication, pending successful peer review.

The Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies is pleased to announce its inaugural PhD Dissertation Award competition. Students who have completed English-language dissertations in any field of Islamic Studies in or after 2024 are eligible to apply. Authors must submit their theses, along with letters of nomination from their dissertation advisors, via email to the Institute’s Director of Research Professor Cyrus Zargar (czargar@iaisglobal.org) by no later than January 1, 2026. Theses will be evaluated by a committee of senior scholars in Islamic Studies and the winning entry will be awarded a cash prize of $1000.

The Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies is pleased to announce its inaugural Article Prize competition. Authors are encouraged to submit original, English-language research articles on any aspect of Islamic thought to the Institute’s Director of Research Professor Cyrus Zargar (czargar@iaisglobal.org) by no later than September 1, 2025. Articles will be evaluated by a committee of senior scholars in Islamic Studies and the winning entry will be awarded a cash prize of $500. It is a condition for acceptance of the award that the author will submit their article to Brill’s new journal Islamic Intellectual Traditions for publication, pending successful peer review.

For more information, see tokatinstitute.org

The Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies is a non-partisan academic body that is characterized by a broad and robust approach to Islamic Studies. Led by an internationally renowned team of specialists, it draws from the best traditions of scholarship in Islamic thought, taking in fields as diverse and interconnected as philosophy, mysticism, rational theology, science, logic, art, and literature. We are committed to fostering academic excellence in every domain pertaining to the study of Islam’s rich intellectual and spiritual heritage and are guided by a global perspective on education and learning that seeks to overcome barriers of time and space. This open-border concept ensures the delivery of high-quality lectures and courses in Islamic thought by the world’s leading scholars who combine traditional and modern pedagogical methods. The TIAIS is also dedicated to the dissemination of original and relevant research in Islamic Studies through the support of academic publications, themed conferences, book completion grants, article prizes, dissertation awards, and writing stipends.

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