Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Shabana Mir, Associate Professor of Anthropology | Director of Undergraduate Studies at AIC
AIC BULLETIN
AIC FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. SHABANA MIR
Dr. Shabana Mir’s fall courses on Islam & Gender, Cultural Anthropology, and Research Methods all relate to her extensive travels. Over the winter break, for example, she traveled to Pakistan, where she spoke at Lahore College for Women University on “The Religious Politics of Domination and Control in Marriage: Qualitative and Textual Analysis.” Reflecting now on the subsequent audience discussion she remarks, “Things are changing. Women (in Pakistan) are essential members of the economy and are in touch with the global discourse.” Women’s disempowerment is still a cultural issue, but she finds hope in the younger generation of men, such as those who choose to shut down jokes about polygamy.
Dr. Shabana Mir at Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, December 2024.
Her spring courses at AIC couldn’t be more timely in the light of current events in the United States. They include, Introduction to Political Science, Islam in America, and, at the graduate level, Special Topics: Islam in World Cinema. The film course focuses on the representation of Islam and Muslims in popular media. While we are well aware of overt Islamophobic patterns in Hollywood, Dr. Mir points out that seemingly benign Islamophilic films can be subversive as well. She gives the example of Victoria and Abdul (2017), the British biographical historical film in which Abdul, a Muslim from India, piques Queen Victoria’s interest. As Dr. Mir points out, however fondly the Queen regards Abdul, his place is always that of a servant. In addition to the lineup of movies on the Muslim experience she selects for the class, Dr. Mir solicits suggestions from the students at the beginning of the term for possible inclusion in the syllabus. When it comes to teaching political science and Islam in America, she goes beyond the textbook approach to bring in critical readings to understand not just the theory, but the reality on the ground. She invites leaders of non-profit organizations , such as Muslims for Just Futures and CAIR, to talk to the class about their grassroots work to combat Islamophobia.
One of the first things you learn about Dr. Shabana Mir is her care and concern for students. Her keen observation picks up when a student is struggling, or when they’re having that lightbulb moment. When asked what activity makes her lose track of time, she replies instantly, “Gardening. I can work 10 hours in the garden and still feel energized.” She loves the coneflowers and cupped roses, yet when she describes them you get the sense she could be talking about her students. “When you’re a gardener, you notice, ‘that plant has a new leaf today’ - it’s so exciting.”
Dr Shabana Mir in her happy place, the garden.
MUHAMMAD ALI DAY 1/17
Honoring the legacy of Muhammad Ali – a champion in the ring and a relentless advocate for justice, peace, and equality. His courage transcended sports as he fought for civil rights, refused to fight in unjust wars, and stood for love and unity. A true hero, inside and out.
ACADEMIC LECTURE FORUM
Tuesday, January 28th @6pm CST
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM Light Reception | 6:30 PM Talk CST
Venue: American Islamic College
Registration:
Free, in-person. Registration required.
Speaker: Yousef Casewit
Associate Professor of Qur’anic Studies; University of Chicago, Divinity School
Professor Casewit is a Qur’anic studies scholar. His research interests include intellectual history of North Africa and al-Andalus, Muslim perceptions of the Bible, and medieval commentaries on the ninety nine divine names.
He has several publications, most recently The Mystics of al-Andalus: Ibn Barrajān and Islamic Thought in the Twelfth Century (Cambridge University Press, 2017), a study on Ibn Barrajan’s life and teachings. He is also the author of a critical edition of a Qur’an commentary by Ibn Barrajan (Brill, TSQ Series, 2016).
Prior to joining the Divinity School, Professor Casewit was a Humanities Research Fellow at New York University Abu Dhabi, and an Assistant Professor of Arabic Intellectual Heritage and Culture at the American University of Sharjah. He completed his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Islamic Studies at Yale University’s Religious Studies Department.
Current projects include a translation and critical edition of a Sufi-Philosophical commentary on the divine names by the Algerian scholar ‘Afif al-Din al-Tilimsani (d. 1291) for the Library of Arabic Literature, NYU Press.
Born in Egypt and raised in Morocco, he is fluent in Arabic, French and Spanish. Yousef has traveled throughout the Islamic world, and has studied with Muslim scholars in Morocco, Syria, and Mauritania.
OUR VISION
Welcoming students of all faiths and backgrounds, American Islamic College (AIC) is a Chicago-based institution of higher learning grounded in Islamic values and steeped in Islam’s rich and diverse intellectual and cultural traditions. AIC promotes appreciation for the scope and richness of Islamic history and civilization both in and beyond the classroom by means of significant research, impactful teaching, and informative public events highlighting Islam’s intellectual, artistic, and cultural expressions. Through rigorous scholarship and a commitment to social justice, the collective good, civic involvement, interfaith understanding, and intercultural engagement, AIC prepares students to become critical thinkers, visionary leaders,
and responsible global citizens.
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