Haifaa Jawad

My main areas of research are the socio-political study of Islam, Modern and Contemporary Islamic thought, Women in Islam, inter-religious relations and Middle East politics. I have also personal interest in Islamic Spirituality and Ethics.

Broadly speaking, my research interests lie within Islamic studies and Middle Eastern politics and history; my research interests and writings cover areas such as the socio-political study of Islam, Modern and contemporary Islamic thought, Women in Islam, Feminism and Islam, Islam in Britain, especially New Muslims, Islam and the West, Islamism and Extremism, Islamic beliefs and practices, Islam and other religions, Euro-Arab relations, Middle Eastern politics and history, Muslims in Britain especially new Muslims. I also have special interests in Islamic spirituality and Ethics, and the perennial philosophy, especially the works of Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Apart from my academic works, I also contribute often to the media on contemporary Islamic and Middle Eastern issues.

Since 2000, I have been a member of the Department of Theology and Religion at Birmingham. From 2005-8, I was Visiting Lecturer at the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin, teaching a joint course on Christian-Muslim relations. In spring 2004, I was the American University of Beirut/Fulbright Commission Visiting Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at the University of Alabama. Since 2005, I have been running successful seminars in Islamic studies which bring prominent scholars to the University of Birmingham but also lead to extensive postgraduate involvement. Previously I held academic positions as Lecturer, Westhill College (1993-1999), Assistant Professor, New England College (American University) (1990-1993), Visiting Lecturer, Lancaster University (1997-1998), Postgraduate Teaching Assistant, Exeter University (1986), and Assistant Lecturer, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad (1980-1982).