islamology

Islamology is an academic field devoted to the study of Islam as a religion, a historical civilization, and a social and political force. It analyzes doctrinal systems, legal traditions, mystical currents, and ethical frameworks, as well as the communities that practice Islam and the institutions that shape its public presence. The field engages with primary sources such as the Qur'an, Hadith literature, and classical legal writings, as well as modern interpretations, secular scholarship, and fieldwork. It also examines Islamic thought across geographic regions and historical periods, from early Islamic centuries to contemporary movements.

Scholars in Islamology employ interdisciplinary methods drawn from history, philology, theology, anthropology, sociology, political science, and art history. Topics include the formation of theological schools and legal doctrines, the development of Islamic law (fiqh and usul al-fiqh), Sufi traditions, and the diverse practices of Sunni, Shia, Ibadi, and other Muslim communities; as well as questions of reform, modernity, gender, secularism, and engagement with state power. The field also studies Islam's interaction with non-Muslim societies, global diasporas, and the media landscape.

Terminology varies: some use "Islamology" as a synonym for Islamic studies, while others treat it as a distinct emphasis on critical, historically informed analysis of Islam as a living tradition. Overall, Islamology aims to illuminate how Islamic beliefs, institutions, and cultures have shaped and continue to influence societies around the world, while maintaining scholarly objectivity, methodological rigor, and respect for religious communities.