About the Institute

In brief: About the Islamic Institute of Advanced Research in Phoenix, Arizona: an affiliated institute of Almadinah Islamic University for advanced Sunni Hanafi, Barelvi and Naqshbandi research.

IIAR is a postgraduate-level religious institute whose purpose is to let qualified students pursue serious research in Islamic and allied fields without leaving their work and families.

Who we are

The Institute is an affiliate of Almadinah Islamic University, U.S.A, itself a religious exempt institution in Arizona, and works under the umbrella of the religious non-profit Summit Theism Mission, U.S.A. Our address is 101 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003, USA.

What makes the Institute distinctive

• Source-based: the Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah and Seerah are the starting point of every specialisation.
• Tradition-rooted: Hanafi fiqh, the teachings of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan and the Mujaddidi Naqshbandi path give coherence and a living chain of scholarship.
• Research-led: awards are earned through a supervised dissertation rather than classroom hours.
• Inclusive of allied disciplines: students may also research world religions, metaphysics, leadership, administration and Islamic finance.
• Flexible: e-learning study with a written, asynchronous communication style.

Why we teach by e-learning

Although our physical location is in Phoenix, Arizona, we offer e-learning. The vast majority of our students are working adults, have families, or are studying other secular degree programmes, so we provide a flexible e-learning platform that lets them take up Islamic religious education or the Sufi path alongside their other commitments.

Our academic model

Our design draws on long-established Islamic teaching traditions, including the classical dars-i-nizami curriculum of South Asia and the research-degree structures used by reputable Islamic universities such as al-Azhar. Candidates are assessed chiefly by dissertation. Read the dissertation guide and see the degree programmes.