Professor of Islamic Studies 

Shafique N. Virani 

About Professor Virani

Professor Shafique Virani is an award-winning author and internationally recognized public speaker who has addressed people from over 50 countries and audiences of over 15,000. He has served on the faculty at Harvard, Zayed and the University of Toronto, including in senior leadership positions, and his research has received many international awards. An avid volunteer around the world, he has consulted for Cirque du Soleil, the History Channel, Lord Cultural Resources, Google, and numerous governmental and other organizations. Describing him as “a visionary,” the United Nations honored him for dedicating his efforts “to the cause of extending the frontiers of knowledge and the welfare of humankind.”

“An ideal balance of yin and yang, Shafique is the epitome of the scholar-teacher. An internationally recognized academic, he has received prestigious global awards for his scholarship, earned millions of dollars in peer-reviewed grants, been honored by UNESCO, and received accolades from presidents and prime ministers.”

05Professor Deep Saini, President, Dalhousie University

“Professor Virani’s contributions as a scholar and a teacher, and the humanitarian educational work he does worldwide serve as an inspiration for all who are fortunate to interact with him and set an impressive example for a life committed to promoting human rights, action against discrimination, and cultivating values of equity and diversity.”

05Professor Sarianna Metso, University of Toronto

“He is a recognized global leader in education, who has transformed the learning experiences of students, the teaching practices of colleagues, and the pedagogical structures of institutions.”

05Professor Amy Mullin, Dean, University of Toronto

“Professor Virani’s contributions as a scholar and a teacher, and the humanitarian educational work he does worldwide serve as an inspiration for all who are fortunate to interact with him and set an impressive example for a life committed to promoting human rights, action against discrimination, and cultivating values of equity and diversity.”

05Professor Gage Averill, Dean, University of British Columbia

“Shafique Virani’s insights into Islamic history, religious persecution and spiritual survival provide an understanding that could build a road to tolerance. His inspired teaching and writing may be more relevant today than ever.”

05University of Toronto, Twenty-six Professors Who Lead the World

Research

The title of “Distinguished Professor,” awarded to less than 3% of faculty members, was bestowed on Professor Virani for his research on Sufism, Ithna-‘ashari and Ismaili Shiism, Quranic studies, Islamic history and philosophy, and Muslim literatures in Arabic, Persian and South Asian languages. His publications include books, a documentary film, multimedia productions, a registered invention, a proposal to the Unicode Consortium, entries in the Encyclopaedia of Islam and the Encyclopaedia of Religion and numerous peer reviewed articles. This research has been translated into over 20 languages, and has received awards and recognition from the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Middle East Studies Association, the Foundation for Iranian Studies, Farabi International, the British Society for Middle East Studies, and two Iranian presidents. He has received over six million dollars in monetary awards and grants, including competitive research awards, pedagogical grants, collaborative grants, and others.

Mentorship

These Professors Made a Lasting Impression proclaims a headline of The Chronicle of Higher Education. The front page features a photograph of Professor Virani, surrounded by scores of exuberant students. In its University Report, The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, singled him out as one of the main attractions for students to attend the University of Toronto.  Beyond his classes, Professor Virani offers numerous mentorship opportunities for postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate and graduate students. 

Features

Professor Virani has served in governorship roles of major international organizations in North America, Africa and the Middle East, both professionally and in a volunteer capacity.  He was the founding director of the Centre for South Asian Civilizations at the University of Toronto and has partnered with donors to raise several million dollars in cash and kind, including the campus’ largest gift in the humanities. As a consultant for government agencies, educational institutions, filmmakers, television shows, cultural heritage organizations and others, he has sought to promote creative solutions to foster the values of pluralism, diversity and the cosmopolitan ethic. The features slides below highlight a few of these endeavors.

Islamophobia and the Clash of Ignorance

With shocking evidence, hilarious anecdotes, heart-wrenching personal stories, and brilliant insights into world events, Professor Shafique Virani urges us to confront the Clash of Ignorance between the West and the Muslim World, replacing walls of misinformation with bridges of understanding. Appealing to the best in human nature, Dr. Virani presents a visionary path forward, and inspires hope for a better future. This must watch TEDx talk is one of the most translated TEDx talks ever.

 

A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation

“None of that people should be spared, not even the babe in its cradle.” With these chilling words, the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan declared his intention to destroy the Ismailis, one of the most intellectually and politically significant Muslim communities of medieval Islamdom. The massacres that followed convinced observers that this powerful voice of Shi‘i Islam had been forever silenced. Little was heard of these people for centuries, until their recent and dramatic emergence from obscurity. Today they exist as a dynamic and thriving community spread throughout the world. Yet, the interval between what appeared to have been their total annihilation, and their modern, seemingly phoenix-like renaissance, has remained shrouded in mystery. This riveting account explains how the esoteric doctrines of the community helped it to survive its near destruction. 

 

The Virani Dream Team: Innovation, Teaching and Research

This film is about what is believed to be Canada’s largest humanities research group – “The Virani Dream Team.” It demonstrates the power of combining teaching and research to give students the skills they need to address some of humankind’s greatest challenges. Produced by Ben Lewis and directed by Alexander Lisman, the feature highlights the superior and innovative teaching practices of Shafique N. Virani, Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto, and winner of an Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Teaching Award.most translated TEDx talks ever.

 

History Erased: The World Without India

India, the cradle of civilization, has shaped the world we know today in countless ways. For millennia India has been the birthplace of innovation and life changing advancements in culture, science, math, technology, religion and philosophy. To celebrate the great achievements of India, Professor Shafique Virani and other experts try to imagine a world where these are all stripped away. In this teaser to the full documentary produced for the History Channel, we discover that not only would the world lose its flavour, it simply wouldn’t function.

 

Museum Weapons of Mass Instruction: Fighting Islamophobia with Education | CBC ViewPoints

The Aga Khan Museum provides visitors with a window into the artistic, intellectual, and scientific contributions of Muslim civilizations to world heritage. In this CBC interview with Matt Galloway on “Metro Morning,” Professor Shafique Virani speaks about what this unique museum means to Toronto and to Canada. Interestingly, Dr. Virani later played the role of an academic in the Hollywood science fiction comedy Downsizing, partially filmed at the Museum. The film was directed by Alexander Payne and starred Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau and Kristen Wiig.

 

Aga Khan Museum

The Aga Khan Museum provides visitors with a window into the artistic, intellectual, and scientific contributions of Muslim civilizations to world heritage. In this CBC interview with Matt Galloway on “Metro Morning,” Professor Shafique Virani speaks about what this unique museum means to Toronto and to Canada. Interestingly, Dr. Virani later played the role of an academic in the Hollywood science fiction comedy Downsizing, partially filmed at the Museum. The film was directed by Alexander Payne and starred Matt DamonChristoph WaltzHong Chau and Kristen Wiig.