“As countless student testimonials prove, by reaching out to each student individually, Virani is not satisfied to simply convey the subject matter. He makes the subject matter. More than that, he lets students know that they matter, he touches both their minds and their hearts.” 

– Professor Amy Mullin, Dean, University of Toronto

“As soon as Professor Virani walks into a room, you immediately feel yourself drawn to his aura. He is joyful, always smiling, always energized, and it is this atmosphere he brings to his classes and his teaching. He meets his students with such genuine interest and guardianship. I have never met a professor who has expressed such a profound care and compassion for his students, who not only wishes to meet them, but to know them, to understand them, and to fully embrace the depth of the teacher-student relationship…. He only made me want to excel even further, to fully engage in pushing the boundaries of my abilities and to press forth in achievement.” 

– Sameen Affaf, Undergraduate Student 

“Dr. Virani’s unparalleled enthusiasm and innovation in teaching are among the most resounding characteristics that distinguish him within the university faculty. His expertise in Islamic history and thought is enriched with a vast knowledge of South Asian languages and cultures as well as Persian and Arabic literature…. I found Dr. Virani to be immensely supportive and caring as a supervisor. His reviews of my thesis drafts over the past year have been thorough and meticulous, yet his razor-sharp insights are always communicated in an encouraging manner that motivates me to strive to think more critically and develop my analysis further” 

– Shanifa Nasser, Doctoral Student 

“I was amazed to see a number of people attending his class, who were not even enrolled…but attended just to listen to his lectures” 

– Ifrah Iqbal, Undergraduate Student 

“I used to think I was a good teacher. I’m not. Shafique demonstrates what a great teacher is.” 

– Anonymous evaluation, THE 500: Teaching in Higher Education, offered to early-career academics

“There’s no doubt that he’s an amazingly talented teacher that’s dedicated enough to be eager and excited to put his own life on hold to help his students. I can’t say enough about him…. He’s just perfect” 

–Neeraj Gupta, Undergraduate Student

“Professor Shafique Virani is an exemplary teacher and role model. He is a true scholar with strong background knowledge in religious and Islamic studies and has a vast knowledge of Islamic philosophy, literature, mysticism and other disciplines. His approach to religion is polymethodic as he engages various disciplines ranging from anthropology to philosophy in his teachings about religious concepts and practices. His knowledge of religious studies theories is vast, which he uses in the context of Islamic studies.” 

–Shaftolu Gulamadov, Doctoral Student