Islamic Studies Library, McGill University

10/14/2026

Morrice Hall in the Fall. Happy reading week!

09/28/2026

You have been asking for this: as of today we are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thanks to SSMU generous support!

09/14/2026

Thursday, 24 September
8:30-9:30am (Pacific) / 11:30am-12:30pm (Eastern)

Register to attend online at tinyurl.com/4fa52w7u

Palestinian Literature and Translation: Past and Present

Join us for this online event hosted by the MELA Working Group on Palestine. A series of presentations and a panel discussion featuring Dr. Refqa Abu-Remaileh, Dr. Dima Ayoub, and Dr. Michelle Hartman will explore Palestinian Literature and Translation: Past and Present. The event will offer an opportunity to learn from leading scholars, explore the history and contemporary landscape of Palestinian literature and translation, and engage in thoughtful discussion.

09/14/2026

Dr. Sabeena Shaikh, who received her PhD at the Institute of Islamic Studies this summer, is the new Lecturer in Hindi-Urdu and South Asian Studies at Australian National University in Canberra! Her position is in ANU's School of Culture History and Language, within the College of Asia and the Pacific, and her famous canine Cilantro (Cilly) has accompanied her down under.

Sabeena is enjoying life in the "Bush Capital" of Australia, where locals call the city "Australia's best kept secret." At the Australian National University she teaches all levels of Hindi, and is in the process of creating the dual Hindi-Urdu program along with new courses for the South Asian Studies Major. Her colleagues are diverse and international, which means that everyone supports one another and acts as extended family members, sharing food and languages through the corridors. Surrounded by mountains and bush walks, she enjoys taking an afternoon stroll through the many nature reserves and green spaces where Cilly runs with the kangaroos and watches all forms of wildlife. In the evenings, there are loads of cultural exhibits, free museums, and some world class restaurants to keep one occupied. She is excited to welcome students and to host academics from McGill, since we already have an exchange agreement!

You can follow Dr. Shaikh's work at https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/sabeena-shaikh/

Dreams really do come true. Mubārak ho, Sabeena! Mubārakbād Cilly!

09/12/2026

From McGill Rare Books, an example of kara-lamah: calligraphic practice in the naskh and thuluth styles by Ya‘qut al-Musta‘sami. Arabic Calligraphy 24. In Turkish, kara-lamah means "black writing." Repeatedly writing phrases like "the Prophet said" ("qāla al-nabī"), the calligrapher practiced writing, and tried out various nibs on their qalam (reed pen).

09/12/2026

Congratulations to IIS PhD candidate Jaleh Ebrahimi, who has won a Margaret Gillett Graduate Research award for her work in Gender and Women's Studies! Behet eftekhār mikonim, Jaleh! The research award will aid Jaleh as she completes her research on storytelling (naqqāli) and education in Iranian history.

Did you know that the Institute of Islamic Studies' graduate programs include a Gender and Women's Studies Concentration? The Gillett award is open to graduate students, in any McGill department, who are conducting research in Gender and Women's Studies. granted by the Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, in honour of Dr. Margaret Gillett, Macdonald Professor of Education at McGill University (retired), who initiated the Women's Studies program at McGill. A big thanks from the IIS to the IGSF for supporting Jaleh's research.

09/10/2026

As of this week, you can visit us on Sundays!

09/08/2026