Course Description
This course will explore the rich intellectual, spiritual, and artistic traditions that have shaped Islamic civilization from its origins to the modern world, highlighting the diverse cultures, ideas, and creative expressions that emerged across regions and centuries. In today’s interconnected and often polarized global landscape, this topic is especially important for Western audiences, as it provides historical context that counters stereotypes, fosters cultural literacy, and deepens understanding of a civilization that has profoundly influenced global science, philosophy, art, and politics. By engaging with Islam’s multifaceted history, learners gain tools to interpret current events with nuance, appreciate cultural diversity, and participate more thoughtfully in cross-cultural dialogue. In today’s Canada, Muslim communities are among the fastest-growing and most diverse populations, originating from South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and beyond.
Course Directors
Raheel Raza
Raheel Raza is President of The Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow, founding member of The Muslim Reform Movement, Director of Forum for Learning, President, Steering Committee of The Council for Muslims Against Antisemitism (CMAA), National Advisory Board of Abraham Global Peace Initiative, award winning journalist, interfaith discussion leader, public speaker, advocate for human rights, gender equality and dignity in diversity. She has taught courses on various aspects of Islam at George Brown College and Ryerson University (now TMU) in Toronto for the past five years.
Sohail Raza
Sohail Raza
Sohail Raza is a keen observer of politics in the Muslim world in general, and Pakistan in particular. Having travelled extensively throughout the Middle East, he lived in Baghdad, where he got his first taste of Middle East politics. His interest in geopolitics stems from his family’s prominence in military intelligence, diplomacy and bureaucracy in Pakistan. Sohail has appeared on mainstream media to comment on geopolitics and how this relates to the Canadian Muslim diaspora. He has taught courses in Politics and Islam at George Brown College and Ryerson College (TMU) in Toronto.
Term and Time
Fall 2026 – starting September 11
1:00 p.m. on Fridays
Room A002 in York Hall
Course Outline
Two weeks before the course starts, you can download a printable PDF giving the 10-week detailed course outline.
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Lecture Notes
Links to resources such as additional reading or play lists are provided here as the Course Director makes them available during term. Like the course outline, lecture notes open in a new browser tab so that you can download and print them.
Return to the list of Courses for 2026-2027 to check out another course.
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