Islam in the Contemporary West

Specialisation of: Theology and Religious Studies
Degree: MA in Theology and Religious Studies
Mode of Study: Full-time, part-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60824
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In the Islam in the Contemporary West specialisation, you will be focusing on the interaction between Muslims and Islam within a minority situation in the West, and the reactions it provokes in the Western societies. You will be studying these relations from different perspectives: legal, political, theological and cultural anthropological. You will be guided in your studies by a teaching staff with extensive knowledge of this subject, both theoretical and practical.


You will for instance be given the opportunity to investigate the increasing orthodoxy among Muslims, including the development of a new branch of Islamic jurisprudence, the fiqh al-aqalliyyât. In the social and political area, you will be studying the degree of organisation of Muslims, as well as the forming of an ‘Islamic’ identity. You will also be considering the legal aspects, such as how Muslims are increasingly trying to find a way to apply parts of the Sharia, for instance the prohibition on the levying of interest and marriage law.

With effect from September 2012, you can also take subjects in the area of Islamic Theology within this specialisation.

You will be expected to participate not only in the study of the features of Islam as a living religion within the Western secular context in a general sense, but also to concentrate more specifically on the position of Muslims and the development of Islam within a particular geographical area.


In order to study the Western response to these new phenomena, a number of regions have been selected: North America, Western Europe and South-East Europe. Each of these regions has reacted to Islam in a different way, both in terms of legal structures (the relationship between state and religion) and politically and culturally. For instance, some countries allow Islamic family law courts, while others absolutely forbid them; in the same way, there are major differences regarding the attitude to the veil and minarets, and regarding the policy of integration and radicalisation.


If you are interested in a more philological or theological approach towards Islam in Europe, you might opt for admission to the Islamic Theology programme. Another related programme is the Islamic Studies programme .

Prof. Maurits Berger

Maurits Berger

“The image of Islam in the contemporary Western world has become grossly distorted.”

“I have noticed that there is a keen interest in the Muslim world for issues of Islam in the contemporary Western world. The cartoons in Denmark, banning of the headscarf in public places in France, anti-Muslim films in the Netherlands, Islamic schools, and discrimination based on religion – these have all made the headlines in the Muslim world.

In my opinion, however, the image of Islam in the contemporary Western world has become grossly distorted. I often find myself explaining that one needs to first understand the context of Western societies in order to get a view of what role Islam is playing.

And vice versa, of course, for the dialectic between ‘Islam’ and the ‘West’ has effects both ways: Muslims react to how they feel treated by the societies they live in, and their fellow citizens and societies react to the changes and threats they perceive are being created by Muslims.

This interaction is what we study in our master’s programme, which combines a unique set of topics and approaches that deal with these issues. The angles we take are theological, empirical, political, legal and anthropological. For both students and professors this is an academic and intellectual challenge.

We therefore aim at the top level of ambitious (inter)national students who have a good command of English and preferably also Arabic.”