Islamic Chaplaincy in North America: The State of the Field

Abstract

This article surveys the state of research on Islamic chaplaincy in North America. These studies analyze the development of the profession in light of the unique spiritual, emotional, and socio‐political challenges faced by Muslims in the U.S. and Canada. Despite its novelty, this field of research spans multiple academic disciplines, including religious studies, sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, and theology. An examination of existing scholarship on Islamic chaplaincy highlights several recurrent topics of inquiry, including the roles and responsibilities of Muslim chaplains, professionalization of Islamic chaplaincy, the negotiation of Muslim women's authority, and Islamic spiritual care as a theology of engagement.