The Islamic University of Rotterdam (Islamitische Universiteit Rotterdamis) is the newest university in the Netherlands. It is a member of the TRES, FUIW, FUMI and KENNISCENTRUM. The university, founded in 1997 by Muslim representatives of the Muslim community in the Netherlands, is a unique Islamic university. With its three faculties, over 5 departments and more than 10 (under)graduate programs, it enjoys an international reputation.

History

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The presence of Muslims and Islam in the Netherlands is a social and historical fact. Since the 1960s, Muslims have been allowed to establish mosques, foundations and organizations by virtue of Dutch law. In accordance with constitutional rights, Muslims have recently founded Islamic primary and secondary schools within a framework of financial support from the Dutch government and under laws organizing the educational system in the Netherlands. In 1997 the IUR was founded as a result of initiatives taken by Muslims living in the Netherlands. Since then the IUR has established itself as a Dutch University and more importantly as an intellectual contribution of Muslims to Dutch society. There has been general agreement among the founders as regard the IUR as a social necessity for Muslims and non-Muslims in Dutch society.

Objectives

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There are currently more than 900,000 Muslims living in the Netherlands. With a view to fulfilling the social and religious needs of Muslims, the University aims to make contributions with respect to imam and moral guide education for candidates whose starting point has been the Dutch school education. In the Netherlands most Muslims stem from an imigrant background. Consequently they are found in a disadvantageous situation in almost all the vital fields: education, labor, income, and health. Rather than acting simply as passive migrants, Dutch Muslims have expectations to act as responsible Dutch citizens of the Dutch community with their own rights and obligations. Through academic education and research the IUR aims to contribute to the realization of this maxim: "Live as a Muslim and as a responsible citizen of Dutch society." According to the 1997 prognosis of CBS, 10.8 % of the total population of the Netherlands will be Muslim in 2015. Additionally, there are around 430 Islamic foundations and organizations, the majority of which are mosques. Bearing such facts in mind, it is the mission of the IUR to make a contribution to Dutch multicultural society. Awareness of Islamic ideas regarding the relationship between human beings and the Creator must lead to a vision about the role of the human being in the universe and the community. As responsible citizens, Muslims will contribute constructively to Dutch society, respecting Dutch laws and the Dutch life style and social circumstances. The IUR aims to contribute to the diversity of academic education and research in the Netherlands, thereby having a positive effect on the development of multi-cultural and multi-religious Dutch community. It is considered that full integration will be one of the logical results of this synthesis. Taking account of the socio-economic and political situation of the mid-2000s, the IUR aims to make important contributions in Western countries. Significant among these is taking a lead role in bridging the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims. The IUR is a Dutch scientific institution attempting to deepen the knowledge of Islam in Muslim groups living in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, and to acquaint non-Muslims from Dutch and other origins with the religion and civilization of Islam. At a more global level the IUR is expected to play the role of a "civilization bridge" between the Islamic world and the West as a whole. Since Muslims and non-Muslims share concerns and interests, the IUR considers that, for more effective understanding and interaction, the majority society and non-Muslim minority communities need to know more about the Muslim community that exists and thrives in the heart of European societies - the reverse is also important. The raison d’être of the IUR lies particularly in developing and deepening European people’s understanding of the Islamic cultures and developing communication and knowledge, which will help feed co-operation between European countries and the Arab/ Muslim world.

Mission of the University

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• To promote learning from the perspective of Islamic tradition within the Netherlands, a modern society with growing cultural diversity.
• To distinguish itself as a university with a diverse, socially responsible learning community of high quality scholarship and academic rigor sustained by a faith that brings justice.
• To work for the achievement of harmony, dialogue and balance in life, production and reproduction of knowledge within an Islamic paradigm.
• To act as a leading model of an Islamic Science Institution based on the principles of integration of knowledge coupled with a comprehensive excellence for the progress of the Dutch as well as the Muslim communities.
• To embark on a never-ending quest for truth which emanates when both conscience and mind are brought together. Religion sciences are the light of the conscience and modern sciences are the light of the mind. At the IUR, students’ endeavour will be assited to take flight on the wings of conscience and intellect. In age of the third millennium the ruling power is the courage of belief, reason and science.

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