Muslim‐on‐Muslim Social Research: Knowledge, Power and Religio‐cultural Identities

Abstract

This paper provides a detailed discussion of the questions relating to the role of the researcher in relation to the researched when the researcher and the researched are both of Muslim origin. Issues relating to questions of objectivity, transparency, bias and interpretation are elaborated upon as part of the analysis of impacts and outcomes in relation to methodological process. It is argued that, ultimately, the subjective positions of researcher and researched are less important than the objective nature of the research process. The intention of this paper is to convey, to other Muslim and non‐Muslim social researchers engaged in research on Islam and Muslims, how to avoid or identify the range of risks and pitfalls that may emerge in operationalising and evaluating social research in a highly charged political, cultural and social research arena.

Keywords:

• British Muslims
• Islam
• Social Research
• Objectivity
• Subjectivity
• Epistemology
• Ontology