BA/LLB, MA, PhD Dr Mahsheed Ansari is the Higher Degrees Research Coordinator and Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University. She holds a double degree in Law and Arts from Western Sydney University, a Master of Arts in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Sydney, and a PhD in Historical and Islamic Studies from Monash University. Dr Ansari’s research specialises in Islamic intellectual history, theology, philosophy, and ethics, with a particular focus on modern engagements with classical Islamic thought. Her monograph, Modern Debates on Prophecy and Prophethood in Islam: Muhammad Iqbal and Said Nursi (Routledge, 2023), provides a critical analysis of modern interpretations of prophethood and contributes to broader discussions on religion and modernity. Her current research extends to the historical and cultural presence of Islam in Australia. She leads the Muslims in Australia heritage project, which documents and preserves the experiences and contributions of Muslim communities, particularly in the post-World War II period. She is also undertaking research on the pioneering initiatives of Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, examining his contributions to the institutional development of Islam in Australia. Dr Ansari has a long-standing commitment to community engagement, contributing to interfaith dialogue, social cohesion initiatives, and leadership and mentoring programs for Muslim women and youth. She regularly contributes to public scholarship and media, appearing on ABC Radio programs such as Soul Search and God Forbid, as well as international platforms including Blogging Theology and other global podcasts across diverse linguistic audiences. Dr Mahsheed Ansari teaches across a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate units in Islamic Studies and Contemporary Islam. Her teaching focuses on Islamic thought, spirituality, ethics (akhlaq), and the lived experience of Muslims in Western contexts, with expertise in the history and presence of Muslims in Australia. She is committed to student-centred, reflective learning that integrates classical Islamic scholarship with contemporary issues. Dr Ansari has contributed to innovative online teaching practices, and, together with her colleagues at CISAC, was awarded a Faculty of Arts and Education Teaching Award for excellence in curriculum design and delivery. Her current teaching includes spirituality, virtue ethics, and guided research supervision. Dr Mahsheed Ansari’s research is situated within Islamic intellectual history, with particular strengths in theology, philosophy, and ethics, and their intersections in modern Muslim thought. Her scholarship critically engages with questions of religious authority, prophethood, and the reinterpretation of classical concepts in contemporary contexts. Her monograph, Modern Debates on Prophecy and Prophethood in Islam: Muhammad Iqbal and Said Nursi (Routledge, 2023), makes a significant contribution to the field by advancing scholarly understanding of modern Islamic theology and its engagement with modernity. A key area of her current research focuses on Islam and Muslims in Australia, contributing to the growing field of Australian Islamic studies. She leads a heritage-focused research initiative documenting the oral histories of Muslim pioneers, as well as broader patterns of migration, settlement, and community formation. This work has strong national significance, contributing to cultural preservation, public scholarship, and interdisciplinary research in history, religion, and sociology. Dr Ansari welcomes Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates in areas including Islamic intellectual history; Islamic theology and philosophy; ethics and spirituality (akhlaq and tasawwuf); modern Muslim thought; Islam in Australia; religion and society; and qualitative and oral history research methodologies. Australian Muslim Heritage Project Institutional Development of Islam in Australia: The Legacy of Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad Dr Mahsheed Ansari coordinates Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) at CISAC and serves as a Principal Supervisor and Co-Supervisor for PhD and Masters by Research candidates. She supervises students across her areas of expertise. She is currently the supervisor of the following research topics: Ghada Ghazal, Naẓm al-Qur’ān and the Hermeneutics of Sūrah Structure: A Comparative Study of Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī and Michel Cuypers,(PhD) (Principal Supervisor). Hafidh Al-Rawahy, Reconciling Theological Exclusivity with Ethical Pluralism in Islam: A Maqasid Approach, (PhD) (Principal Supervisor). Renee Taylor, Lived Faith and Resilience: Islamic Religious Practice, Intergenerational Growth, and Community Flourishing in Australia, (PhD) (Principal Supervisor). Zahida Quashem, 7th century Arabian Peninsula: Analysis of the transformational leadership of Prophet Muhammad, (PhD) (Co Supervisor). Sawsan Zadeh, What is the experience of islamophobia in relation to Muslim health care workers contact with their patience? (PhD) (Co Supervisor). Khalid Muhieddine, Bridging the Metaphysical and the Legislative: How Islamic Spiritual Frameworks Can Inform Contemporary DEI Frameworks Can Inform A Holistic Practice, (PhD) (Co Supervisor). Graduated: Carol Mroue, “Trauma of Domestic Violence and an Islamic Perspective on Healing: A Case Study of Australian Muslim Victim-Survivors” (PhD) ( Principal Supervisor). Mukesh Chander, Citizenship, Alienation, and The Stripping of Citizenship From Mujahideen: A Constitutional Justification. (PhD) (Co Supervisor). Mariam Hadaya, Faith, Identity, and Empowerment: Applying Prophetic Strategies to Contemporary Muslim Youth in Australia, MA Dissertation, (Principal Supervisor). Previously Co-supervising topics: Investigating the implementation and efficacy of online Special Religious Education class intervention: Case study of Islamic scripture classes (PhD) Dr Mahsheed Ansari is actively engaged in professional, academic, and community service, working alongside a range of institutions and organisations in Australia and internationally. Her contributions span scholarship, interfaith engagement, and public discourse, with a strong commitment to social cohesion and community development. She regularly contributes to media and public conversations on Islam, ethics, and contemporary issues, including appearances on ABC Radio programs such as God Forbid and Soul Search, as well as international platforms like Blogging Theology. Dr Ansari is a member of several national and international scholarly associations and professional networks, reflecting her ongoing engagement in research, collaboration, and public scholarship. Member/Author, Australian Journal of Islamic Studies [AJIS]
Teaching and Research Staff3893130
Dr Mahsheed Ansari
HDR Coordinator and Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies
Subjects Taught:
Currently Teaching:
Research Areas
Current Research Projects
Dr Mahsheed Ansari leads the Australian Muslim Heritage Project, which documents and analyses the historical and cultural contributions of Muslim communities in Australia. The project focuses on post-World War II migration, settlement, and community formation, using oral history methodologies to preserve lived experiences and intergenerational narratives.
As Chief Investigator, Dr Ansari is examining the role of Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad in shaping the institutional foundations of Islam in Australia, with a focus on leadership, organisational development, and community-building initiatives.HDR Supervision
Transnational Islamic Movements in America (PhD)Research Grants
Professional Membership and achievements:
Member, Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies [AAIMS]
Member/Author, Australian Association for the Study of Religions [AASR]
Member, Muslim Network of Academics & Researchers (MNARA)
Member, Oral History of NSW & Oral History Australia Network
Member, Australian Centre for Public History [ACPH]
Member, American Academy of Religion [AAR]
Board Director, Amity College Australia Limited
Member, Islamic Sciences & Research Academy [ISRA]