This domain studies Islam as a living civilisation: its intellectual traditions, legal reasoning, Sufi and philosophical heritage, and the institutions through which Muslim societies organise knowledge and authority. A particular strength is the Malay world and the Indian Ocean, where Aceh served for centuries as a gateway of scholarship, trade and spiritual networks.

Research connects classical sources with present questions: the place of sharia in plural legal systems, the future of Islamic higher education, the encounter between Islamic epistemology and artificial intelligence, and the comparative study of civilisations. The domain links to the School of Islamic Civilization and draws heavily on manuscripts, magazines and books in the KBA13 Academy archive.