As a student, am I obligated to conduct research on "contemporary fundamentalism" despite my fear of relying on sources that might unjustly malign individuals who have served Islam?

The concept of fundamentalism among Muslims differs from that among Westerners. If you do not possess sufficient knowledge of your research topic to distinguish truth from falsehood, your research may carry risks: such as oppressing those you write about, which is forbidden; the possibility of lying in transmitting information; and embarking on writing about what you do not know. Therefore, if you are able to rely on reliable sources and trustworthy knowledge, then your research is acceptable; otherwise, it is better for you to abandon it.