Arif Abdullah

Arif Abdullah is a Lecturer in the Department of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Studies at New Bulgarian University since 2016. He also serves as Director of the Research Center at the Sofia Islamic Institute since 2013 and has been a Visiting Scholar at Temple University (Philadelphia, USA) since 2018. Previously, he worked as an Honorary Lecturer at Al Maktoum College of Higher Education (UK) during 2012-2013.

• University: New Bulgarian University
• Department: Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Studies
• Academic Rank: Lecturer
• Visiting Affiliation: Temple University (2018-present)
• Directorship: Sofia Islamic Institute Research Center (2013-present)

Education

• PhD in Arabic Studies, University of Aberdeen (UK, 2009-2013)
• MA in Quranic Sciences, University of Jordan (2002-2005)
• BA in Arabic Language & Islamic Theology, Zarqa University (Jordan, 1998-2001)

Research Focus

Dr. Abdullah's research spans Quranic hermeneutics, Islamic legal theory, and interfaith relations. His work examines religious pluralism in Islamic scripture, translation challenges of religious terminology, and the ethical frameworks derived from Quranic/Sunna analysis. Recent publications emphasize contextual interpretation of Islamic law and its universal applicability.

Publication Trends

His scholarly output (2014-2017) focuses on Quranic ethics, interfaith dialogue, and Islamic legal adaptability. Key themes include forgiveness jurisprudence, humanistic Quran pedagogy, and cross-cultural translation of religious concepts. Collaborative works with non-Muslim scholars like John Wansbrough and Angelika Neuwirth demonstrate his commitment to pluralistic scholarship.

Academic Leadership

As Director of the Sofia Islamic Institute's Research Center, he oversees scholarly initiatives connecting Islamic studies with contemporary social challenges. His teaching at NBU includes courses like ARAB599 Islam in Europe: Challenges of Pluralism, reflecting his focus on modern intercultural dynamics.