Mohammad Fadel

Mohammad Fadel is a Full Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law, where he holds the Former Canada Research Chair for the Law and Economics of Islamic Law (2006-2016). He is cross-appointed to the Department of Religion and the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. His work bridges Islamic legal history, international law, and political philosophy. Fadel earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and his J.D. from the University of Virginia. Prior to academia, he practiced corporate law at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York and clerked for federal judges in the U.S.

His research focuses on Islamic legal theory, the intersection of Islamic law with modernity, and global justice frameworks. Notable recent work includes analyses of Palestine-Israel relations through international law, theological contributions to democratic theory, and critiques of Islamic state aspirations. His scholarship frequently engages with public reason, legal pluralism, and ethical reasoning in Islamic contexts.

Awards include two Canada Research Chair designations (2006 and 2011). His publications span over four decades, addressing topics from medieval legal processes to contemporary issues like DNA evidence in paternity disputes under Islamic law. He collaborates on translations of classical Islamic legal texts, such as the Muwatta of Imam Malik.