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Professor Muhammad A S Abdel Haleem, OBE, is the King Fahd Professor of Islamic Studies at SOAS University of London, within the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. He holds a BA from Cairo University and a PhD from the University of Cambridge (Cantab), with additional qualifications including FCIL (London). His research focuses on Quranic language, style, and translations, alongside Islamic family law and Arab society. Key interests include Qur’anic exegesis, comparative religious studies, and the intersection of scripture with contemporary issues like disability ethics and interfaith relations. Professor Haleem has supervised numerous PhD candidates exploring topics such as divine states in Sufism, gender relations in the Quran, and charitable work in multicultural societies. He has authored over 60 works, including translations of the Quran and influential studies on Quranic structure and theology. Awards: Order of the British Empire (OBE) Publications: Over 60 books and articles, including Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Style and translations of the Quran. His work bridges academic theology with practical ethics, emphasizing contextual interpretation and intercultural dialogue. Current research continues to explore Quranic coherence, legal hermeneutics, and the Quran’s role in modern society.

• Qur'anic Studies
• Islamic Theology
• Islamic Family Law
• +3 more

Dr Estara Arrant is a Cambridge University Library Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow and Trinity Hall Postdoctoral Research Associate. She merges Semitic linguistics with data science to study medieval Jewish and Islamic textual cultures. PhD (University of Cambridge, 2021): Computational analysis of Cairo Genizah Torah codices MPhil (University of Oxford, 2018): Linguistic structure of Qur’ānic creation narratives BA: History & Modern Hebrew Her groundbreaking work combines machine learning and bioinformatics algorithms to analyze textual evolution. Current projects include: Developing the first NLP model for medieval Judaeo-Arabic Creating digital tools for computerized stemmatology She actively teaches Python and R as an Cambridge Digital Humanities associate, and her research has been published by Open Book Publishers and Brill .

• Semitic Linguistics
• Medieval Jewish Studies
• Medieval Islamic Studies
• +12 more

Dr. Salwa El-Awa is a Senior Lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Swansea University's School of Culture and Communication. She previously held positions at the University of Birmingham (2001-2010) and Ain Shams University in Cairo (2010-2015). Her academic roles include teaching Arabic linguistics, Qur’anic studies, and Hadith analysis, alongside supervising PhD students in translation and religious studies. Her research focuses on Qur’anic textuality, discourse markers, and Islamic movements. Key areas include textual coherence in the Qur’an, Arabic linguistic analysis, and the intersection of religion and counter-terrorism policy. Recent projects explore governance strategies engaging moderate Islamic groups to combat jihadism. El-Awa has published extensively on Qur’anic linguistics, including monographs like Textual Relations in the Qur'an (2005) and Al-Wujuh Wa al-Naza’ir (1998). Her work bridges religious studies, linguistics, and security studies, with notable contributions to Yale’s Dictionary of the Qur'an (2024) and interdisciplinary journals like International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice . She has secured £20,000 for the International Qur’anic Text Linguistics Conference (2020-2021) and served as an External Examiner for Westminster University’s Translation program (2019–2022). Her teaching includes advanced translation, healthcare interpreting, and world cinema studies.

• Arabic Linguistics
• Islamic Studies
• Text Analysis (Scriptures and Literature)
• +5 more

Professor Mustapha Sheikh is Chair in Islamic Thought and Muslim Societies at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds. He is Co-Director of the Iqbal Centre for Critical Muslim Studies and actively contributes to interdisciplinary research on Muslim intellectual history, Islamic law, and contemporary socio-political issues affecting Muslim communities globally. His educational background includes a DPhil in Theology and Religion from the University of Oxford, an MSt in the Study of Religions (Oxford), a BA in Arabic and Islamic Law, and a BSc in Project Management from University College London. His academic journey reflects a deep integration of traditional Islamic scholarship and rigorous Western academic training. Sheikh's research is centered on two interrelated strands: first, Islamic intellectual and legal history, particularly revivalist and reformist movements in the Ottoman and early modern Islamic world; second, the socio-scientific analysis of contemporary Muslim societies, including Islamophobia, Islamic finance, food and water security, and decolonial studies. His seminal work Ottoman Puritanism and Its Discontents (Oxford University Press, 2016) has significantly reshaped scholarly understanding of the Qadizadeli movement and Taymiyyan influences in Ottoman thought. He is a pioneer in advancing Critical Muslim Studies as a post-Orientalist framework for rethinking Islamic tradition. His recent publications reveal a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining Islamic legal theory with social justice, environmental security, and political economy. Themes such as intersectional oppression, decoloniality, and ethical finance recur across his work, reflecting a commitment to justice-oriented scholarship. He frequently collaborates with scholars across disciplines and geographies, particularly in the Global South. Member, British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) Member, British Association of Islamic Studies (BRAIS) Board Member, (In)Justice International Professor Sheikh actively supervises PhD students and has successfully guided over 20 doctoral candidates to completion. His research is supported by collaborations across institutions, including the University of Punjab (where he is a Visiting Professor) and Harper Adams University. He is currently co-editing volumes on global injustice and Islamic finance, and working on a book about healing racial trauma from an Islamic psycho-spiritual perspective. He leads and participates in numerous research groups, including the Arabic History group and the Centre for Religion and Public Life, and is deeply involved in public engagement through talks, webinars, and podcasts addressing Islamophobia, women’s rights under Shari’a, and decolonising knowledge.

• Islamic Thought
• Muslim Societies
• Islamic Law and Legal Theory
• +13 more

Dr. Tajul Islam is a Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies , University of Leeds , where he has been a member of staff since 2009. He also holds a visiting position at the University of the Punjab, Lahore. His academic work bridges traditional Islamic scholarship and critical theory, and he is a co-founder of Critical Muslim Studies (CMS) at Leeds, a framework aimed at centering Muslim subjectivity and decolonizing knowledge production in higher education. Education: BA in Arabic and Islamic Studies — University of Leeds PhD in Arab and Islamic Studies — University of Exeter Dr. Islam’s research encompasses a wide range of fields, including Islamic Theology (kalam) , Qur’anic Studies , Hadith , Islamic Law , Islamic Philosophy , Islamism , Islamophobia , antisemitism , racism , Biblical Studies , and Madrasa studies . His teaching emphasizes inclusivity and sensitivity to contemporary issues of identity and prejudice. His recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining religious studies with food ethics, digital humanities, and decolonial theory. Key themes include theological minimalism , racial justice in early Islam , Islamic reform , and cross-traditional dialogue . He frequently presents at international conferences and public events on topics such as decolonial imagination, fatwa borrowing, and Muslim identity. Scientific Contributions and Recognition: Co-authored a well-cited article on Hanafi fiqh and British Muslims’ views on cultured meat. Published on Qur’anic phonetics and automatic lexis extraction. Contributed to encyclopedias on Ibn Mujahid and the Bible’s use in Islamophobic discourse. Co-founded the Iqbal Centre for Critical Muslim Studies. Dr. Islam supervises a diverse cohort of PhD students on topics ranging from blasphemy laws and translation studies to female religious authority and Qur’anic coherence. He has successfully guided over 15 doctoral candidates to completion. He is also involved in collaborative research and international academic partnerships, particularly with institutions in Pakistan. Labs and Research Groups: Co-Director, Iqbal Centre for Critical Muslim Studies Member of research groups in Arabic Cultural Studies , Conflict , and History

• Islamic Theology
• Qur'anic Studies
• Hadith Studies
• +12 more

Professor Ziad Elmarsafy serves as Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature at the University of St Andrews, where he is affiliated with the School of Modern Languages and the Arabic and Persian Centre for the Critical Reimagining of Human Rights. His academic profile demonstrates a strong commitment to postgraduate research supervision as indicated by his status as 'Accepting Postgraduate Research Students.' Elmarsafy's research profile reveals a distinctive intellectual fingerprint spanning French Arts and Humanities (100%), Esoteric Islam (75%), Sufism (75%), Idol Studies (75%), Koran/Qur'anic Studies (75%), Genre Theory (37%), and Autobiography (37%). His scholarly work bridges Arabic literature, French intellectual history, and religious studies with particular emphasis on esoteric dimensions of Islamic thought. His research output demonstrates consistent engagement with the intersection of literature, religion, and political thought. Analysis of his 23 research outputs shows a consistent pattern of scholarly contributions exploring the relationships between Islamic thought and Western intellectual traditions, particularly French philosophy. His publications reveal significant attention to translation studies, postcolonial theory, and the representation of Islamic concepts in Western contexts. The thematic coherence across his work demonstrates a sustained intellectual project examining how Islamic thought has been interpreted, translated, and reimagined in modern European contexts. Professor Elmarsafy maintains an active role in the academic community through editorial work and peer review activities. His service includes reviewing manuscripts for prestigious journals such as MLN, Religiographies, Forum for Modern Language Studies, Journal of Arabic Literature, and Middle Eastern Literatures. Since 2023, he has served on the editorial board of Forum for Modern Language Studies, demonstrating his standing within the scholarly community.

• Arabic Literature
• Comparative Literature
• French Thought
• +6 more

Professor Muhammad Abdel-Haleem is a distinguished scholar at SOAS University of London's School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, specializing in Qur'anic studies and Islamic thought. With a career spanning over five decades, he maintains an active research profile with publications extending into 2025, demonstrating his continued scholarly engagement. His research interests focus on Qur'anic linguistics, translation methodologies, and contemporary applications of Islamic scripture. Professor Abdel-Haleem examines structural coherence in the Qur'an, semantic challenges in translation, and the relevance of Qur'anic teachings to modern issues including environmental sustainability, gender relations, and pandemic responses. His work bridges classical Islamic scholarship with contemporary academic approaches. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Qur'anic hermeneutics with increasing attention to contemporary applications. His 2023-2025 works address environmental concerns in Hajj rituals, pandemic responses through Qur'anic interpretation, and gender relations, demonstrating how classical Islamic texts can inform modern ethical and practical challenges. His methodological approach emphasizes linguistic precision while maintaining sensitivity to cultural and historical contexts. Professor Abdel-Haleem supervises graduate research at SOAS, with recent theses examining topics like Muslim minority fiqh and gender relations in the Qur'an. His editorial work includes the Oxford Handbook of Qur'anic Studies (2020), establishing him as a leading authority in the field. His professional activities include presentations at major academic forums such as the 90th Conference of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo.

• Qur'anic Studies
• Islamic Theology
• Arabic Linguistics
• +3 more

Dr. Abdul-Bashid Shaikh is a Lecturer (Part-time) in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Leeds, affiliated with the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies under the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures. He is based in the Department of Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and serves as a Personal Tutor within the Leeds for Life framework. BA in Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leeds (2001) MA in Qur'anic Studies, University of Leeds (2003) PhD in Comparative Religion, University of Leeds (2011), focusing on creation in Abrahamic faiths His research spans Islamic Studies, Qur'anic Studies, medieval and modern theology, interfaith dialogue, Middle Eastern history, and contemporary issues such as Islamophobia and ethnic media . He explores themes of peace, reconciliation, religious symbolism, and the intersection of religion with modernity and public life. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in interreligious comparison, media representation of Muslims, and responses to global crises like the pandemic and geopolitical conflicts . He frequently analyzes how religious traditions interpret events, symbols, and ethics in modern contexts, with a particular focus on British Muslim identity and interfaith understanding. Dr. Shaikh is actively involved in public scholarship and media engagement, contributing to debates on Islamophobia, religious freedom, and interfaith relations. Regular contributor to BBC, Sky News, France24, and La Razón (Spain) Feature columnist for La Razón Internacional Media commentator on events such as the Batley Grammar School cartoon controversy and the fall of Kabul He supervises postgraduate research on topics including gender in Islamic literature, Prophet Muhammad representation, and organ donation in Islam. He has participated in AHRC-funded collaborative networks and served on ethics and admissions committees. His work bridges academic rigor with public engagement, emphasizing dialogue, tolerance, and the relevance of religious thought in contemporary society. Dr. Shaikh is also involved in interfaith initiatives, including serving as Secretary of the North Kirklees Interfaith Council (2012–2015), and has undertaken government-sponsored delegations to India to foster Muslim-British dialogue. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and contributes to modules on Middle Eastern studies, religion, and conflict.

• Islamic Studies
• Qur'anic Studies
• Medieval Theology
• +12 more

Nadira Auty is an academic staff member at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. As a native Arabic speaker and professionally trained language teacher, she specializes in teaching spoken Arabic and designing language teaching materials. Her expertise includes Scriptural languages and Qur'anic Arabic, contributing to pedagogical resources within the field. She holds an affiliation with the Scriptural language specialists group and is actively involved in Arabic language instruction. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Affiliations: Academic staff, Scriptural language specialists, Qur'anic Arabic specialists

• Scriptural languages
• Qur'anic Arabic
• Arabic Language Pedagogy
• +2 more

Professor Nacim Pak-Shiraz holds a Personal Chair in Cinema and Iran at the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Edinburgh. She focuses on Middle Eastern and Iranian visual culture, particularly intersections of film, religion, gender, and Persian literature. Education: B.A. (Tehran), Graduate Program (Institute of Ismaili Studies), M.A. Anthropology of Media (University of London), PhD in Film and Media (SOAS) Research Interests: Her work spans Middle Eastern cinema, film’s engagement with spirituality, gender construction in visual media, Iranian performing arts, contemporary Islamic art, and Persian literary adaptations. Current projects analyze masculinities in Iranian cinema and Qur’anic religious epics. Teaching & Supervision: She supervises PhD students and teaches courses on Cinema and Society in the Middle East, Classical Persian Literature, and Research Methods. Past supervisees include scholars on topics like Syrian female novelists, Turkish veiled women’s spatial practices, and Iranian cinema’s gender dynamics. Leadership & Outreach: Professor Pak-Shiraz serves on boards including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Institute of Ismaili Studies, and Iran Heritage Foundation. She curates Edinburgh film festivals and participates in international film juries.

• Middle Eastern Cinema
• Visual Culture
• Film and Religion
• +3 more

Nadia Rahab is a Senior Lecturer in Translation Studies and Course Leader of the MA Translation programme at London Metropolitan University, a role she has held since 2005. She holds a BA from Algiers University, an MA in Comparative Literature and Literary Translation from Warwick University, and a PhD in Discourse Problems in Translating The Qur’an into English from Edinburgh University. Her research focuses on translation theory, pedagogy, and challenges in translating religious and cultural texts, particularly the Qur’an. She actively contributes to international collaborations, including the European Master's in Translation (EMT) and CIUTI consortia, and co-led the EU-funded QUALETRA project (2012-2014) on legal translation quality. She supervises PhD students exploring topics like Qur’anic synonymy translation, audiovisual translation in Arabic media, and the political role of translation in contexts like the Syrian Spring. Nadia is an external examiner for multiple universities (Herriot Watt, Salford, KU Leuven) and editorial board member of The Journal of Specialised Translation (JosTrans). She teaches translation theory, practical translation (Arabic/French-English), and research methodology, while designing short courses such as 'Training the Trainer (Translation)'.

• Translation Theory
• Qur’an Translation
• Translation Pedagogy
• +4 more

Dr. Amal A Awad is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Associate at Pembroke College within the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. Her academic work focuses on Islamic Philosophy, particularly the philosophy of mind in post-classical Arabic/Islamic contexts. She holds a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, supervised by Dr. Tony Street, and has a dual background in dental medicine and religious studies. Education: Bachelor's in Dental Medicine and Surgery (University of Jordan) Bachelor's in Fundamental Principles of Religion (University of Jordan) Master's in Islamic Philosophy and Theology (University of Jordan) Master's in Philosophy (King’s College London), focusing on the Philosophy of Mind under Prof. Bill Brewer. Research interests span Islamic philosophy, the philosophy of mind (analytical and classical traditions), and Qur'anic Arabic studies. Her doctoral work centered on al-Rāzī’s Philosophy of Mind. She is affiliated with the School of Arts & Humanities and classified as academic/research staff. Awards: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (current role). No formal advisees/grants are listed in the provided text. She is part of the Faculty of Divinity’s research community and contributes to teaching/supervision activities.

• Islamic Philosophy
• Philosophy of Mind
• Religious Studies
• +3 more

Muhammad Zawil Kiram is a Researcher at the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield. He is pursuing a PhD in Sociological Studies after completing his MA in Sociology at Marmara University, Turkiye (2019-2021), and BA in Sociology at Malikussaleh University Indonesia (2014-2018). Research interests include social stratification, gender inequality in Muslim societies, family dynamics, domestic labor, and time-use studies. His publications explore themes like gender roles in Indonesian society, hermeneutics in religious theory, and local language preservation in urban settings. He receives funding from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) and has served as an editor for Juris: Scientific Journal of Islamic Law and Journal of Family and Islamic Law in Indonesia. Supervised by Dr Alvaro Mertinez Perez and Dr Jo Britton for his PhD research.

• Social stratification and inequality
• Education
• Family and gender studies
• +3 more

Yusuf Ahmed is a Doctoral Student at the University of Oxford's Department of Education and serves as a Teaching Fellow at Markfield Institute of Higher Education, while also holding the position of Faith & Character Education Lead at a Star Academies faith school in the Midlands. His educational qualifications include: BEd in Working with Children: Education & Wellbeing (First Class Honours) from UCL Institute of Education and Psychology for Education Professionals (Merit) from Birkbeck University of London (2017) MSc in Anthropology of Childhood, Youth & Education (Distinction) from Brunel University London (2019) Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic Psychology from Cambridge Muslim College (2023) Qur'anic memorization certification and Arabic language studies with Ijazah from Alexandria, Egypt (2011) Yusuf's research critically examines the integration of classical Islamic approaches to psychology, educational philosophy, and values pedagogy within contemporary British school pastoral systems. His doctoral work specifically develops frameworks for implementing Islamic psychological principles in school wellbeing programs, drawing from ethnographic studies of Qur'anic memorization practices and international curriculum development experience. His professional background combines psychotherapeutic school counselling training at the Tavistock & Portman Clinic with practical teaching experience across UK, UAE, and international development contexts in West Africa and The Levant, focusing on teacher training and Islamic Studies curriculum design.

• Islamic Educational Anthropology
• Islamic Psychology
• Islamic Educational Philosophy
• +3 more

Professor Ahmad Jamal is a distinguished academic at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, where he has served as Professor of Marketing and Strategy since 2021. Previously, he held positions as Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Strategy (2005-2021) and Lecturer in Marketing (1996-2005) at the same institution. His academic career spans over 25 years, with a strong focus on multicultural consumer behavior, ethnic marketing, and Islamic banking and finance. Professor Jamal completed his PhD at Bradford University School of Management in 1997 under the supervision of Dr. Malcolm Chapman. His educational background provided the foundation for his extensive research into cross-cultural consumer behavior and ethnic marketing. Professor Jamal's research primarily focuses on the interplay of marketing, ethnicity and consumption, with particular emphasis on customer evaluation of brands, customer involvement in Islamic banking and finance, and customer satisfaction in relation to service quality and technology usage. His work often explores how ethnic identity influences consumer behavior, particularly among British Muslims and other minority groups. He has extensively studied acculturation processes, transcultural identity development, and the impact of social media on ethnic minority consumers' purchasing decisions and social integration. His extensive publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory of research focused on multicultural consumer behavior, with recent work examining online identity orientation among ethnic minority guests in hospitality contexts, Qur'anic wisdom in sustainability, and innovative business models in Islamic microfinance. His work bridges theoretical consumer behavior with practical applications in marketing to diverse populations. Nominated for Outstanding Doctoral Supervisor by Cardiff University Student Union (2018) Winner of Best Paper Award at UK Academy of Marketing's Annual Conference (2013) Winner of Best Paper Award at Global Islamic Marketing Conference, Kuala Lumpur (2014) Professor Jamal has been actively involved in PhD supervision, with research interests spanning consumer behavior among British Muslims, culture and identity in consumption, self-image congruence effects, Islamic marketing and banking, and online brand equity. He has contributed significantly to academic service, serving as Managing Editor for the Journal of Global Business Advancement (2007-2011), Vice President for UK at the Academy for Global Business Advancement (2007-2011), and as a Senior Examiner for the Chartered Institute of Marketing since 2009. His expertise has also been recognized through media contributions to NPR.org and Munchies.Vice.com, with his research on Islamic banking featured in The Times in 2013. He leads the Ethnic Marketing Research Group at Cardiff and has held various leadership roles including Program Director for the MSc in Strategic Marketing (2008-2012) and Program Chair for several international conferences on global business and marketing.

• Consumer Behavior
• Ethnic Marketing
• Islamic Marketing
• +7 more