Alexander Knysh

Alexander Knysh is a Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan's Department of Middle East Studies. He holds affiliations with multiple interdisciplinary centers, including the Center for Middle Eastern & North African Studies (CMENAS), the Center for Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies, and the Global Islamic Studies Center. His academic journey includes a PhD from the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (1986) and earlier degrees from Leningrad State University.

His research focuses on Islamic mysticism (Sufism), Islamic theology, and the historical dynamics of Islamic movements in regions like Yemen, North Africa, and the Northern Caucasus. He has authored seven books, including Islamic Mysticism (2000) and is currently working on a sequel exploring Sufism's modern societal roles. A forthcoming book, Islam and Empire in the Northern Caucasus, examines the role of Islam in resistance to Russian domination.

Dr. Knysh has conducted field research in Yemen, studying the cult of saints and its socio-religious contestations. Since 2005, he has served as the section editor for Sufism in the Encyclopedia of Islam, Third Edition. His work bridges academic rigor with interdisciplinary engagement, emphasizing Sufism's complexity beyond idealized portrayals.

He has contributed to editorial projects like the Handbook of Sufi Studies series, promoting methodologically diverse scholarship. His teaching and research reflect a commitment to global Islamic Studies, including collaborations with institutions like St. Petersburg State University.