Mohsen Goudarzi is an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Harvard Divinity School (HDS), part of Harvard University. He joined the faculty in 2021 after teaching at the University of Minnesota. His academic background includes a PhD from Harvard University and an MA from Stanford University. His research focuses on the Qur’an and early Islamic history, employing literary, linguistic, comparative, and historical approaches. Key interests include the Qur’an’s role in Late Antique religious developments, Islamic exegetical traditions (tafsīr), and theological frameworks (kalām). His current projects explore the Qur’anic worldview’s interpretation and the significance of Meccan cultic rituals to early Islamic identity. He has received teaching excellence awards, including a certificate from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Educational Innovation and three teaching distinctions from Harvard’s Office of Undergraduate Education. Research outputs include groundbreaking articles on Qur’anic exegesis, cultic practices, and interreligious dynamics. Notable works analyze the Qur’an’s engagement with Abrahamic traditions, ritual practices in Mecca, and the textual history of early Islamic manuscripts. His collaborative work on the Ṣan‘ā’1 codex redefined understandings of early Qur’anic canonization. Teaching spans HDS and Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), covering Islamic studies, Qur’anic studies, and religious history. He advises students in HDS programs and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives at the intersection of theology, history, and textual criticism.
Jack Bowman is a Teaching Fellow in Modern History at the University of Warwick, School of Arts, Department of History. He teaches modules such as "Britain in the Twentieth Century" and "Race, Racism, and Resistance in Modern Britain," and serves as an Academic Writing Adviser and Teaching Representative for the Social Inclusion and Diversity Committee. PhD in History, University of Warwick (2019–2023) MA in Modern History, University of Warwick (2018–2019) BA (Hons) in History, University of Warwick (2015–2018) His research focuses on anti-colonial print cultures, particularly within the British Empire and the Pan-African movement. He specializes in book history, global histories of empire, queer histories, and visual media. His work explores the role of political publishing in anti-colonial activism and the intellectual networks of figures like V. K. Krishna Menon and Ras T. Makonnen. The recent publications and presentations reflect a strong engagement with transnational anti-colonial movements, Black radicalism, and the material culture of print. His work spans historical biography, archival research, and critical reviews of scholarship in visual culture, decolonization, and global knowledge systems. He frequently contributes to public history through outreach and digital media. University of Warwick, History Department Doctoral Scholarship (2019–2023) Jack Bowman advises undergraduate students and contributes to academic governance through committee roles. He is also involved in public engagement, including outreach to school children as the historian for George Padmore and creating educational resources for GCSE and A-Level students. He is a Convenor of the Modern British History Reading Group and a member of the Global History and Culture Centre and Manuscript and Print Cultures Research Group at Warwick. He is currently working on a new book project on the League Against Imperialism and maintains an active public presence through Twitter (@DrJackBowman) and podcast contributions, such as with Shoga Films on the Harlem Renaissance.
Frank Griffel is the Louis M. Rabinowitz Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University, where he has been teaching since 2000. His academic work is deeply rooted in Islamic intellectual history, focusing on theology, philosophy, and the interplay between reason and revelation. He holds a PhD from the Freie Universität Berlin and previously worked as a research fellow at the Orient Institute in Beirut. University: Yale University Department: Department of Religious Studies Academic Rank: Professor His research expertise lies in classical and post-classical Islamic philosophy, particularly the works of al-Ghazālī, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Avicenna, and Averroes. He has made significant contributions to understanding how philosophical discourse evolved in the Islamic world after the so-called classical period, challenging the notion of decline and highlighting the emergence of new genres such as ḥikma . His scholarship bridges theology and philosophy, examining how Muslim thinkers reconciled Aristotelian and Neoplatonic ideas with Islamic doctrine. Griffel’s most recent major work, The Formation of Post-Classical Philosophy in Islam (2021), redefines the field by demonstrating the continuity and innovation in 12th-century Islamic thought. His earlier book, Al-Ghazali’s Philosophical Theology (2009), is widely regarded as a seminal study. He has also published extensively on topics such as apostasy, virtue ethics, and the reception of philosophical texts, with articles spanning from 2011 to 2025. His work often appears in major academic handbooks and journals, and he has edited and translated key texts into German, Arabic, and Turkish. Islamic Philosophy Islamic Theology (Kalām) Post-Classical Islamic Thought Al-Ghazālī Studies Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī Avicenna and Averroes Griffel has contributed to collaborative volumes such as Shari’a: Islamic Law in the Contemporary Context and Islam and Rationality , and his research engages with both historical and contemporary debates in Islamic thought. He has no listed scientific awards or students in the provided texts, but his influence is evident through citations and scholarly engagement. He maintains an active research profile, with recent publications addressing ambiguity, contradiction, and the popularization of philosophy in medieval Islam. He has held affiliations with the University of Oxford as a Faculty Member in the Faculty of Theology and Religion, indicating a strong international academic presence. His work continues to shape the understanding of Islamic intellectual history, particularly in the West.
Ayesha Jalal is a distinguished Professor of History at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences and holds a joint appointment at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She currently serves as the Mary Richardson Professor and directs the Center for South Asian and Indian Ocean Studies. With a career spanning over three decades, Professor Jalal has established herself as a leading scholar in South Asian history, particularly focusing on Pakistan studies, the partition of India, and Muslim political thought in the region. Professor Jalal's academic journey began with a double major in History and Political Science from Wellesley College in 1978. She then pursued doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, earning her PhD in History in 1983. Her early career included prestigious fellowships at Trinity College, Cambridge (1980-84), the Centre of South Asian Studies (1984-87), the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars (1985-86), and the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies (1988-90). Professor Jalal's research primarily centers on South Asian history with special emphasis on Pakistan, the partition of India, and Muslim political thought. Her work explores the complex interplay between religious identity, nationalism, and state formation in the region. She has made significant contributions to understanding democratic development in Pakistan, sectarian dynamics in South Asia, and the historical connections between the Indian subcontinent and the wider Indian Ocean world. Her recent scholarship has focused on 'Oceanic Islam,' examining transregional Muslim networks and universalist aspirations that transcended colonial boundaries. Professor Jalal's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on South Asian political history, with particular attention to Pakistan's formation and development. Her recent works show a progression from studies of partition and state formation toward broader examinations of Muslim intellectual history and transregional connections. The 2020-2024 publications reveal a sophisticated engagement with themes of democratic erosion, sectarianism, and the historical roots of contemporary political challenges in South Asia, while also exploring more cultural and religious dimensions through works on Muslim enlightened thought and oceanic connections. Patrus Bukhari Award for the best English language book, The Pity of Partition , Academy of Letters, Government of Pakistan (2015) Britannica Book of the Year recognition (2015) MacArthur Fellowship (1998-2003) As an educator, Professor Jalal has mentored numerous graduate students through thesis supervision and directed research projects. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on Modern South Asia, Contemporary South Asia, Islam and the West, and specialized seminars on South Asian history. She has taught at several prestigious institutions including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Columbia University, and Harvard University before joining Tufts in 1999. In her role as Director of the Center for South Asian and Indian Ocean Studies, she has fostered interdisciplinary research and provided guidance to emerging scholars in the field. Professor Jalal directs the Center for South Asian and Indian Ocean Studies at Tufts University, which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on South Asia and its connections to the wider Indian Ocean world. The center facilitates collaborative projects, hosts visiting scholars, and organizes events that bridge historical, political, and cultural perspectives on the region. Under her leadership, the center has become a prominent institution for South Asian studies, promoting dialogue between academic research and contemporary policy issues.
University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Asma Sayeed is an Associate Professor and Program Director of Islamic Studies at UCLA's Near Eastern Languages and Cultures department, part of the UCLA College. She holds a PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University (2005) and previously served as an Assistant Professor at Lafayette College. Her research focuses on early Muslim social history, Muslim education, gender studies, and hadith transmission by women. She has authored Women and the Transmission of Religious Knowledge in Islam (2013) and contributed to numerous journals and encyclopedias. Sayeed received a Fulbright Fellowship (2010) for archival research on Muslim women’s education in Syria. She teaches courses such as 'Introduction to Islam' and graduate seminars on research methodologies. Her current work examines textual practices in Muslim education across historical contexts. Education: PhD, Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University (2005) MA, History, Binghamton University (1994) BA, Politics, Princeton University (1991) Certificate in Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University (1991) Research Interests: Her scholarship emphasizes women’s roles in religious knowledge transmission, legal and social history intersections, and medieval Muslim educational systems. She frequently addresses how gender shaped access to religious authority and spaces. Awards: Fulbright Fellowship (2010) Teaching and Professional Engagement: Sayeed’s courses cover Quranic studies, Islam in the West, and methodological frameworks in Islamic studies. She actively participates in academic conferences and initiatives, including keynote lectures on women’s intellectual engagement in classical Islam and digital humanities projects mapping women’s educational histories.
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Freitag is Director of the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (Berlin) and holds a special professorship in Islamic Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. Her research focuses on social and cultural history of the Arab world, urban history, and transregional connections in the Indian Ocean. She has directed major projects like 'An Oasis Facing Globalisation: Hegra’s History since the 19th Century' and authored seminal works such as A History of Jeddah . Education: Habilitation (Islamic Studies, 2002, Bonn), PhD (1991, Freiburg), MA (1987, Freiburg). Key research stays include Damascus (1984-85, 1987-90), Yemen, and Southeast Asia. Research Interests: Urban development, migration networks, Ottoman heritage, Saudi state formation, and transregional Islamic dynamics. Current projects explore Jeddah’s urban history and transregional entanglements in the Arabian Peninsula. Engagement: Editorial roles for Journal of Arabian Studies , ZMO Studien , and advisory boards for institutions like the Leibniz Institute of European History. Awarded fellowships from Käthe-Hamburger Kolleg and LUCIS. Supervised over 20 doctoral theses on topics ranging from Ottoman governance to Gulf intellectual history. Publications: Over 150 articles, 8 monographs, and 6 edited volumes. Her work blends archival research with transregional perspectives, emphasizing marginalized voices and material culture. Recent focus on pandemic impacts and Saudi-Iranian geopolitical dynamics.
Walid A. Saleh is a Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto , holding appointments in both the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations department and the Department for the Study of Religion . His scholarship focuses on the Qur’an , Quranic exegesis (Tafsir), Islamic apocalyptic literature , and Biblical reception in Islam . PhD from Yale University (2001) Recipient of Mellon New Directions Fellowship (2014) and Konrad Adenauer Fellow (2017) Editor of the Routledge Qur’an Series His research analyzes Quranic chronology , manuscript traditions , and Islamic intellectual history . Recent publications examine periodization in Sunni tafsir, late Ottoman book culture, and the reception of al-Bayḍāwī's Anwar al-tanzīl . Articles explore topics from Quranic death narratives to medieval Islamic cosmology . Key article themes: Quranic identity formation , Islamic manuscript studies , exegetical methodology He has edited critical texts like al-Biqa`i's Bible treatise and serves on editorial boards for the Journal of the American Academy of Religion and Journal of Qur'anic Studies . His teaching includes advanced courses in Arabic paleography and Quranic hermeneutics .
Stefan Binder is a Senior Research Assistant at the Institute for Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies (ISEK) at the University of Zurich's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. His academic work focuses on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and religious studies with particular attention to secular and non-religious perspectives. His primary research interests include gender and sexuality studies, queer anthropology, secularity and non-religion, religious aesthetics, ethics, and temporal dimensions of religious practices. Binder's work employs anthropological approaches to explore contested notions of "newness" and "generational change" within queer and trans* communities in both South Asia (particularly India) and Europe. His research also investigates the sensory, material, and aesthetic dimensions of lived everyday religion and non-religion. Binder's publication record shows a strong focus on nonreligion studies, with particular emphasis on atheist activism in South India. His work frequently examines the relationship between secularism and religious pluralism, with attention to how these concepts manifest in everyday practices and experiences. His scholarship demonstrates interdisciplinary engagement across religious studies, anthropology, gender studies, and South Asian studies. His monograph Total Atheism: Secular Activism and the Politics of Difference in South India (2020) represents a significant contribution to the field of nonreligion studies. His recent articles (2021-2023) continue to develop theoretical frameworks for understanding secularism, nonreligion, and religious aesthetics through ethnographic approaches.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
Asef Bayat is Professor of Sociology and the Catherine and Bruce Bastian Professor of Global and Transnational Studies at the Department of Sociology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has held previous academic positions at the American University in Cairo, Leiden University (where he held the Chair of Society and Culture of the Modern Middle East), and visiting appointments at UC Berkeley, Columbia University, Oxford, and Brown University. His research interests include: Political Sociology Collective Behavior and Social Movements Sociology of Religion Urban Life and Politics Islam and Modernity Contemporary Middle East Bayat's research focuses on the role of ordinary people and subaltern classes in social and political transformations, particularly in the context of the Arab Spring and Middle Eastern urban movements. His work bridges comparative and historical sociology with global and transnational perspectives, emphasizing everyday forms of resistance and the reconfiguration of political Islam. He has extensively explored the sociological dimensions of revolution, modernity, migration, and loss of home. His recent publications, including articles in International Journal of Urban and Regional Research and Journal of Democracy , reflect a sustained engagement with urban politics, revolutionary dynamics, and youth activism in the Global South. The recurring themes across his work include the agency of marginalized populations, the transformation of public space, and the evolving nature of political engagement in non-Western contexts. Bayat has received numerous honors and fellowships: Guggenheim Fellow Ford Foundation Fellow MacArthur Fellow Open Society Fellow Wissenschaftskolleg Fellow, Berlin He has been actively involved in academic leadership, having served as director of the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) and elected to the Board of the UN Research Institute for Social Development. He has taught key courses such as Global Social Movements, Global Religion and Politics, and Middle Eastern Societies. Though specific students are not listed, his role as a full professor and author of major works indicates extensive mentorship and academic advising. He is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary centers, including the Center for African Studies, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, European Union Center, and Center for Global Studies.
Dr Theodor Dunkelgrün is a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at Trinity College, University of Cambridge , and Academic Co-Ordinator of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation-funded project Religious Diversity and the Secular University (2017–2022) at CRASSH. He was previously a postdoctoral fellow at St John’s College (2013–2018) and has taught across History, Divinity, and Classics at Cambridge, Bryn Mawr, UPenn, and the University of Antwerp. Education : Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet (The Hague), Leiden University, University of Chicago (PhD, 2012). Visiting graduate work at Princeton (2005–06) and Oxford (2008). Research Focus : Intersections of biblical scholarship, history of the book, and interfaith intellectual exchange (1450–1900), particularly in the Low Countries and Mediterranean World. Examines how Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scholars engaged with the Hebrew Bible through technological shifts (print to photography) and institutional contexts. Publications include edited volumes like The Jewish Bookshop of the World (2020) and Bastards and Believers (2020), alongside articles on topics ranging from the Antwerp Polyglot Bible to Jewish converts in early modern Europe. Collaborations span institutions in Taiwan, Oxford, and Leiden, with ongoing work on global philological practices and the Hebrew Bible’s material history. Professional Engagement : Co-founded the Cambridge Seminar in Early Modern Scholarship and Religion (2017), and actively promotes academic freedom through refugee scholar initiatives. Affiliated with the Cambridge Forum for Jewish Studies, Centre for Material Texts, and international networks like EMoDiR and Ideas in Motion.
Gabriel Said Reynolds is the Jerome J. Crowley and Rosaleen G. Crowley Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He is a leading scholar specializing in Qur'ānic studies with particular expertise in Muslim-Christian relations and the historical context of Islamic scripture. Education Ph.D. in Islamic Studies, Yale University (2003) Professor Reynolds' research explores the intricate relationship between the Qur'ān and Biblical traditions, examining how Qur'ānic narratives reinterpret earlier religious stories within their 7th-century Arabian context. His work demonstrates exceptional literary and historical sensitivity to both Islamic and Christian scriptures, revealing how early Muslim communities engaged with preceding religious traditions while establishing their own theological framework. He approaches Qur'ānic studies with methodological rigor that respects both the academic study of religion and the theological significance of scripture for believers. His publication trajectory shows a consistent deepening of focus on the theological implications of Qur'ānic studies, particularly regarding the nature of God in Islamic scripture as evidenced by his acclaimed work 'Allah: God in the Qur'an.' Reynolds' scholarship bridges academic analysis with contemporary interfaith dialogue, making complex theological concepts accessible to diverse audiences while maintaining scholarly precision. Scientific Awards Field Prize at Yale University for doctoral dissertation on ʿAbd al-Jabbar's Islamic history of Christianity Professor Reynolds serves on the Vatican Dicastery of Inter-Religious Relations with Muslims, reflecting his significant contributions to Catholic-Muslim dialogue. He has directed major collaborative projects including 'The Qurʾān Seminar' (2012-13), which fostered international scholarly exchange. His YouTube channel 'Exploring the Qur'an and the Bible' has become an important platform for academic discussion of scripture, featuring conversations with leading scholars. He has conducted research and delivered lectures across the Middle East including Cairo, Jerusalem, Beirut, Damascus, and Tehran, giving him firsthand engagement with diverse Muslim scholarly traditions. Through his teaching at Notre Dame and public scholarship, Reynolds has created meaningful pathways for understanding between religious traditions while advancing the academic study of Islam with exceptional clarity and nuance.
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Freitag is a distinguished scholar in Islamic Studies and social history of the Arab world, holding a Professorship at Freie Universität Berlin and serving as Director of the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) . Her work bridges urban history, transregional Islamic networks, and Arabian Peninsula studies within Indian Ocean and Red Sea contexts. Education : PhD in Islamic Studies (Freiburg, 1991), Habilitation (Bonn, 2002) Research : Focus on Ottoman urban violence, Saudi state formation, Hadhrami diaspora, and historical urbanism in Jeddah Her supervision of PhD projects spans topics from Moroccan Sufi sanctußen to Yemeni Jewish communities. Recent scientific awards include fellowships at Leiden University and Käthe-Hamburger Kolleg. She contributes to public discourse through Tagesspiegel op-eds and international conferences.
Ruggero Vimercati Sanseverino is a Full Professor of Hadith Studies and Prophetic Tradition at the Center for Islamic Theology, University of Tübingen. His research spans Hadith transmission in Sunni and Shiite traditions Prophetic worship and Islamic imitation piety Dynamics of tradition and renewal in Islam Islamic spirituality and religious practices His academic journey includes a PhD from Aix-Marseille University (2012) and a Master’s from IREMAM/CNRS (2007). He has led projects like The Presence of the Prophet (DFG-ANR) and contributed to interdisciplinary dialogues on multireligious societies. The 15 most recent articles reflect his expertise in Hadith methodology Sufi spiritual traditions Prophetic hermeneutics Comparative Islamic studies Key collaborative works address interfaith dynamics and Islamic responses to secularization. He supervises PhD candidates and contributes to editorial boards, including the Theologie, Bildung, Ethik und Recht des Islam series at Nomos Verlag. His work bridges classical Islamic scholarship with contemporary theological challenges.
Mohammad Fazlhashemi is a Professor of Islamic Theology and Philosophy at Uppsala University's Department of Theology (Systematic Theology). His work bridges Islamic intellectual traditions with contemporary issues like democracy, environmental ethics, and interreligious dialogue. Current affiliations: Uppsala University, Faculty of Theology Key research areas: Islamic political philosophy, ecotheology, gender in Islam, and theological responses to modernity Email: mohammad.fazlhashemi@teol.uu.se Recent publications highlight trends in Islamic ecoethics (e.g., Islamic Ecotheology , 2025), critical analysis of classical texts (e.g., Critical-constructive interpretation of Islamic documents , 2024), and political theology (e.g., Justifying political decisions through theological arguments , 2016). His scholarship often engages comparative frameworks, as seen in works like Occidentalism (2005) and Shiʿite Salafism? (2022). Mohammad Fazlhashemi's impact spans both academic and public discourse, with contributions to debates on Islam and modernity in outlets like Expressen and Svenska Dagbladet . His co-authored book Visdomens hus: Muslimska idévärldar 600 - 2000 (2017) demonstrates his interest in Islamic intellectual history across eras.
Hatoon Alfassi is an Honorary Research Fellow in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Manchester. A Saudi historian specialized in pre-Islamic Arabian history and women's studies, she previously held positions at King Saud University and Qatar University. Alfassi earned her PhD from the University of Manchester focusing on women and power in ancient Nabataea. Her research examines women's historical agency in ancient Arabian societies, Islamic feminism, and contemporary gender rights in Saudi Arabia. She pioneered studies of Nabataean women through epigraphic analysis and comparative methodology. Current work analyzes intersections between religious interpretation, legal frameworks, and women's citizenship rights in Gulf societies. Alfassi received the MESA Academic Freedom Award (2018) and French National Order of Merit (2012). Her publications in Arabic and English include five books and numerous articles analyzing gender dynamics from antiquity to modern reforms. She maintains an active public intellectual presence through decades of newspaper columns addressing women's rights.
