Monthly Archives: July 2013

Carole Hillenbrand was educated at the universities of Cambridge (Modern and Medieval Languages), Oxford (Oriental Studies: Arabic and Turkish) and Edinburgh (medieval Islamic history). She is currently an Honorary Professorial Fellow and a Professor of Islamic History at the University of Edinburgh. She served as a Head of the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from 1997-2002, and was a Visiting Professor at the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and an invited lecturer at many Arab Universities. She has also served as the Vice-President of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies since 2003, an Islamic Advisory Editor at Edinburgh University Press since 1983, and an Editor of the series entitled Studies in Persian and Turkish History, published by Routledge since 1999.

Professor Hillenbrand’s research interests include the Crusades, the Seljuqs of Iran, and Turkey and medieval Muslim political thought, especially the work of Al-Ghazali. She published four books and edited two (one with Edmond Bosworth), and authored and co-authored numerous articles, around 25 book chapters, and 15 Encyclopedia articles. In many of her publications, she approaches her subject from such varied disciplines as biography, poetry, epigraphy, Islamic theology and politics.

The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (1999), which represents the culmination of Professor Hillenbrand’s accomplishments in that part of Islamic history, was the first ever attempt by a European scholar to examine the history of the Crusades through Muslim eyes. This groundbreaking 648-page book focuses exclusively on Arabic and Persian sources to provide a more nuanced view than the previous Eurocentric perspective of the Crusades. It contains a wealth of information and is copiously illustrated and supported by a vast selection of references.

Professor Hillenbrand’s revolutionary approach to the largely one-sided subject of The Crusades has sought to redress several of the misconceptions shrouding them. Employing objectivity, preciseness and clarity of thinking, she has located several original texts, written in different languages and previously un-translated, in support of her refreshing examination of the many stereotypes that have pervaded western literature on this subject. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives, the culmination of her relentless endeavours, has been the first work of its kind to address this era through Muslim eyes, thereby making it possible for history to be viewed from a more balanced and impartial perspective.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

After completing his general education in Basra, Yacoub Al-Bahussain continued his study in Egypt. He graduated from the College of Sharia in Al-Azhar University in Cairo in 1951 and returned to Iraq. He was appointed a high school teacher and eventually a Director of the Teachers’ Institute in Basra before going back to Al-Azhar for postgraduate studies. In 1966, he obtained a post-graduate diploma in the history of Islamic jurisprudence from Al-Azhar and became a lecturer at the College of Law and Economics in Basra University. In 1972, he obtained another post-graduate diploma in Arabic Language and Literature from the Arab League’s Institute of Arabic Studies and a Ph.D. from the College of Sharia in Al-Azhar University. For the following nine years, he taught at the College of Arts in Basra University, and became a Chairman of the Department of Arabic and an Acting Dean of the College, then moved to Saudi Arabia, where he served for more than twenty five years as a professor at the College of Sharia in Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. He was a Professor Emeritus at that University, and a Member of the Commission of Senior Religious Scholars in Saudi Arabia.

Professor Al-Bahussain’s diverse teaching and research experience spans more than 50 years and deals with more than one area of expertise. Some of his most significant contributions have been in the field of Islamic jurisprudence, an area in which he wrote several important books and research papers explaining, authenticating and analyzing the principles and maxims on which Islamic jurisprudence is based.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Ali Nadvi studied at Dar Al-Uloom in India and obtained a bachelor’s degree from the Islamic University in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He was the Head of Shariah advisors in Al-Rajhi Financial and Investment Company in Riyadh.

Dr. Nadvi is a distinguished scholar of Islamic jurisprudence. During the past two decades, he carried out detailed studies on fundamental rules and maxims of Islamic jurisprudence throughout Islamic history, particularly in relation to financial dealings. His books and articles on this subject not only provide a wealth of information on a wide range of Islamic juristic rules that govern financial matters, but also analyze these rules and try to adapt them to modern circumstances.

Dr. Nadvi’s work reflects a deep knowledge of this subject, clarity of thought, and careful methodology. He participates actively in Islamic conferences and panels, especially those on Islamic jurisprudence. He is an avid reader, with an excellent command of Arabic, his second language, and diverse interests ranging from Arabic literature and biographies of prominent Islamic figures to Islamic, Arabic and alternative medicine.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Izz Al-Din Mousa was educated at the American University of Beirut (AUB), from which he received his B.A. in 1962, an M.A. in 1969, and a Ph.D.  in 1975 in Islamic History, as well as a Diploma in Education.

Professor Mousa started his career as a school teacher in Sudan in 1957, becoming a teaching assistant during his graduate studies at AUB. Between 1973-1983, he joined Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria (Nigeria), where he rose through academic ranks to the status of professor in Islamic History. In 1983, he joined King Saud University where he was teaching Islamic History. He is currently the Dean of the College of Strategic Sciences in Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Professor Mousa published a number of books, editions and articles in Arabic and English on topics pertaining to Islamic history, especially in north and west Africa. His book Economic Activity in the Maghrib in the 6th Century AH (in Arabic) is an important reference for researchers and readers interested in the economic life in Maghrib more than 800 years ago. Mousa also supervised several MA and Ph.D. students both in Ahmadu Bello University and King Saud University. He also served on many academic boards in both universities. He is an active participant in conferences and cultural events in Saudi Arabia and abroad, and was a regular participant in Al-Hasaniyya classes, held annually during the month of Ramadan under the auspices of the late Moroccan monarch, King Hassan II. Professor Mousa is a member of the ALESCO Committee on the Status of Arabic and Islamic Studies in West Africa, the International Islamic Literature Association, the Arabic Thought Consortium (Jordan) and the Al-Albait Foundation for Islamic Civilization Research (Jordan).

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Ibrahim Harakat received a Diploma in Arabic Language from the Institute of Higher Studies in 1958, and a B.A. degree from Mohammed V University in Rabat in 1960. Thereafter, he embarked on graduate studies in Arabic language and obtained a University Doctorate in Islamic Studies from Strasburg University in France in 1970, and a State Doctorate in History from the Jesuit University in Beirut in 1982. Then, he worked as a professor of Medieval History at Mohammed V University in Rabat.

Professor Harakat has been involved in academic and cultural activities in Morocco for many years. He supervised the establishment of the College of Arts in Fez, and served as an Inspector of high School education and a representative of the Moroccan Ministry of National Education in Agadir, Fez, and Taza. He was also a Chairman of the Arts Education Department, and a Director of the Cultural Sector of the Ministry of Culture, a Member of the Moroccan Higher Council for National Education, and a Member of the Scientific Council of Rabat Governorate.

Professor Harakat was a prolific writer and educator. Following his country’s independence, he wrote 40 school books. He also published more than 30 articles for the Turkish Islamic Encyclopedia. Many of his academic books, research papers and popular articles focus on the political and socio-economic aspects of Islamic history during different caliphates. One of his keynote books is Islamic Economics Between the 1st and 9th Century AH.

Professor Harakat has been recognized by the Order of Officer and the Order of Cavalier medals from Morocco for his meritorious services to his country as well as his academic achievements. He was also awarded the Grand Prize of the Moroccan Ministry of Culture in 1998, the “Arab Historian” Prize and the “Cultural Medal” from Tunisia. He was a member of the Arab Historians Association and the International Association of Mediterranean History in Italy.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Mohammad Muhar obtained his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Islamic History from Dacca University in 1952-1953, and a Ph.D. in Modern History of Southern Asia from London University in 1963. He also held a Law Degree from Britain.

Professor Ali was a specialist in the Islamic history of the Bengali region. His 4-volume book A History of the Muslims of Bengal is a reliable source on the origins and spread of Islam and its impact on the spiritual, political, and cultural life of Bengalis. This scholarly text illustrates the role of Arabs and other Muslims in the inception and spread of Islam in that part of the world. The influence of Islam on Bengali literature, art, and architecture, and the resistance of Bengali Muslims to the British occupation of their land are also discussed in the book.

Professor Ali’s other contributions include A Brief Survey of Muslim Rule in India, Islam in the Modern World; An Outline of Ancient Indo-Pakistani History; The Bengali Reaction to Christian Missionary Activities, 1833- 1857, and The Fall of Siraj aAl-Dawla. Ali also wrote more general texts, including the 2-volume Sirat aAl-Nabi and the Orientalists, and The Quran and the Latest Orientalist Assumptions as well as an edition of the biography of Nawwab Abdullatif. He also wrote on the spread of Islam in Asia for the Islamic Geographical Encyclopedia.

Professor Ali served for many years as a Professor of Islamic History in Saudi Arabian universities and was a member of several international academic societies in his field of specialization. He was an outstanding scholar in his field and has used his pen in the service of Islam and Muslims of Bangladesh. He has contributed some 25 books and papers.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Mohammad Al-Albani moved as a child with his family to Damascus, where he completed his early education and received rigorous tutelage in Arabic and Islamic studies by prominent scholars of that time.

Meanwhile, he worked as a clock and watch repairer to help support his family. Shaikh Mohammad Nasir Al-Din Al-Albani is considered by many academics as probably the greatest Islamic scholar of the 20th Century. 

Shaikh Al-Albani started to specialize in Hadith and related subjects in the 1930’s; by the age of 20, he transcribed and commented on Al-Hafiz Al-Iraqi’s monumental text Al-Mughnee ‘An Haml Al-Asfar, followed by a series of other books, lectures, and influential articles in Al-Manar magazine. It was not long before he surpassed all of his contemporaries to become the world’s leading authority in Hadith sciences. He wrote or edited more than 300 books and manuscripts, many of which became major references for Hadith scholars.

Shaikh Al-Albani visited and lectured in several Arab and European countries, including: Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Britain, Morocco, and Germany. He also taught Hadith Sciences in Al-Madinah Islamic University in Saudi Arabia for three years. His influential publications and widely attended classes and lectures, over a period of 60 years, have had a significant impact not only on the study of Hadith, but also on other branches of contemporary Islamic studies.

Although the Shaikh distanced himself from political activities, he was harassed several times, and arrested twice for a total of 9 months. During his imprisonment, he edited Al-Hafiz al-Munziri’s Mukhtasar Sahih Muslim. Eventually, he left Syria to Jordan, where he spent the last few years of his life.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Yahia Bin Junaid graduated from the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at the College of Arts, King Saud University in Riyadh in 1969, obtained an MA in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Missouri in the USA in 1976 and a Ph.D. in Library Sciences and Documentation from Cairo University in 1983.

Professor Bin Junaid is a writer and scholar of Islamic libraries, a professor of Library Science at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University and a former Head Librarian of King Fahd Library in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is the editor-in-chief of Alam Al-Makhtotat (World of Manuscripts), a literary Arabic periodical, a member of editorial boards of Al-Faisal and Ad-Dara, and consultant editor of Diriya magazines.

Professor bin Junaid has authored numerous articles and books in his field of specialization. Of particular importance is his book: Endowment and the Structure of the Arabic library, a highly definitive study into the role of endowments in the evolution of libraries and enhancement of education and culture in the Islamic world over ten centuries.

Bin Junaid served as a Member of the Saudi Consultative Council from 1997 to 2000, the Secretary General of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and a Member of the Board of Directors of King Fahad National Library.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Abdulsattar Al-Halwaji obtained a bachelor’s degree of Arabic Language and a Diploma of Education from the College of Arts at Cairo University and the College of Education at Ain Shams University, respectively, in 1959. Thereafter, he obtained an MA from London University in 1963 and a Ph.D. from Cairo University in 1969 in Library Sciences.

Professor Al-Halwaji is an expert in Islamic libraries, ancient manuscripts, and the development of book craft during early Islamic eras. One of his best-known books on this subject is Al-Makhtout Al-Arabi (The Arabic Manuscript), an excellent research into the evolution of Arabic manuscripts, calligraphy, and book craft during the first four centuries of Islamic history. Al-Halwaji has also written many other books and research articles on the history of Islamic books and libraries. In addition, he edited an ancient text on book craft attributed to almu’iz ibn Badis, and translated World Survey of Islamic Manuscripts and Introduction to the History of Muslim East: A Bibliographical Guide by Sauvaget and Cahen.

Professor Al-Halwaji’s career as Professor of Library Science at Cairo University extended over many years, during which he assumed administrative offices such as a Chair of the Department of Library Science and Documents and a Vice-Dean of the College of Arts. He also taught for some time in Saudi Arabia. He is presently a Professor Emeritus at Cairo University and a Member of the Publications and Writers Committee of the Supreme Council for Culture in Egypt.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Abdulkarim Zedan was educated in Iraq and Egypt. He graduated from the College of Law in Baghdad University in 1950, and obtained the Diploma of the Sharia Institute in 1958 and a Ph.D. in Islamic Sharia from Cairo University in 1962.

Professor Biej taught Islamic Sharia at the College of Arts and the College of Law in Baghdad University for many years, and rose through academic ranks to full professorship and Deanship of the College of Islamic Studies. After his retirement, he was named a Professor Emeritus at Baghdad University in recognition of his contributions to teaching and research. He subsequently served as a Professor of Islamic Sharia and Comparative Fiqh at the Departments of Islamic Studies and Graduate Islamic Studies in the College of Arts at Sana’a University in Yemen.

Professor Biej authored numerous articles and several books; some of his works were translated into other languages – English, Turkish, Indonesian, Malaysian, and Hindi – and are being taught in several Arab and Islamic Universities.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.