Professor Muhammad Adnan Bakhit Al-Sheyyab

Muhammad Bakhit obtained a Diploma in Education and a B.A. in History in 1963, an M.A. in Islamic History in 1965 from the American University in Beirut (AUB), and a Ph.D. in Islamic History from School of Oriental and African Studies at London University in 1965. His academic career spans nearly half a century. Between 1963-1966, he was a research assistant at AUB. In 1966, he joined the Jordanian University Faculty of Arts, becoming full professor of history in 1983. He also spent an academic semester as a Visiting Researcher at Princeton University (1977-1978). During his tenure at the Jordanian University, Professor Bakhit Al-Sheyyab has also held several academic and administrative positions. He was the Dean for Scientific Research (1984-1989), the Chairman of the Translation Committee (1984-1989), the Acting Director of the Center for Strategic Studies (1985-1989), the Vice-Rector for Planning and Community Service (1989-1990), the Vice-Rector for Faculties of Humanities (1990-1991) and the Rector of Mu’tah University (1991-1993). Between 1993-2001, he founded Al-Albayt University and served as its Rector. He also founded and Chaired the Documents and Manuscripts Center and the Bilad al-Sham Conference at the Jordanian University.

Professor Bakhit Al-Sheyyab is a member of many national and international committees and humanitarian institutions and was a chief editor of Al-Nadwa, published by the Foreign Affairs Society, Dirasat, published by the Jordanian University, The Jordanian Journal of History and Archaeology, and a Chairman of the UNESCO’s Committee which produced the 4th volume of History of Humanity (from 7th to 14th Century A.D.). He is a Member of the Jordanian Arabic Language Academy, a Corresponding Member of the Syrian Arabic Language Academy, and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Royal Academy of Islamic History Research (Al-Albait Foundation) in Amman, Jordan.

Professor Bakhit Al-Sheyyab’s profundity and depth of knowledge are reflected in his publications and contributions to numerous national and international conferences; of particular importance is his 3-volumed book Studies into the History of Bilad Al-Sham (today’s Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon)

Professor Mohammad Bakhit was a recipient of the Golden Medal from the Jordanian University in 1987, the Jordanian Order of Independence (First Class) in 1990, the Jordanian Appreciation Prize in social science in 1992, the Al-Hussain Order for excellence (First Class) in 2008, and the Order of the French Ministry of Culture in 2009; alongside other awards, orders, and certificates from Jordan and other countries for his cultural and scientific contributions.

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