Farabi International Award
Deadline Extended: Registration for International Section of the 15th Farabi International Award
دعوه للمشارکه: جائزه الفارابی الدولیه الخامسه عشره
Call for Nominations: 15th Farabi International Award
International Winners of 14th FIA to be Honored in Upcoming Ceremony
Farabi International Award is Granted to Sheikh Jafar Al-Mohajer by Lebanese Minister of Culture
Prof. Sami Amin Al-Arian, Honored as Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies at the 14th FIA
At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, Professor Sami Amin Al-Arian was recognized as a Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies by the jury committee, and his lifetime contributions to Islamic Studies were honored on Monday, July 10, 2023.
He received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1978 with high honors. He also received his master’s and doctorate degrees in Computer Science and Engineering in 1980 and 1985, respectively.
Dr. Al-Arian was an academic in the United States between 1986 and 2003. He was also promoted, tenured, and received several teaching awards, including “outstanding teacher of the Year.” He received many research grants and published over 50 academic papers and technical reports during his academic career in the U.S.
Dr. Al-Arian has founded numerous institutions and publications in education, research, religion, interfaith, civil and human rights, Palestine, foreign policy, and international relations.
In 2001, he was named by Newsweek as the “premiere civil rights activist” in the US for his national efforts to repeal the use of Secret Evidence in immigration courts.
The US government prosecuted Dr. Al-Arian between 2003-2014 because of his activism and was able to beat the charges twice before leaving for Turkey in 2015.
His US story was featured in 2007 in the Norwegian award-winning documentary “US vs. Al-Arian” and 2016 in the book “Being Palestinian.” His book of poetry on Spirituality, Palestine, and Human Rights was titled Conspiring Against Joseph.
Dr. Al-Arian has been a prolific speaker and author of dozens of studies, articles, and book chapters on many topics related to Islam and the West, the Islamic Ummah, Islamophobia, Palestine, the Arab Spring, the Middle East, and American foreign policy. Some of his publications include The Arab Awakening Unveiled Understanding Transformations and Revolutions in the Middle East.
He also edited several volumes on many topics, including Civil-Military Relations in Muslim Societies, The Global War on Terror, Governance and Political Authority in the Muslim World, and Challenging Apartheid in Palestine.
He is currently working on many titles, including a five-volume book on the miracles of the Qur’an, The Tawhidi Paradigm, Vision for the Liberation of Palestine, and an autobiography.
Prof. Al-Arian is currently the Director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) and a Public Affairs Professor at Istanbul Zaim University in Turkey.
The Ascendant Qur'an: Realigning Man to the Divine Power Culture
At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, renowned scholar, Professor Muhammad Al-Asi was honored with the esteemed Farabi International Distinguished Research Award in the International section for his groundbreaking Tafsir of Quran entitled “The Ascendant Qur'an: Realigning Man to the Divine Power Culture”.
The ceremony was held on Monday, July 10, 2023, in the presence of Iran's professors, researchers, and high-ranking officials.
Muhammad al-Asi was born in Michigan in 1951. He completed his primary education in the United States, then went to Lebanon for high school. Afterward, he attended the Arab University of Beirut, where he studied the Arabic language. Upon completing his education, he returned to the United States and pursued Government and Politics at the University of Maryland. After earning a master's degree, he was appointed as the Imam of the Islamic Center in Washington.
Al-Asi contributes articles to the Crescent International news magazine while also holding discussions on Islamic topics at universities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has held positions as the scientific director of the Islamic Education Center, a member of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, and a member of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT). Some of his noteworthy works include "The Awakening Islam," "Ascendant Qur'an: An Advanced English Translation of the Meanings of the Qur'an," and "The Ascendant Qur'an: Realigning Man to the Divine Power Culture," which is a 14-volume Tafsir of the Quran.
Tafsir of the Qur'an by Al-Asi, a native speaker of both English and Arabic, who is also familiar with Islamic and Quranic studies, is considered a unique Tafsir for English speakers.
The author made a diligent effort to ensure that the interpretation of each verse reflects the intended meaning of the words within the context of the verse.
He has endeavored to offer an interpretation that aligns with contemporary world issues and the requirements of modern-day Muslims. He utilized resources such as Shia and Sunni Tafsirs, hadiths, jurisprudence, and historical, political, philosophical, social sciences, and natural sciences books to achieve his goal.
He made sure to reference these sources within the interpretation text. The way he interprets the Qur'an is selective in nature. This means that he does not emphasize the verses' characteristics, shapes, structures, and chapters in his Tafsir. This tafsir stands out with its emphasis on "active meanings" relevant to today's society, politics, and daily interactions. This unique approach is often overlooked in both classical and contemporary interpretations of verse. This Tafsir is distinct because it is composed directly in English, unlike other English tafsirs which are translations of other tafsirs.
Prof. Jafar Al-Mohajer Honored as Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies at the 14th FIA
At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, Professor Jafar Al-Mohajer was recognized as a Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies by the jury committee, and his lifetime contributions to Islamic Studies, especially Shia History were honored on Monday, July 10, 2023.
He benefited from the lessons of Ayatollah Khoei, Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, Ayatollah Muhammad Reza al-Muzaffar, Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Taqi Hakim, and Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Iravani.
He became a jurisprudence (Fiqh) faculty member in 1957 and completed his Bachelor's degree in Arabic language and Islamic Studies in 1962. After completing his studies, he returned to Baalbek to spread the teachings of Islam. Aside from fulfilling judicial responsibilities, he also engaged in research and writing activities.
He has authored several publications on historical topics. Because of his interest in historical studies, he founded Bahāʼ al-Dīn international center for Historical and Social Studies.
He is the author of several books on the history of Shiism and the history of Jabal Amil. Sheikh Jafar collaborated with various universities in Beirut, where he pursued language and literature studies. He ultimately obtained a doctorate in History. Following his retirement from judicial work in 2004, he was appointed as an honorary judge in the Jafari High Court.
Some of his publications are as follows: The History of Prophetic Hadith, The Secret History of Imamat, The Tradition of Malik al-Ashtar, The History of Shiites in Lebanon and Syria, and Shiites Across the World: Human Geography and its Historical Background, Harfush dynasty, The foundation of the History of Shiites in Lebanon and Syria, Martyr Procession from Medina to Karbala, Lebanese Shiites: the Real Starting Point of its History, Six Heroic Faqihs (Islamic Jurists), Jabal Amil Under the Crusaders’ Occupation, Mosque and the Scene of Ras al-Hussein (PBUH) in Baalbak, translation of “the History of the Shiites of Lebanon, Syria, and the Peninsula” written by Mohammad Hamadeh and "Translation of the “Shiites of Lebanon under the Ottoman Rule.”
Prof. Noureddine Aboulahia, Honored as Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies at the 14th FIA
At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, Professor Noureddine Aboulahia was recognized as a Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies by the jury committee, and his lifetime contributions to Islamic Studies were honored on Monday, July 10, 2023.
Noureddine Aboulahia was born in 1968. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the Emir Abdelkader University of Islamic Sciences in Algeria. His master's thesis focused on "Social Reform from the Perspective of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazali." He completed his Ph.D. in the field of Principles of Faith (Uṣūl al-Dīn) at the University of Batna in Algeria. The subject of his Ph.D. dissertation was “Interaction of Algerian Muslim Scholars with Sufi Sects.”
He is a professor of Islamic Thought at the Department of Usul Al-Din at Batna University of Algeria. Prof. Aboulahia is among Algeria's intellectual and academic elites who have published works on numerous aspects of Islamic sciences and schools of thought. He has taken part in scientific and research conferences across various Arab nations. Al-Ghazali has deeply influenced Boulahia.
He believes in the rapprochement of the Islamic religions and creeds (Taghrib Ul Mazahib). In addition, he is knowledgeable about the perspectives of esteemed scholars like Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltut, Mustafa al-Maraghi, and Abd al-Halim Mahmud.
He published over 100 books on Islamic thought, Shia Studies, and Iranian studies. He employs two distinct writing styles - academic and literary-narrative; the former caters to the educated and academic community, while the latter presents concepts in a simplified, narrative form for the general public.
The author has published a collection of books focusing on the civilizational doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The series includes titles such as "Iran: Religion and Civilization," "Iran: System and Government", "Iran: Revolution and Victory", "Iran and Quran", and "Iran and Civilizational Project".
He authored the Encyclopedia of Ahl al-Bayt Hadiths, a compilation of 20 volumes of Hadiths from Ahl al-Bayt. In this collection, he has compiled and published forty-four thousand hadiths transmitted by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the infallible Imams (PBUH) on various topics of belief, rulings, morals, and ethics of Islam in more than 10,000 pages. His other distinguished works include Syria and the World War, Spouse’ Spiritual and Material Rights, Intellectuals and Fight with Sanctities, God-seekers, Children’s Right to Health, The World View of Monotheism and Atheism.
Prof. Tahir Uluç, Honored as Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies and Iranian Studies at the 14th FIA
At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, Professor Tahir Uluç was recognized as a Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies and Iranian Studies by the jury committee, and his lifetime contributions to Islamic and Iranian Studies were honored in the ceremony on Monday, July 10, 2023.
He was born on May 05, 1977, in Ceyhan, Adana, Turkey. He completed his primary, secondary, and high school education in his hometown. He was admitted to the Faculty of Divinity of Selçuk University in Konya in 1994 and graduated in 1999.The same year, he was admitted to the master’s program of Sufi Studies at the Social Sciences Institute of Selçuk University. In the same year institute, he was designated as a Research Assistant.
He earned his MA in 2001 with his dissertation entitled “Wearing and Investing Khirqa in Sufi Tradition.” In the same year, he was admitted to the same institute's doctoral program of Islamic Philosophy. He earned his Ph.D. in 2005 with his dissertation entitled “Mystical Symbolism in Ibn Arabi.”
He was awarded a doctoral scholarship by the Turkish Academy of Sciences, by which he carried out research on his thesis for seven months at Hartford Seminary in the United States in the 2002-2003 academic year.
Between November 2007 and January 2008, with a postdoctoral scholarship from the Islamic Republic of Iran, he studied Persian at Imam Sadiq University and Tehran University in Tehran and researched Islamic Philosophy.
In 2009, he received an invitation from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to teach Islamic Thought and Philosophy for one year, but failed to accept this invitation.
In 2010, he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Islamic Philosophy, the Faculty of Divinity of Selçuk University.
Between June and September 2011, he spent three months at the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures of Indiana University in the United States with a postdoctoral scholarship by the Turkish Higher Education Council.
He was appointed as Associate Professor in 2012 and Full Professor in 2017 in the Department of Islamic Philosophy, the Faculty of Divinity of Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya, and he still holds this position.
Between 2018-2020, he served as chair of the Department of Philosophical and Religious Sciences in the Faculty of Divinity.
He is fluent in Turkish, English, Arabic, and Persian languages.
Some of his works include Suhrawardi’s Criticism of Ibn Sina, Mystical Symbolism in Ibn Arabi, the Turkish translation of Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi’s Hikmat al-Ishraq, the Turkish translation of Shihabaddin Suhrawardi’s Futuvvatnama, the Turkish translation of Abdurrazzaq Kashani’s Tuḥfat al-Ikhwan fi Khaṣaiṣi’l-Fityan, the Turkish translation of Al Kitab Ul Tazkari of Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, Contemporary Turkish Thought, Four Gates-Forty Stations: The Stages of Spiritual Journey, The Book of the Signposts of Right Guidance and the Creed of the God-Fearing: The Creed of Suhrawardi, Kitab al-Tawḥid: Rational Roots of Islamic Monotheistic Belief (the English translation of Maturidi’s Kitab al-Tawḥid).
Prof. Mulyadhi Kartanegara, Honored as Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies at the 14th FIA
At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, Professor Mulyadhi Kartanegara was recognized as a Distinguished Researcher in Islamic Studies by the jury committee, and his lifetime contributions to Islamic Studies, particularly in the field of Islamic philosophy, were honored on Monday, July 10, 2023.
He was born on June 11, 1959, in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia. He went to a public elementary school in the morning and a religious school in the afternoon. After graduating from elementary school, he continued his education at PGA (the Education for Religious Teachers) and graduated in 1975.
Kartanegara got the Fulbright scholarship for a master’s program at the University of Chicago, USA, and graduated in 1989. A year later, he got another Fulbright scholarship to pursue a PhD program and completed it in 1986 writing Mukhtasar Siwan al-Hikmah of Umar b. Sahlan al-Sawi as his dissertation.
Upon finishing his Ph.D. program, he returned to his home country and resumed his teaching position at his previous university. Afterward, he taught philosophy at several top universities in Jakarta, such as UI and UPM, and later at UGM Yogyakarta.
From 2000 to 2007, he wrote some important works in philosophy, mysticism, and science, such as Menembus Batas Waktu, Mizan 2002; Introduction to Islamic Epistemology (Mizan 2003), The Gate of Wisdom: An Introduction to Islamic Philosophy (2005), Diving into the Heart of Sufism (2007) and Science and Mathematics in Islam (2012).
At the same period, he also wrote other important works on Islamic scientific tradition: The Integration of Knowledge: A Holistic Reconstruction (Arasy, 2005), and Reactualization of Islamic Scientific Tradition (Baitul Ihsan, 2006).
His latest literary works include "The Lantern of Life: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding God, Nature, and Humanity" and "Exploring the Vast Ocean of Knowledge: An Autobiography" spanning six volumes.
In 2005, he was granted a professorship in Islamic philosophy, and got a chance to teach abroad: ISTAC, Malaysia (2009) and UBD Brunei Darussalam (2013-2020).
In 2006, he founded CIPSI (Center for Islamic Philosophical Studies and Information), and since then,he has been its director until now.
Prof. Azarmi Dukht Safavi Honored as Distinguished Researcher in Iranian Studies at the 14th FIA
At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, Professor Azarmi Dukht Safavi was recognized as a Distinguished Researcher in Iranian Studies by the jury committee, and her lifetime contributions to the field, particularly in Persian Language, were honored on Monday, July 10, 2023.
CV Prof. Azarmi D Safavi
Azarmi Dukht Safavi was born in India, in the city of Agra, in a renowned and educated family of Lucknow, now settled in Shamsabad, an old historical town in Uttar Pradesh. She is a Musavi Sayyed and has roots in Iran, as her family is a descendant of the Iranian Safavi dynasty. Her forefather Shah Rahmatullah Safavi migrated to India from Iran during the time of the later Mughal king Muhammad Shah. Prof. Azarmi Dukht’s family has preserved its Iranian culture and love for the Persian language and literature. Her (Late) Father, Sayyed Muhammad Sadiq Safavi, himself a scholar of Persian, motivated her to learn Persian. Azarmi Dukht began her Persian learning at home under her father's guidance. She still fondly remembers that her first lesson was the “manqabat” of Imam Reza of poet Qaani.
She completed her schooling at Agra and her college education at Aligarh Muslim University, securing high marks and receiving Gold Medals. She chose Persian Language and Literature for her Master's degree and topped her class, getting a Gold Medal. She did her Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University. The topic was: “Sādi as a Humanist and Lyricist.” She discussed the point that seeds of Humanistic philosophy are to be found in Sadi's works.
Dr. Safavi made her first visit to Iran during her Ph.D. to learn modern and spoken Persian. She was guided in Iran by renowned scholars, including Jafar Shahidi, Bastani Parizi, and Iraj Afshar.
She became an Assistant Professor and finally a full-fledged Professor and Head Department of Persian at Aligarh Muslim University. She introduced many new courses of study, guided Ph.D. and M.Phil, established the Persian language Lab. and motivated students to learn Persian.
Prof. Safavi married Sayyed Mahdi Abbas Rizvi, a renowned Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and traveled with him to London for higher studies. She did research work at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and at the British Museum Library on rare Persian manuscripts and published a few of them, including Unsut Taibeen by Ahmad Jami.
Safavi has held many important positions at the University. She was the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the Head of the Department of Persian, the Director Institute of Persian Research, and the Director of the General Education Centre.
Prof. Safavi is also the President of the All India Persian Teacher’s Association.
Her most outstanding contribution to the promotion of Persian is the establishment of the Institute of Persian Research at Aligarh Muslim University in 2006. She aims to highlight the role of Persian as a source language for research on India’s history and culture. It is a multi-disciplinary Research Centre, well-acknowledged in India and abroad, and Safavi is its Founder Director. More than 70 books have been published in this Centre till now, apart from other academic activities.
Safavi is an internationally known scholar of Persian. Her publications include over 50 books and 200 articles in National and International journals. She is the organizing Director of more than 50 seminars and conferences, has attended hundreds of seminars, and delivered lectures in India and abroad.
Safavi is the recipient of many prestigious National / International Awards, including:
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President of India Award 2006
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Life Time Achievement Award, Iran;
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Saadi Award, Iran Culture House, New Delhi
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Govt. of Iran Award
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Ghalib Award
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Maikash Award
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Best Book Award 2019, Iran Culture House, etc.
Dr. Safavi is an Honorary Member of the Academic Committee of Farhangistan, Iran. She travels to Iran regularly for academic purposes. She is in continuous contact with scholars like Dr. Haddad Adel, Dr. Mahdi Mohaghegh, Dr. Ahmad Reza Khezri, Ali Muhammad Moazzeni, Dr. Mohd. Reza Nasiri etc.
She has devoted her entire life to serving the cause of Persian. Dr. Safavi is settled in Aligarh and working on Research Project under the prestigious Tagore National Fellowship, awarded to a Persian scholar for the first time. Her particular field of interest is Post Islamic Revolution Literature in Iran. Safavi’s book ‘Revolution and Creativity deals with this topic. Farhangistan-e-Zaban-u-Adab-e-Farsi, Tehran, published a book about Azarmi Dukht’s Life and Works in 1394 H.S.
The 14th Farabi International Award Announces International Section Winners
The ceremony was held in the presence of Iran's professors, researchers, and high-ranking officials including Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Parliament of Iran, and Mohammad Ali Zolfigol, the Minister of Science, Research and Technology.
The international section of the FIA recognizes outstanding achievements in Iranian Studies, Religion Studies, and Islamic Studies. The winners from the international section showcase exceptional expertise in their respective fields of study.
In the international section of the 14th FIA, Professor Tahir Uluç from Turkey was honored with a Distinguished Researcher Award for his exceptional contributions to Iranian and Islamic Studies. This esteemed honor is a testament to his outstanding contributions and exceptional expertise in the fields of Iranian and Islamic Studies. His remarkable achievements have undoubtedly made a significant impact on the academic world and beyond.
Professor Azarmi Dukht Safavi from India has been recognized as a Distinguished Researcher in Iranian Studies. This notable achievement speaks volumes of Professor Safavi's dedication and contributions to the study of Iranian culture and history, and her expertise will undoubtedly continue to inspire and advance the field for years to come.
Four esteemed Professors, namely Professor Sami Amin Al-Arian from Palestine, Professor Mulyadhi Kartanegara from Indonesia, Professor Sheikh Jafar Al-Mohajer from Lebanon, and Professor Noureddine Aboulahia from Algeria, have been recognized and awarded as Distinguished Researchers in the field of Islamic Studies. Their exceptional contributions and noteworthy research endeavors have significantly impacted and added valuable insights to the field.
Professor Muhammad Al-Asi from Lebanon has also been awarded the prestigious Farabi International Distinguished Research Award in the International Section.
The recognition was bestowed upon the professor for his exceptional work in the field of Quranic studies with his revolutionary Tafsir of Quran titled “The Ascendant Qur'an: Realigning Man to the Divine Power Culture.”
This groundbreaking work is a testament to Professor Al-Asi's unwavering dedication and commitment to the study of the Quran, and his contributions to the field are truly commendable.
As the esteemed winners of the international section were not present at the closing ceremony, they will be honored in a special ceremony organized through the embassies of the Islamic Republic of Iran to receive their awards.
Announcement of the International Committee of the 14th Farabi International Award
We would like to inform you that the Farabi International Award (FIA) has encountered some delays in the selection process due to multiple reviews at the jury committee. Unfortunately, this means that the award winners of the international section will not be able to attend the closing ceremony of the FIA in person this year. However, we are pleased to announce that the winners will be recognized and honored during the closing ceremony of the Award, which will be held on July 10, 2023, at the IRIB International Conference Center.
For the winners of the international section of the FIA, plaques of honor and awards will be presented during a ceremony organized by the cultural center or embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This ceremony will be held in the winner's country of residence and attended by esteemed professors and researchers. If there is no diplomatic representation in the winner's country, alternative arrangements will be made.
Regrettably, the award's permanent secretariat cannot offer amenities for non-Iranian awardees' housing and reception to attend the Tehran closing ceremony due to the constraints outlined previously. Therefore, no assistance program is available for winners to participate in the event in person.
Also, we are happy to inform you that the video recording of the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, along with its English translation, will be available at 5:00 pm on July 10, 2023, on the Award's website at the following address:
[http://farabiaward.ir/en]
The International Committee of the 14th Farabi International Award
July 3rd, 2023
