American University of Beirut

Bilal Orfali

Bilal Orfali, Ph.D. (2009), Yale University, is Sheikh Zayed Chair for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut. He specializes in Arabic literature, Sufism, and Qurʾānic Studies. He co-edits al-Abhath Journal, al-Markaz: Majallat al-dirāsāt al-ʿArabiyya, Brill's book series Texts and Studies on the Qur'an, and Handbooks on Islamic Mysticism. He is Associate Editor for Journal of Arabic Literature, member of the editorial board of the Library of Arabic Literature at NYUAD, member of the scientific committee for the Abu Dhabi Center of Arabic Language, and serves on the advisory boards of many international journals and academic projects in the Middle East, Europe, USA, and beyond.

Orfali is the author and editor of more than twenty books on Arabic Studies. His recent publications include: Radiant Lights (Brill 2022), The Maqāmāt of Badīʿ al-Zamān al-Hamadhānī: Authorship, Texts and Contexts (Reichert Verlag, 2022),  Mysticism and Ethics in Islam (AUB Press, 2022), Approaches to the Study of Pre-modern Arabic Anthologies (Brill, 2021), Light Upon Light (Brill, 2019), Insatiable Appetite: Food as Cultural Signifier in the Middle East and Beyond (Brill, 2019), The Anthologist's Art (Brill, 2016), The Book of Noble Character (Brill, 2015), The Comfort of the Mystics (Brill, 2013), Sufism, Black and White (Brill, 2012), In the Shadow of Arabic (Brill, 2011).​



Download CV​​​

​​ Digital Projec​​​ts

Contact Us

For various questions, please try contacting us via social media first!
read more

Privacy Statement

We take data privacy seriously and adhere to all applicable data privacy laws and regulations.
read more

Copyright and Disclaimer

Written permission is needed to copy or disseminate all or part of the materials on the AUB website.
read more

Title IX, Non-Discrimination, and Anti-Discriminatory Harassment

AUB is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment to all members of its community.
read more