Curriculum Vitae

Feryal Salem, PhD
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- fsalem@aicusa.edu
-
640 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
LANGUAGES
- Arabic (reading, writing, spoken)
- Turkish (reading, writing, spoken)
- French (reading, spoken)
- Persian (reading)
- German (reading)
- Ottoman Turkish (reading)
COURSES TAUGHT
- Women and Gender in Islam
- Foundations of Qur’anic Studies:
- History, Form, and Application of Islam’s Holy Scripture
- Hadith Methodology
- Introduction to Islamic Law
- Muslim Devotional Law for Chaplains and Muslim Leaders
- Readings in Sufi Texts
- Interfaith Dialogue in a World of Difference
- Islamic Spirituality and Ethics
- Central Themes in Muslim Chaplaincy and Interfaith Leadership
- Themes in Critical Theory and Islamic Thought
- History of Christian-Muslim Relations
- Spiritual Care and Counseling
- Scriptural Reasoning: Muslims and Christians Reading Scriptures Together
EDUCATION
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Dissertation: “Abdallāh b. al-Mubārak Between adīth, Jihād,
and Zuhd: An Expression of Early Sunni Identity in the Formative
Period”
- Major: Islamic Thought
- Minor: History of the Modern Middle East Thesis Advisor: Fred Donner
University of Chicago
Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies
Master’s Thesis: “The Educational Reform of Sultan Abdülhamid II:
A Study of Its Impact on the Ottoman Governorate of Greater Syria”
- Thesis Advisor: Rashid Khalidi
Wayne State University
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Stanford University Hospitals
Clinical Pastoral Education
EMPLOYMENT
Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies
American Islamic College (2018–Present)
- Director, Master of Divinity in Islamic Studies and Muslim Chaplaincy Program
Assistant Professor of Islamic Scriptures and Law
Hartford Seminary (2013–2018)
- Co-Director, Islamic Chaplaincy Program
- Associate Editor, Muslim World
- Core faculty member of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations
PUBLICATIONS
Monographs
- The Emergence of Early Sufi Piety and Sunnī Scholasticism: ʿAbdallāh b. al-Mubārak and the Formation of Sunnī Identity in the Second Islamic Century, Leiden: Brill, 2016.
- The Isagoge: al-Abharī’s Introduction on Logic (translation and commentary), Chicago: Blue Mountain Press, 2022.
Edited Volumes
- The Opportunities and Challenges of Teaching Islamic Studies in Theological Seminaries. Special edited volume for the Muslim World, (April 2018).
- Al-Ghazālī’s Expansion of the Doors of Reason: Themes in Post-Classical Ashʿarī and Late Māturīdī Philosophical Theology (Kalām). Islamic Philosophy, Theology, and Science: Texts and Studies Series. Leiden: Brill, forthcoming.
Articles and Book Chapters
- “A Comparison Between the Concepts of Freewill, Qadar, and Kasb in Ḥasan al-Baṣrī’s Epistle to ʿAbd al-Malik: An Analysis of the Letter’s Theological Discourse,” Muslim World 104, nos. 1–2 (January–April 2014): 198–219.
- “Fulfilling the Need for Muslim Chaplains,” in Spotlight for Theological Education, special issue on “Teaching Islamic Studies in Theological Seminaries,” in American Academy of Religion’s Religious Studies News: 11–12.
- “125 Years of Islamic Studies at Hartford Seminary,” Muslim World 108, no. 2 (April 2018): 254–288.
- “A Muslim Response to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment,” in Dialog (2019): 1–2.
- “Paradigm Shifts and Transformative Scholarship: The Expansion of Women’s Scholarly Works in Damascus in the late Twentieth Century,” in the Routledge Handbook to Islam and Gender, ed. Justine Howe. New York: Routledge, 2020.
- “The Praiseworthy,” in the Routledge Handbook to the Qur’an, eds. George Archer, Maria Dakake, and Daniel Madigan New York: Routledge, 2021.
- “Women in Hadith Literature,” in the Oxford Handbook of Women in Islam, ed. Asma Afsaruddin (forthcoming).
- “Ṭaşköprüzāde Ahmed Efendi’s Commentary on the Ethical Philosophy of Aḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī: Theory and Praxis of Muslim Philosophical Ethics in the Sixteenth Century,” Journal of Islamic Ethics 5 (2021): 1-37.
- “The Ethics of Aḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī and Some Notes on Its Commentaries,” in Mysticism and Ethics in Islam, eds. Atif Khalil, Bilal Orfali, and Mohammed Rustom. Beirut: American University of Beirut Press, 2022.
- “Sunni-Shia Discussions on the Issue of Imāma Among Post-Classical Speculative Theologians: Shams al-Dīn al-Iṣfahānī’s Response to Naṣīr al-Tusi in his Tasdīd al-Qawāʿid,” in Al-Ghazālī’s Expansion of the Doors of Reason: Themes in Post-Classical Ashʿarī and Late Māturīdī Philosophical Theology (Kalām). ed. Feryal Salem. Leiden: Brill, forthcoming.
- “Prophetology and Islamic Spiritual Care: The Spiritual Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as a Model for Spiritual Formation and Caring for Souls,” Edinburgh University Press (forthcoming).
Encyclopedia Entries
- “Aṣl and Farʿ,” Oxford Encyclopedia of Islamic Law (forthcoming).
- “Zinā,” Oxford Encyclopedia of Islamic Law (forthcoming).
- “Zuhd,” Oxford Encyclopedia of Islamic Law (forthcoming).
- “Mahr,” Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Edited by Richard C. Martin. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2016.
- “Dhikr,” Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Edited by Richard C. Martin. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2016.
- “Khirqa,” Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Edited by Richard C. Martin. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2016.
- “Khanqa,” Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Edited by Richard C. Martin. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2016.
- “Qibla,” Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Edited by Richard C. Martin. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2016.
- “Hartford Seminary,” Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam section on Islam and Christianity (forthcoming)
- “ʿAbdallāh b. al-Mubārak” Encyclopedia of Islam 3rd Edition (forthcoming)
- “Mālik b. Dīnār” Encyclopedia of Islam 3rd Edition (forthcoming)
Book Reviews
- The Canonization of Islamic Law: A Social and Intellectual History by Ahmed El Shamsy, Muslim World 107, no. 3 (July 2017).
- What is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic by Shahab Ahmed, American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (forthcoming).
FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS
Scholar : Georgetown University Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Christian-Muslim Understanding (ACMCU), “Train the Trainers” Program for Curriculum Design and Outreach (January 2019–present)
Visiting Scholar : MUIS Academy (Muslim Religious Council of Singapore) (January 2018).
Scholar-in-Residence : Turkish Centre for Islamic Studies in Istanbul, ISAM (January–April 2017).
Sabbatical Travel Grant to India : International Institute of Islamic Thought Research Grant on Muslim-Hindu Relations (March 2017).
Pillars Fund : Grant Recipient (Islamic Chaplaincy Program Educational Programming) (2017).
Pillars Fund : Grant Recipient (Islamic Chaplaincy Program Educational Programming) (2016).
International Institute of Islamic Thought : Monograph Publication Grant (2015)
CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS
- “Prophetology and the Modes of Transmission of Islamic Spiritual Care,” International Forum for Muslim Theology Seminar; February 2022 (presenter).
- “12 Principles of Muhammadan Spiritual Care,” Association of Muslim Chaplains Annual Conference; February, 2022 (invited speaker).
- “Athīr al-Dīn al-Abharī and his role in the Development of Arabic Logic,” Association of Islamic Philosophy and Theology annual conference at Harvard University; December, 2021(invited speaker).
- “The Politicization of Interfaith Dialogue,” American Academy of Religion Annual Conference; November 2021 (presider).
- “Prayer Rituals in the Islamic Tradition,” University of Chicago Divinity School, Chicago; October 15, 2021.
- Concordia Forum, Lisbon, Portugal; September 9-12, 2021 (participant).
- “Decolonizing the Field of Christian-Muslim Relations: Historical Frameworks, Premises, and Power Dynamics,” American Academy of Religion Conference; December 2020 (panelist).
- K-12 Teacher’s Institute at Dar al-Islam, Abiquiu, New Mexico; July 6–14, 2020 (instructor of Islamic Studies).
- “Analysis from the Point of View of Islamic Law and Ethics,” Hurma Project Research Conference, Chicago; January 11, 2020 (presider).
- International Institute of Islamic Thought Winter Program, January 6-7, 2020 (faculty instructor)
- “Pedagogies of Interreligious Studies Workshop,” American Academy of Religion, San Diego; November 25, 2019 (facilitator/speaker).
- “Decolonizing and Resetting the Interfaith Table,” American Academy of Religion, San Diego; November 25, 2019 (presider).
- “Muslim and Jewish Perspectives on Diversity and Inclusion,” Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia; October 30, 2019 (speaker).
- Concordia Forum, Toronto, Canada; October 3-6, 2019 (participant).
- “Christian-Muslim Engagement in Chicago: Past, Present, Future” (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago); September 20, 2019 (keynote speaker).
- “Foundational Principles of Islamic Ethics Found in the Legal Maxims” (Qawāʿid al-fiqhiyya), Georgetown University, Washington, DC; July 25, 2019 (speaker).
- K-12 Teacher’s Institute at Dar al-Islam, Abiquiu, New Mexico; July 10–17, 2019 (instructor of Islamic studies).
- “Centering Women in Interpretations of Islamic Scriptures in Light of Sunni and Shia Jurisprudence,” Family and Gender Research Center, Qom, Iran; June 10, 2019 (keynote speaker).
- Book Talk: “The Emergence of Early Sufi Piety and Sunni Scholasticism,” Diyanet Center of America, Maryland; April 26, 2019 (speaker).
- “Images of Jesus in the Bible and the Qur’an,” (Muslim-Presbyterian Dialogue Series) Chicago Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), Chicago; March 8, 2019 (speaker).
- Book Talk: “The Emergence of Early Sufi Piety and Sunni Scholasticism,” American Islamic College, Chicago; February 12, 2019 (speaker).
- Leadership of Visit to Bedford Hills Women’s Correctional Facility and Sing-Sing Maximum Security Prisons with Delegates from Singapore, New York; February 7, 2019.
- “Aspects of Training and Practice of Islamic Chaplaincy in the United States,” (presentation to visiting members of Singapore parliament and Muslim Religious Council of Singapore), Chicago; February 4, 2019 (speaker).
- Introduction to Islam Presentation for “Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign” and “Center for Christian-Muslin Engagement at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago,” sponsored weekend educational retreat, Chicago suburbs; February 2, 2019 (speaker).
- Muslim University Chaplains trip through Turkey; December 22–January 2, 2019 (participant, facilitator, speaker).
- “Images of Mary in the Bible and the Qur’an” (Community Presbyterian Church), Downers Grove, IL; December 6, 2018 (speaker).
- “Organizations that Are Community Leaders and Allies” (Chicago Theological Seminary), Chicago; August 18, 2018 (panelist).
- Interview on Malaysian Television, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; August 7, 2018. “Spiritual Care: Importance of Muslim Chaplains” (Pantai Hospital), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; August 1, 2018 (keynote speaker).
- “Taşköprizade’s Commentary on the Spiritual Ethics of ʿAḍuḍ al-Dīn al-Ījī” (University of Putra Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; July 30, 2018 (speaker).
- “What is Muslim Chaplaincy?” (Hospital Pakar al-Islam), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; July 29, 2018 (speaker).
- K-12 Teacher’s Institute at Dar al-Islam, Abiquiu, New Mexico; July 9–17, 2018 (instructor of Islamic Studies).
- Interview for CNN’s “25 Influential American Muslims” aired May 4, 2018.
- Public Talk: “Islam and Diversity: Faith Communities of the Future” (Muslim Religious Council of Singapore); January 20, 2018 (keynote speaker).
- “The Challenges of Female Scholarship in Islamic Studies” (Muslim Religious Council of Singapore); January 19, 2018 (speaker).
- Closing Dialogue: Certificate for Islam in Context (Harmony Center) Singapore; January 17, 2018 (keynote speaker).
- MUIS Academy (Muslim Religious Council of Singapore), “Asatizah Masterclass: Harnessing Traditions for Contemporary Challenges: Reading Islamic Law in the Formative Period,” Singapore; January 16, 2018 (guest lecturer).
- Weekend Intensive: al-Ghazālī’s Marvels of the Heart, International Institute of Islamic Thought, Fairfax, VA; November 2–4, 2017 (teacher).
- Book Talk: “The Emergence of Early Sufi Piety and Sunni Scholasticism,” Turkish Center for Islamic Studies in Istanbul (ISAM): March 2, 2017.
- International Islamic Manuscript Workshop, Istanbul Center for Islamic Studies; January 23–February 4, 2016 (participant).
- MAS-ICNA Interfaith Symposium, Chicago; December 27, 2016 (main speaker/panelist) 2016 Forum for Peace in Muslim Societies, Abu Dhabi; December 18–19, 2016 (participant).
- Book Talk: “The Emergence of Early Sufi Piety and Sunni Scholasticism,” Hartford Seminary; December 5, 2016.
- Book Talk: “The Emergence of Early Sufi Piety and Sunni Scholasticism,” International Institute of Islamic Thought, Fairfax, Virginia; November 8, 2016.
- Hartford Seminary Travel Seminar to Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia; October 8–22, 2016 (faculty representative).
- Professional Development Workshop for American Muslim Leaders, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding; September 5, 2016 (participant).
- “The Muslim Chaplaincy Program at Hartford Seminary,” Islamic Society of North America Conference, Chicago; September 3, 2016 (panelist).
- “Training Interfaith Leaders at Hartford Seminary,” Interfaith Youth Core, Chicago; September 2, 2016 (speaker).
- Program in Advanced Classical Islamic Text Study in Istanbul for Academic Scholars of Islam; August 1–26, 2016 (participant).
- 2-Day Islamic Studies Pre-Tenure Faculty Enrichment Workshop, International Institute of Islamic Thought, Fairfax, VA; May 25–6, 2016 (participant).
- Building Bridges Muslim-Christian Relations Conference, Georgetown University, Washington, DC; May 6–10, 2016 (participant).
- Comparative Scriptural Studies among the Abrahamic Traditions, Union Theological Seminary, New York; December 5, 2015 (panelist).
- “Opportunities and Challenges of Teaching Islamic Studies in Theological Seminaries,” American Academy of Religion Conference, Atlanta; November 2015 (panelist).
- Program in Advanced Classical Islamic Text Study in Istanbul for Academic Scholars of Islam; August 10–25, 2015 (program director).
- “Early Islam on Constitutions and Pluralism” International Institute of Islamic Thought, Herndon, VA; June 8, 2015 (panelist).
- Shinnyo-en Buddhist Foundation Lantern Floating Festival (Hartford Seminary faculty representative), Honolulu; May 24–27, 2015 (faculty leader).
- Building Bridges Muslim-Christian Conference, Georgetown University, Doha, Qatar; May 3–6, 2015 (role).
- “How Can Different Religions Work Together to Ensure Rights of Minorities?” Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran; April 25, 2015 (panelist).
- “The Role of the Believers in Confronting Extremism,” Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, Tehran, Iran; April 12, 2015 (panelist).
- Hartford Seminary Travel Seminary to Iran; April 4–27, 2015 (faculty representative). “Drawing Lessons from Islamic Spirituality for Chaplain Spiritual Care,” American Muslim Chaplain’s Association Conference, New Haven, CT; March 7, 2015 (speaker).
- “Muslim Women’s Voices: Looking Back to Look Ahead,” Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT; February 9, 2015 (speaker).
- “Reasons for Differences Among the Four Sunni Schools of Islamic Law,” International Institute of Islamic Thought, Fairfax, VA; January 27, 2015 (speaker).
- “Islamic Higher Education: Professionalizing Leadership, Service, and Activism,” Islamic Society of North America Convention, Detroit; September 1, 2014 (speaker).
- Building Bridges Muslim-Christian Conference, Georgetown University, Washington, DC; May 2014 (participant).
- “The Nascent Genre of Early Sufi Literature: The Kutub al-Zuhd as Books of Islamic Piety,” 28th Annual Middle East History and Theory Conference, Chicago; May 4–5, 2013 (presenter).
- “A Fifth Century Vision of Sunni Orthodoxy: ʿAbd al-Qāhir al-Baghdadī’s Encounter with Early Islamic Sects and his Description of the Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jamaʿa in Farq bayn al-Firaq,” McGill Institute of Islamic Studies Student Council Graduate Symposium 2013 in Montreal; May 3–4, 2013 (presenter).
- “The Transmission and Production of Scholarship in the Islamic Sciences by Women in the Twentieth Century: Shifts in Historical Paradigms and Modifications in Presentation,” 3rd Annual University of California Santa Barbara Islamic Studies Graduate Student Conference in California, Santa Barbara; March 8–10, 2013 (presenter).
- “Classical Islamic Scholarship in Post-Colonial Syria: The Intellectual Contribution of Women Scholars in the late Twentieth Century,” 10th Annual Duke University of North Carolina Islamic Studies Conference in Durham, NC; February 15–17, 2013 (presenter).
- “Freewill, Determination, and Kasb in the Epistle of Ḥasan al-Baṣrī,” Middle East History and Theory Annual Conference for the University of Chicago, Chicago; May 4–6, 2012 (presenter).
- 2010–2011 Middle East History and Theory Workshop at the University of Chicago (annual conference organizer).
PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP
- “Sahn-i-Seman: Classical Text Study,” Istanbul, August 2021
- Muslim-Jewish Women’s Joint Memorial Service at Auschwitz II (co-leader); July 2, 2019.
- Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom, Summer Trip to Berlin and Poland; June 26–July 4, 2019.
- Interfaith Roundtable with Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago; August 26, 2018.
- Interview on Malaysian Television, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; August 7, 2018.
- “Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors” (panelist), Eastern Connecticut University, Willimantic, CT; November 29, 2016.
- Pillars Fund Leadership Summit, Chicago; September 2, 2016 (participant).
- “Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors” (panelist), Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Hartford, CT, April 28, 2016.
- “Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors” (panelist), First Church UCC, Windsor, CT, March 1, 2016.
- What is the Meaning of “Caliphate”? WNPR “Where We Live” Radio Show, February 12, 2016.
- “Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors” (panelist), First Church UCC, Middletown, CT, January 28, 2016.
- “Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors” (panelist), Temple Sinai, Newington, CT, November 15, 2015.
- “Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors” (panelist), First Church of Christ Congregational, New Britain, CT, November 12, 2015.
- Islamic Society of North America’s Statement on the Inclusion of Women (signatory, co-writer, presentation participant), ISNA Convention in Chicago, September 5, 2015.
- International Institute of Islamic Thought Summer Intensive (instructor), Herndon, VA; May 29–June 10, 2015.
- “Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors” (panelist), Kol Haverim Synagogue, Glastonbury, CT; April 28, 2015.
- “Discussion with Graeme Wood about his Atlantic article: “What ISIS Really Wants,” WNPR “Where We Live” Radio Show; March 20, 2015.
- Annual Multi-Faith Community Prayer, College of the Holy Cross, January 20, 2015.
- “ISIS: Its Roots, Its Influence, and How It’s Viewed by the Muslim World,” Hartford Seminary; December 11, 2015.
- “Muslim-Christian Dialogue: Living Out Our Faiths,” St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church; December 9, 2014.
- “Muslim Patient Care,” St. Francis Hospital Pastoral Care; December 9, 2014.
- “Sunni and Shi’a Dialogue,” Seabury Home Care; November 17, 2014.
- “Muslim Women’s Voices,” WNPR “Where We Live” Radio Show; October 7, 2014.
- “Women in Islamic Scripture,” Muslim Coalition of Connecticut; April 14, 2014.
- “Community Discussion on the Oral Transmission of the Qur’an,” Hartford Public Library; November 20, 2013.
- “Overview of Islamic History,” Asylum Hill Congregational Church; October 30, 2013.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Academy of Religion
- Middle East Studies Association
- Co-Chair, Steering Committee on Interreligious Education: American Academy of Religion
LANGUAGES
- Arabic (reading, writing, spoken)
- Turkish (reading, writing, spoken)
- French (reading, spoken)
- Persian (reading)
- German (reading)
- Ottoman Turkish (reading)
COURSES TAUGHT
- Women and Gender in Islam
- Foundations of Qur’anic Studies: History, Form, and Application of Islam’s Holy Scripture
- Hadith Methodology
- Introduction to Islamic Law
- Muslim Devotional Law for Chaplains and Muslim Leaders
- Readings in Sufi Texts
- Interfaith Dialogue in a World of Difference
- Islamic Spirituality and Ethics
- Central Themes in Muslim Chaplaincy and Interfaith Leadership
- Themes in Critical Theory and Islamic Thought
- History of Christian-Muslim Relations
- Spiritual Care and Counseling
- Scriptural Reasoning: Muslims and Christians Reading Scriptures Together