Dr. Ovamir Anjum Biography

Meet Dr. Ovamir Anjum, a distinguished scholar holding the prestigious Imam Khattab Endowed Chair of Islamic Studies at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Toledo. His research is a dynamic exploration of various facets within Islam, including theology, ethics, politics, and law, with a comparative perspective involving Western Thought.

Academic Background

Historical Perspective: Dr. Anjum’s academic journey begins with his background as a historian, shaping his unique interdisciplinary approach.

Educational Achievements

1. Ph.D. in Islamic Intellectual History: He obtained his doctoral degree from the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2. Masters in Social Sciences: Dr. Anjum also holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, further broadening his academic horizons.
3. Diverse Educational Background: His educational journey includes a master’s degree in Computer Science and a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering and Physics, both earned at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Islamic Roots

Early Training:

1. Home-Based Education: Dr. Anjum’s Islamic training began in his formative years, growing up in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
2. Influential Figures: He had the privilege of learning from a diverse range of scholars, including his remarkable grandmother.

Scholastic Pursuits:

1. Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh): Dr. Anjum delved into the study of Islamic jurisprudence with South Asian Ḥanafī and Ahl-e-hadīs scholars.
2. Qur’anic Studies: His educational journey also involved in-depth study of usūl al-fiqh and qirā’āt of the Quran under the guidance of scholars from Egypt’s Al-Azhar and Syria.

Published Works:

1. “Politics, Law, and Community in Islamic Thought: The Taymiyyan Moment” (2012): Dr. Anjum authored this significant work, published by Cambridge University Press, which delves into the complex interplay of politics, law, and community within Islamic thought.
2. Translation Project: He undertook the ambitious task of translating Madarij al-Salikin (Ranks of Divine Seekers) by Ibn al-Qayyim, one of the most revered Islamic spiritual classics. This project, published by Brill in 2020, is the largest single-author English translation of an Arabic text.

Current Endeavors:

Dr. Ovamir Anjum’s scholarly pursuits continue with ongoing projects that encompass:

1. Survey of Islamic History: An exploration of the rich tapestry of Islamic history.
2. Monograph on Islamic Political Thought: An in-depth study of Islamic political thought, which promises to add valuable insights to the academic world.