Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed (Urdu: اکبر صلاح الدین احمد), SI, commonly referred to as Akbar S. Ahmed (Urdu: اکبر ایس احمد) is an anthropologist, filmmaker, administrator, diplomat and a Muslim scholar on Islam, International Relations and Politics, and Contemporary Islamic philosophy from Pakistan. According to the BBC, he is “the world’s leading authority on contemporary Islam”.

Education

Ahmed earned a bachelor's degree of social sciences from the University of Birmingham, a master of arts degree in education from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies, part of the University of London. He also received an honorary doctor of laws from the University of Liverpool.

Career

He is Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at the American University in Washington, DC and a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University. He was previously the High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom and has taught at Princeton University, Harvard University, and the University of Cambridge. He has advised Prince Charles and met with President George W. Bush on Islam. His numerous books, films, and documentaries have won awards.

Ahmed is regularly interviewed on CNN, CNBC Pakistan, the BBC, and ARY TV, and has appeared several times on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Nightline. Ahmed appeared on the Sir David Frost Show (along with Lord Owen) on Al Jazeera and also Newsnight for the Annual Review 2007.

Works

Books

1. Pieces of Green, the Sociology of Change in Pakistan, 1964-1974; Royal Book Co., 1977
2. Social and economic change in the Tribal Areas, 1972-1976; Oxford University Press, 1977
3. Religion and Politics in Muslim Society: Order and Conflict in Pakistan; Royal Book Co., 1987
4. Toward Islamic Anthropology: Definition, Dogma, and Directions; Vanguard Books, 1987
5. Pakistan: The Social Sciences' Perspective; Oxford University Press, 1990
6. Resistance and Control in Pakistan; Routledge, 1991
7. Postmodernism and Islam: Predicament and Promise; Routledge, 1992
8. Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History and Society; Routledge, 1993
9. Islam, Globalization and Postmodernity; Routledge, 1994
10. Jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic Identity; Routledge, 1997
11. Islam Today: A Short Introduction to The Muslim World; I.B. Tauris, 1998
12. The Future of Anthropology: Its Relevance to the Contemporary World; Co-Edited by Chris Shore, Athlone Press, 1999
13. Islam Under Siege: Living Dangerously in a Post-Honor World; Polity Press, 2003
14. After Terror: Promoting Dialogue Among Civilizations; Co-Edited by Brian Forst, Polity Press, 2005
15. Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization; Brookings Institution Press, 2007

Films and Documentaries

1. Executive producer and co-writer, Jinnah, 1998
2. Host, The Glories of Islam by Channel 4 UK
3. Executive producer, The Quaid: Mr. Jinnah and the Making of Pakistan: A Documentary Film
4. Host, Living Islam, six part series by BBC
5. Journey Through the Muslim World with Akbar Ahmed, by Raj TV, UK

See also

• Contemporary Islamic philosophy
• Islamism

References

External links

• Faculty Biography at American University
• Official website at American University
• Articles on Islam by Professor Akbar S. Ahmad
• Entries at Washington Post's "On Faith" Weblog
• Biography at The Globalist
• Interview with Professor Ahmed from the Foreign Correspondent, September 19, 2001
• "Islam and Freedom of Thought" by Akbar Ahmed and Lawrence Rosen
• "Five Years After 9/11, 'Dialogue' with Islam Cause for Hope": Q&A with Akbar Ahmed by Mark O'Keefe