Dr. Josef Waleed Meri

Dr. Josef Waleed Meri (PhD)

Historian in Interfaith Relations in the Middle East

Islamic Studies

College of Islamic Studies

Master of Arts in Contemporary Islamic Studies

Email
Phone+974 44546610
Office locationC.01.39

Biography

Prof. Meri is a specialist in the history of interfaith relations in the Middle East in the past and present, Islamic history and civilization, and the history of religions with a focus on the Abrahamic faiths. His research interests include: Muslim-non-Muslim relations in the medieval and modern Middle East; medieval Islamic history; pilgrimage and the veneration of holy places; persons and objects in Islam, Judaism and Christianity; history and memory; and popular religion. He also has a special interest in bibliographical method having worked previously in technical services at a university library. Currently, he is an Associate at Georgetown University's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding were he focuses his research on tolerance and co-existence.

Prof. Meri supervises students working on interfaith relations (Judaism-Christianity-Islam), the History of Religions, and Islamic History. He is presently Subject Editor for Islamic Civilization for Routledge Medieval Encyclopedia Online (RMEO) [forthcoming]. He previously served as Founding Advisory Board Member (Islamic Studies); Oxford Bibliographies On-line (2008-2010); General Editor of Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (2002-2005); Series Editor of the Great Tafsirs of the Holy Qur'an series (Fons Vitae Publishers, USA with Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan; 2005-2010); Section Editor (Islam) of Wiley-Blackwell's Religion Compass (2005-2010); Book Review Editor (Medieval Islamic and Jewish Studies) of Speculum, published by the Medieval Academy of America (2007-2012); and Founding Editor of Intertwined Worlds (2010-2013), an e-platform dedicated to the academic study of Muslim-Jewish and Muslim-Jewish-Christian Relations.

Research Interests

History of Interfaith Relations in the Middle East in the Past and Present
Hospitality in the History of Interfaith Relations
Tolerance in the Middle East and West
History and Memory
Pilgrims and Pilgrimage in Islam

Experience

Associate, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding

Georgetown University

2021 – Present

Historian in Interfaith Relations in the Middle East

CIS, HBKU
2019 – Present
Senior Associate

Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations, Merrimack College
2019 – Present
Assistant Professor, History of Religions and Interfaith Relations in the Middle East

Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations, Merrimack College
2018 – Present
Faculty Associate

Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations, Merrimack College
2014 – 2018
Visiting Professor

Department of Studies of Islam in the Contemporary World, University of Jordan
2014 – 2015
8th Allianz Visiting Professor, Islamic Studies

Institute of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich
2013 – 2014
Visiting Fellow

Centre of Islamic Studies, Cambridge University
2011 – 2014
Affiliated Researcher and Lecturer

Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Cambridge University
2011 – 2013

Academic Director, Muslim-Jewish Relations

Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations, Woolf Institute, St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge University
2010 – 2013
Fellow and Special Scholar in Residence

Tafsir and Hadith Unit, Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman
2004 – Present
Visiting Fellow, Medieval Islamic History and Civilization and Interfaith Relations

Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
2002 – 2004
Fellow, Al Falah Program

Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of California
1999 – 2002
Visiting Scholar and Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Near Eastern Studies, University of California
1999 – 2002
Visiting Social Science Research Council Fellow

Institut Français d’Études Arabes de Damas, Damascus
1996 – 1997
Visiting Scholar (Summer)

Hebrew University of Jerusalem
1994
Visiting Scholar (Summer)

American Research Center, Cairo
1994

Education

D.Phil In Oriental Studies (Islamic Studies with an Emphasis on Muslim-Jewish Relations)

University of Oxford

1999

MA in Medieval Islamic History

State University of New York
1995

BA (Hons.) in Middle Eastern Studies and Near Eastern Studies

University of California
1992

Selected Publications

BOOKS
Meri, J. [In progress]. The Cave of the Patriarchs: A Very Short Introduction.

New York: Oxford University Press.
Meri, J. [In progress]. A History of Interfaith Relations in the Middle East and Mediterranean (undergraduate textbook).

Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Meri, J. [In progress]. Pilgrims and Pilgrimage in Islam.

Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2019 – in press) Al-Qistas al-Mutaqim [The Correct Balance] (Meri, J., trans.).
2019
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2019 – in press) Al-Ma‘arif al-‘Aqliyya [Intellectual Insights] (Meri, J., trans.).
2019
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2019 – in press) Mi‘yar al ‘Ilm [Standard of Knowledge] (Meri, J., trans.).
2019
Meri, J. (Ed.). (2017). Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (2 vols.).

Abingdon, Oxon. and New York: Routledge.
2017
Meri, J. (Ed.). (2017). Jewish-Muslim Relations in Past and Present: A Kaleidoscopic View.

Leiden: Brill.
2017
Meri, J. (Ed.). (2016). Routledge Handbook of Muslim-Jewish Relations.

Abingdon, Oxon. and New York: Routledge.
2016
Meri, J. (2003). The Cult of Saints among Muslims and Jews in Medieval Syria.

Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2003
BOOK CHAPTERS
Meri, J. (2016). Historical Themes – Medieval (Middle East and North Africa).

In Meri, J. (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Muslim-Jewish Relations. London: Routledge. 15-33.
2016
Meri, J. (2015). The Cult of Saints and Pilgrimage.

In Stroumsa, G., & Silverstein, A. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Abrahamic Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 499-517.
2015
Meri, J. (2012). Reevaluating the Role of Islamic Civilization in Europe and the Middle East.

In Islam, Knowledge, and Innovation. Washington, D.C.: British Council and the Prince Alwalid bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies, Cambridge University. 15-16. http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/PageFiles/16695/IslamKnowledgeInnovation. pdf
2012
Meri, J. (2005). Introduction. Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (2 vols.).

Abingdon, Oxon. and New York: Routledge. 1:xii-xiii. http://cw.routledge.com/ref/middleages/Islamic/introduction.html
2005
Meri, J. (1999). The Etiquette of Devotion in the Islamic Cult of Saints.

In Howard- Johnston, J., & Hayward, P. A (Eds.), The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages: Essays on the Contribution of Peter Brown. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 263-86.
1999
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Meri, J. (2015). [Review of the book Jews, Christians, and the Abode of Islam: Modern Scholarship, Medieval Realities, by J. Lassner].

Speculum, 90.4.
2015
Meri, J. (2015). [Review of the book Sacred Space in Israel and Palestine Religion and Politics, by M. Breger, Y. Reiter, & L. Hammer].

Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations (Taylor & Francis).
2015
Meri, J. (2013). [Review of the book Syrian Jewry in Transition 1840-1880, by Y. Harel].

Journal of Modern Jewish Studies.
2013
Meri, J. (2012). Pilgrimage to the Prophet Ezekiel’s Shrine in Iraq: A Symbol of Muslim-Jewish Relations

Perspectives (Woolf Institute), Spring 2012. 22-25. http://www.academia.edu/attachments/15593188/download_file
2012
Meri, J. (2012). [Review of the book The Meaning of Mecca: The Politics of Pilgrimage in Early Islam, by M. E. McMillan].

Journal of Arabian Studies, 2. (2). 235-237.
2012
Meri, J. (2012). [Review of the book Bibliography of Jews in the Islamic World by M. Gallego et al.].

Journal of Islamic Studies.
2012
Meri, J. (2010). Relics of Piety and Power in Medieval Islam.

Past and Present, Supplement 5. Oxford University Press. 97-120. http://past.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/gtq014?ijkey=yYtaRFal9BaOqcL&...
2010
Meri, J. (1999). Re-appropriating Sacred Space: Medieval Jews and Muslims Seeking Elijah and al-Khadir.

Medieval Encounters: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Culture in Confluence and Dialogue, 5. 237-64.
1999
Meri, J. (1999). The Islamic Cult of Saints and Medieval Popular Culture.

Al-‘Usūr al-Wustā: The Journal of Middle East Medievalists. 34-35, 44.
1999
Meri, J. (1999). Aspects of Baraka (Blessings) and Ritual Devotion among Medieval Muslims and Jews [special issue].

Medieval Encounters: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Culture in Confluence and Dialogue, 5.46-69.
1999
OTHERS
Meri, J. (2019). Entries on “Saladin,” “‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi,” and “‘Ali b. Abi Bakr al-Harawi.”

In Haleem, M. A., & Shah, M. A. (Eds.), The I.B. Tauris Biographical Dictionary of Islamic Civilization. London: I.B. Tauris.
2019
Meri, J. (2016). Pilgrimage. Thematic Guide for Oxford University Press.

In Esposito, J. (Ed.), Oxford Islamic Studies Online.
2016
Meri. J. (2014). Jewish-Muslim Relations.

Oxford Bibliographies Online. Oxford University Press.
2014
Meri, J. (2010). Ibn Battuta.

In Oxford Bibliographies On-line. Oxford University Press.
2010
Meri, J. (2009). Book Publishing in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies: Technological Academic Solutions for Scholars and Academic Publishers.

Middle East Studies Association Bulletin. 42. http://www.academia.edu/attachments/758882/download_file
2009
Meri, J. (2009). Entries on “Pilgrimage and Religious Travel in Islam,” and “Ka‘ba.”

In Oxford Bibliographies On-line. Oxford University Press.
2009
Meri, J. (2006). Memorializing the Sacred in the Islamic Civilization Context.

Islamica Magazine. 15.
2006
Meri, J. (2005). Entries on “Baraka,” “Al-Harawī, ‘Alī ibn Abī Bakr,” and “Pilgrimage.”

Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (2 vols.). Abingdon, Oxon. and New York: Routledge. 1:98.
2005
Meri, J. (2000). Multilingual Computing in Middle East Studies.

Middle East Studies Association Bulletin, 34. 14-19.
2000
Meri, J. (1999). The Changing Face of Medieval Near Eastern Studies: Challenges and Strategies.

Middle East Studies Association Bulletin, Winter 1999. 164-68.
1999

Honors and Awards

Interfaith Curriculum Development Grant ($4,000) — William and Mary Greve Foundation, USA, 2015
Goldziher Prize in Jewish-muslim Relations ($25,000) — Merrimack College, 2014
Al Falah Funding for Collaboration with William Brenner on his Study of Tha‘labī’s Qisas Al-anbiyā’ (Stories of the Prophets) — Center for Middle Eastern Studies, UC Berkeley, 2000
Multiple Grants — Wolfson College, Oxford, 1996–1998
Grant for Archival and Fieldwork in Damascus and Jerusalem — Barakat Trust Fellowship in Islamic Archaeology, Oxford, 1996
Grant for Fieldwork in Israel, East Jerusalem, and West Bank — Fulbright Program, 1992–1993
Prize for Excellence and Achievement in the Study of Hebrew — Department of Near Eastern Studies, UC Berkeley, 1992

Biography
Research Interests
Experience
Education
Selected Publications
Website

FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES

Dr. Josef Waleed Meri (PhD)

Biography

Research Interests

Experience

Associate, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding

Historian in Interfaith Relations in the Middle East

Senior Associate

Assistant Professor, History of Religions and Interfaith Relations in the Middle East

Faculty Associate

Visiting Professor

8th Allianz Visiting Professor, Islamic Studies

Visiting Fellow

Affiliated Researcher and Lecturer

Academic Director, Muslim-Jewish Relations

Fellow and Special Scholar in Residence

Visiting Fellow, Medieval Islamic History and Civilization and Interfaith Relations

Fellow, Al Falah Program

Visiting Scholar and Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Visiting Social Science Research Council Fellow

Visiting Scholar (Summer)

Visiting Scholar (Summer)

Education

D.Phil In Oriental Studies (Islamic Studies with an Emphasis on Muslim-Jewish Relations)

MA in Medieval Islamic History

BA (Hons.) in Middle Eastern Studies and Near Eastern Studies

Selected Publications

BOOKS

Meri, J. [In progress]. The Cave of the Patriarchs: A Very Short Introduction.

Meri, J. [In progress]. A History of Interfaith Relations in the Middle East and Mediterranean (undergraduate textbook).

Meri, J. [In progress]. Pilgrims and Pilgrimage in Islam.

Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2019 – in press) Al-Qistas al-Mutaqim [The Correct Balance] (Meri, J., trans.).

Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2019 – in press) Al-Ma‘arif al-‘Aqliyya [Intellectual Insights] (Meri, J., trans.).

Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2019 – in press) Mi‘yar al ‘Ilm [Standard of Knowledge] (Meri, J., trans.).

Meri, J. (Ed.). (2017). Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (2 vols.).

Meri, J. (Ed.). (2017). Jewish-Muslim Relations in Past and Present: A Kaleidoscopic View.

Meri, J. (Ed.). (2016). Routledge Handbook of Muslim-Jewish Relations.

Meri, J. (2003). The Cult of Saints among Muslims and Jews in Medieval Syria.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Meri, J. (2016). Historical Themes – Medieval (Middle East and North Africa).

Meri, J. (2015). The Cult of Saints and Pilgrimage.

Meri, J. (2012). Reevaluating the Role of Islamic Civilization in Europe and the Middle East.

Meri, J. (2005). Introduction. Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (2 vols.).

Meri, J. (1999). The Etiquette of Devotion in the Islamic Cult of Saints.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Meri, J. (2015). [Review of the book Jews, Christians, and the Abode of Islam: Modern Scholarship, Medieval Realities, by J. Lassner].

Meri, J. (2015). [Review of the book Sacred Space in Israel and Palestine Religion and Politics, by M. Breger, Y. Reiter, & L. Hammer].

Meri, J. (2013). [Review of the book Syrian Jewry in Transition 1840-1880, by Y. Harel].

Meri, J. (2012). Pilgrimage to the Prophet Ezekiel’s Shrine in Iraq: A Symbol of Muslim-Jewish Relations

Meri, J. (2012). [Review of the book The Meaning of Mecca: The Politics of Pilgrimage in Early Islam, by M. E. McMillan].

Meri, J. (2012). [Review of the book Bibliography of Jews in the Islamic World by M. Gallego et al.].

Meri, J. (2010). Relics of Piety and Power in Medieval Islam.

Meri, J. (1999). Re-appropriating Sacred Space: Medieval Jews and Muslims Seeking Elijah and al-Khadir.

Meri, J. (1999). The Islamic Cult of Saints and Medieval Popular Culture.

Meri, J. (1999). Aspects of Baraka (Blessings) and Ritual Devotion among Medieval Muslims and Jews [special issue].

OTHERS

Meri, J. (2019). Entries on “Saladin,” “‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi,” and “‘Ali b. Abi Bakr al-Harawi.”

Meri, J. (2016). Pilgrimage. Thematic Guide for Oxford University Press.

Meri. J. (2014). Jewish-Muslim Relations.

Meri, J. (2010). Ibn Battuta.

Meri, J. (2009). Book Publishing in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies: Technological Academic Solutions for Scholars and Academic Publishers.

Meri, J. (2009). Entries on “Pilgrimage and Religious Travel in Islam,” and “Ka‘ba.”

Meri, J. (2006). Memorializing the Sacred in the Islamic Civilization Context.

Meri, J. (2005). Entries on “Baraka,” “Al-Harawī, ‘Alī ibn Abī Bakr,” and “Pilgrimage.”

Meri, J. (2000). Multilingual Computing in Middle East Studies.

Meri, J. (1999). The Changing Face of Medieval Near Eastern Studies: Challenges and Strategies.