Dr. Ali Asani

Professor

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Biography

Ali Asani is the Murray Albertson Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Professor of Indo-Muslim Islamic Religion Cultures at Harvard University. He served as the Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Islamic Studies Program from 2010 to 2016. Asani completed his high school education in Kenya and graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College with a concentration in Comparative Study of Religion in 1977. He continued his studies in Harvard's Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC), earning a Ph.D. in 1984. He holds a joint appointment with the Committee on the Study of Religion and teaches a variety of courses focused on the Islamic tradition. His research specializes in Islam in South Asia, particularly Shia Sufi devotional traditions, and he is also interested in folk forms of Muslim devotional life. Asani has published numerous articles and books on topics related to Muslim cultures and has served on various editorial boards. He is actively engaged in promoting understanding of Islam and has worked on several initiatives to improve intercultural relations, earning multiple teaching awards for his contributions to the field.

Research Interests

Experience

Murray Albertson Professor

2016-01-01 — Present

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

Teaching Middle Eastern Studies and Indo-Muslim Islamic Religion Cultures.

Director

2010-01-01 — 2016-01-01

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Islamic Studies Program • Harvard University

Directed the Islamic Studies Program and managed initiatives to enhance understanding of Islam.

Awards

#

Harvard Foundation Medal

2020-01-01
#

Petra C. Shattuck Prize

2020-01-01
#

Harvard Foundation Faculty of the Year Award

2020-01-01
#

Excellence in Teaching

2021-01-01

Requirements for Harvard University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a technical or quantitative field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).