Faculty of Arts Asia Institute

Curriculum Vitae

Professor Abdullah Saeed

  • Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab & Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Director, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
  • Director, National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies
  • Co-Director, Centre for Islamic Law and Society, University of Melbourne

Professional Address

Asia Institute
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010, Australia

Tel: +61 3 8344 5554
Fax: +61 3 9349 4974
Email: a.saeed@unimelb.edu.au

Degrees, Qualifications

1992 Doctor of Philosophy, Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia (1988–92)
1994 Master of Arts, Applied Linguistics, University of Melbourne, Australia (1992–94)
1987 Master of Arts Preliminary, Middle Eastern Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia
1986 Bachelor of Arts, Arabic literature and Islamic Studies, Islamic University, Saudi Arabia, 1982–86
1982 High School Certificate, Secondary Institute, Saudi Arabia, 1979–82
1979 Arabic language study, Institute of Arabic Language, Saudi Arabia, 1977–79

Career, Principal Offices, Principal Positions Held

Current

Director, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
Director, National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne (in conjunction with University of Western Sydney and Griffith University)
Co-Director, Centre for Islamic Law and Society, University of Melbourne, Australia
Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne
Research Associate, Social Justice Initiative, University of Melbourne
2003-04 Acting Director, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
1998-2003 Deputy Director, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
1996-97 Deputy Head/Acting Head, Department of Language Studies, University of Melbourne
2000-03 Associate Professor, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
1999 Visiting Scholar, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
1996-97 Deputy Head, Department of Language Studies, University of Melbourne
1996-99 Senior Lecturer, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Department of Language Studies, University of Melbourne
1993-95 Lecturer, Arabic Studies, Department of Asian Languages and Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne
1993-95 Consultant, Arabic and Islamic Studies, King Khalid Islamic College of Victoria
1991-92 Coordinator, Arabic and Islamic Studies, King Khalid Islamic College of Victoria
1988-92 Casual/part-time tutor and lecturer in Arabic language and literature and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Melbourne

Grants Awarded

National competitive research grants – peer reviewed

Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (with Monash and Deakin Universities) ($158,000). 'Religion, Finance and Ethics: Islamic and conventional perspectives on shared principles, practices, and financial institutions and instruments. 2007-09

Australian Research Council Discovery Grant ($120,000). ‘Reconfiguration of Islam among Muslims in Australia’. 2004-06

Australian Research Council Large Grant ($98,000). ‘Negotiating Religious Change in Australian Muslim Communities’. 2001-03.

Australian Research Council Large Grant ($90,000). ‘Rethinking Interpretation of the Qur’an: The Contribution of the Islamization of Knowledge Movement’. 1998-99.

Australian Research Council Large Grant ($85,000). ‘The Influence of Islamic Neo-Modernism on Islamic Thought and Social Attitudes in Indonesia’. (Held jointly with G. Barton). 1997-99.

Grants from international sources

Treub Society-Netherlands ($60,000: with four other colleagues from the Netherlands and Belgium): Treub Society Expedition to the Maldives. 2002

IIS-UK ($40,000). ‘Qur’an-related Literature in Indonesia’. 2001-02

IIS-UK ($60,000). ‘Recent Contributions to Qur’anic Studies in Indonesia’. 2001-02


Publications

Books published or in press

  1. Saeed, A. (2008). The Qur'an: An Introduction. London: Routledge. 255pp.
  2. Saeed, A. (2006). Islamic Thought: An Introduction. London: Routledge. 204pp.
  3. Saeed, A. (2006). Interpreting the Qur'an: Towards a Contemporary Approach. London: Routledge. 230pp.
  4. Saeed, A. (ed.) (2005). Contemporary Approaches to Qur’an in Indonesia. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 250pp.
  5. Saeed, A. and Saeed, H. (2004). Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing. 230pp.
  6. Saeed, A. (2004). Muslim Australians: Their Beliefs, Practices and Institutions. Canberra: Commonwealth Government. 120pp.
  7. Akbarzadeh, S. and Saeed, A. (eds). (2003) Islam and Political Legitimacy. London and New York: Curzon. 210pp.
  8. Saeed, A (2002). Islam in Australia. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. 232pp.
  9. Saeed, A. and Akbarzadeh, S. (eds). (2001). Muslim Communities in Australia. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press. 309pp.
  10. Saeed, A., Kamal, M. and Mayer, C. (2001). Essential Dictionary of Islamic Thought. Adelaide: Seaview Press. 224pp.
  11. Saeed, A. (1996, 1999). Islamic Banking and Interest: A Study of the Prohibition of Riba in Islam and its Contemporary Interpretation. Leiden: E. J. Brill. 169pp.
  12. Saeed, A. and Weeks, I. (1990). Sacred Place and Sacred Life in Islam. Geelong: Deakin University Press. 116pp.
  13. Saeed, A., Mayer, C. and Raheem, A. G. A. (2000, 2001). Modern Standard Arabic: An Introduction. Melbourne: Asia Institute. 117pp.
  14. Saeed, A., Mayer, C. and Raheem, A. G. A.. (2000, 2001). Modern Standard Arabic: BeginnersBook 1. Melbourne: Asia Institute. 219 pp.
  15. Saeed, A., Mayer, C. and Raheem, A. G. A. (2000, 2001). Modern Standard Arabic: BeginnersBook 2. Melbourne: Asia Institute. 318 pp.
  16. Saeed, A., Mayer, C. and Raheem, A. G. A. (2000, 2001). Modern Standard Arabic: Intermediate Book 1. Melbourne: Asia Institute. 290pp.
  17. Saeed, A., Mayer, C., and Raheem, A.. G. A. (2000, 2001). Modern Standard Arabic: Intermediate Book 2. Melbourne: Asia Institute. 325 pp.

Refereed Journal Articles, Encyclopedia Entries and Chapters in Books

  1. Saeed, A. (In press). 'Muslims in the West and their Attitudes to Full Participating in Western Societies: Some Reflections'. In Geoffrey Levey (ed). Religion and Multicultural Citizenship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 23pp.
  2. Saeed, A. (2007). 'Trends in Contemporary Islam: A Preliminary Attempt at a Classification'. The Muslim World (vol. 97) July 2007. 20pp.
  3. Saeed, A. (2007). 'Islamic Legitimacy in a Plural Asia'. In Proceedings for the Conference on Political Legitimacy in Islamic Asia. Routledge. 14pp.
  4. Celemajer, D; Yasmeen S; Saeed A. (2007). 'Guest Editorial: Australian Muslims and Secularism'. Australian Journal of Social Issues. 42:1 4pp.
  5. Saeed, A. (2007). 'Australia' in Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill
  6. Saeed, A. (2006). 'Women, Gender and Islamic Banks' in Encyclopaedia of Women and Islamic Cultures (Vol. 4). Brill.
  7. Saeed, A. (2006) 'Muslims in Australia'. In Fethi Mansouri (ed.). Australia and the Middle East: A Front Line Relationship. London: Tauris Academic Studies. 17pp.
  8. Saeed, A. (2006) 'Muslims in the West Choose Between Isolationism and Participation'. Sang Seng vol 16. Seoul: Asia-Pacific Centre for Education and International Understanding / UNESCO. 3pp.
  9. Saeed, A. (2006) 'Contextualising'. In Andrew Rippin (ed.). The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an. Oxford: Oxford University Publishing. 14pp.
  10. Saeed, A. (2006) 'Creating a Culture of Human Rights from a Muslim Perspective'. In Swee-Hin Toh and Virginia Cawagas (eds.). Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace. Brisbane: Griffith University. 4pp.
  11. Saeed, A. (2005) 'Introduction: the Qur'an, interpretation and the Indonesian context.' Approaches to the Qur'an in Contemporary Indonesia. Oxford: Oxford University Press (in collaboration with the Institute of Ismaili Studies, UK). 1-16.
  12. Saeed, A. (2005). 'Qur'an: Tradition of Scholarship and Interpretation'. Encyclopaedia of Religion. Farmington MI: Thomson Gale USA. 10pp.
  13. Saeed, A. (2005). ‘Muslims’ Encyclopedia of Melbourne. Clayton: Monash University. 800 words.
  14. 13. Saeed, A. (2005). 'Islamic Religious Education and the Debate on its Reform Post-September 11'. In Shahram Akbarzadeh and Samina Yasmeen (eds.). Islam and the West: Reflections from Australia. Sydney: UNSW Press. 14pp.
  15. Saeed, A. (2004). ‘Islamic Banking and Finance: In Search of an Islamic but Pragmatic Model’. In Virginia Hooker and Amin Saikal (eds). Islamic Perspectives on the New Millenium. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. 15pp.
  16. Saeed, A. (2004). Fazlur Rahman: A Framework for Interpreting the Ethico-Legal Content of the Qur’an’. In Suha Taji-Farouki (ed.). Modern Muslim Intellectuals & the Qur’an, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 25pp.
  17. Johns, A. H. and Saeed, A. (2004). ‘Nurcholish Madjid and the Interpretation of the Qur’an: Religious Pluralism and Tolerance’. In Suha Taji-Farouki (ed.). Modern Muslim Intellectuals & the Qur’an Oxford: Oxford University Press. 25pp.
  18. Saeed, A. (2004). ‘Riba’. In Encyclopaedia of Islam, Leiden: EJ Brill
  19. Saeed, A. (2004). ‘Sarraf’ In Encyclopaedia of Islam, Leiden: EJ Brill
  20. Saeed, A. (2003). ‘Coinage’. In Richard C Martin (ed.). Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. New York: Macmillan Reference USA. 1000 words.
  21. Saeed, A. (2003). ‘Ummah’. In Richard C Martin (ed.). Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. New York: Macmillan Reference USA. 500 words.
  22. Saeed, A. (2003). ‘The Official Ulema and the Religious Legitimacy of the Modern Nation State’. In Shahram Akbarzadeh and Abdullah Saeed (eds.), Islam and Political Legitimacy. London and New York: RoutledgeCurzon. 14-28
  23. Akbarzadeh, S. and Saeed, A. (2003) ‘Islam and Politics’. In Shahram Akbarzadeh and Abdullah Saeed (eds.), Islam and Political Legitimacy. London and New York: RoutledgeCurzon. 1-13
  24. Saeed, A. (2002) ‘The Charge of Distortion of Jewish and Christian Scriptures: Tension between the Popular Muslim View and the Qur’anic/Tafsir View’. The Muslim World. 92 (3&4), Fall 2002, 419-36
  25. Saeed, A. (2002) ‘Economics’. In Jane Dammen McAuliffe (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Qur’an. Leiden: E. J. Brill. Vol. II. 2000 words.
  26. Johns, A. H. and Saeed, A. (2002) ‘The Muslim Communities in Australia: The Building of a Community’. In Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and Jane I. Smith (eds). Muslim Minorities in the West: Visible and Invisible. California: Altamira Press. 35pp.
  27. Saeed, A. (2002). ‘Jihad and Violence: Changing Understanding of Jihad among Muslims’. In Tony Coady and Michael O’Keefe (eds). Terrorism and Violence. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. 72-86
  28. Saeed, A. and Akbarzadeh, S. (2001). ‘Searching for Identity: Muslims in Australia’. In Abdullah Saeed and Shahram Akbarzadeh (eds). Muslim Communities in Australia. Sydney: UNSW Press. 1–11.
  29. Saeed, A. (2001). ‘Muslim Community Cooperative of Australia as an Islamic Financial Service Provider’. In Abdullah Saeed and Shahram Akbarzadeh (eds). Muslim Communities in Australia. Sydney: UNSW Press. pp. 188–205
  30. Saeed, A. (1999). ‘Indonesian Islamic Banking in a Historical and Legal Context’. In Timothy Lindsey (ed.). Law and Society in Southeast Asia. Sydney: Federation Press. pp. 323–338.
  31. Saeed, A. (1999). ‘Towards Religious Tolerance through Reform in Islamic Education: The case of the State Institute of Islamic Studies of Indonesia’. Journal of Indonesia and the Malay World. 27 (79):177–191.
  32. Saeed, A. (1999). ‘Rethinking Citizenship Rights of Non-Muslims in an Islamic State: Rashid al-Ghannushi's Contribution to the Evolving Debate’. Journal of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations. 10 (3):307–323.
  33. Saeed, A. (1999). ‘Rethinking “Revelation” as a Precondition for Reinterpreting the Qur'an: A Qur’anic Perspective’. Journal of Qur'anic Studies. 1 (1):93–114.
  34. Saeed, A. (1998). ‘Idealism and Pragmatism in Islamic Banking: The Application of Shari`ah Principles and Adjustments’. Journal of Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. 4(2):89–111.
  35. Saeed, A. (1998). ‘Islam’. In G. Davidson, J. Hirst and S. McIntyre (eds). The Oxford Companion to Australian History. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
  36. Saeed, A. (1997). ‘Ijtihad and Innovation in Neo-Modernist Islamic Thought in Indonesia’. Journal of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations. 8 (3):279–295.
  37. Saeed, A. (1995). “The Moral Context of the Prohibition of Riba in Islam Revisited”. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences. 12 (4). 496-517.
  38. Saeed, A. (1995). ‘Islamic Banking in Practice: The Case of Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt’. Journal of Arabic, Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. 1(3):28–46.
  39. Saeed, A. (1994). ‘A Fresh Look at Freedom of Belief in Islam’. In Damien Kingsbury, and Greg Barton (eds). Difference and Tolerance: Human Rights Issues in Southeast Asia. Geelong: Deakin University Press.
  40. Saeed, A. (1993). ‘Islamic Banking in Practice: A Critical Look at the Murabaha Financing Mechanism’. Journal of Arabic, Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. 1 (1):59–79.

Major Research Projects

Religion, Finance and Ethics (2007-09)

Reconfiguration of Islam among Muslims in Australia (2004-06)

Negotiating Religious Change in Australian Muslim Communities (2001-03)

Rethinking Interpretation of the Qur’an: A Critical Study of the Contribution of the Islamization of Knowledge Movement. (1998-99)

The Influence of Islamic Neo-Modernism on Islamic Thought and Social Attitudes in Indonesia (1997-99)

Qur’an-Related Literature in Indonesia (2001-02)

Recent Contributions to Qur’anic Studies in Indonesia (2001-02)

Modernization and Cultural Change in the Maldives. Part of the Trueb Society’s (Netherlands) expedition to the Maldives (2002)


Conferences Papers: Examples

  1. Keynote Iftar address about the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies. University of Western Sydney. September 2007
  2. Towards a More Inclusive View of the Religious 'Other': A Muslim Perspective. 2007 University of Otago Peace Lecture. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. September 2007
  3. The Written Word in Islamic Culture. The Arts of Islam Public Address. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. August 2007
  4. Salafism and Australian Muslim Identity. Fulbright Symposium: Muslim Citizens in the West: Promoting Social Inclusion. University of Western Australia. August 2007
  5. Development of the Concept of Jihad in Islam. International Humanitarian Law and Islam Law Seminar. Red Cross Queensland, Brisbane. July 2007
  6. How to bridge the information gap between Islam and the West? International Conference  on Islam and the West. Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. June 2007
  7. Foundation for Peace in Islam. Interfaith Dialogue with the Dalai Lama: One World, Many Pathways to Peace. Australian National
    University, Canberra. June 2007
  8. Alliance of Civilisations Symposium, Auckland, New Zealand, May 2007
  9. Development of the Concept of Jihad in Islam, Red Cross Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, March 2007
  10. Islam in a Modern World, CEO Forum Group, Gold Coast, March 2007
  11. Muslims and Non-Muslims in Australia: Who are We? Deliberative Forum, Canberra, March 2007
  12. Understanding Islam from a Rights Perspective, Sisters in Islam, Bellagio, Italy, August 2006
  13. Sharia Courts in the Australian Legal System (key note address), Australian National University, Canberra, May 2006
  14. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights and Muslim conception of Religious Freedom, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 2006
  15. Progressive Muslims and the Interpretation of the Qur’an Today, National University of Singapore, Singapore, March 2006
  16. Citizenship in the West and ‘Being Muslim’: Western Muslim Responses, Deakin and Monash Universities, Melbourne, November 2005
  17. Interpretation and Socio-historical Context: A Contextualist Rading of Q 9:29, University of London, United Kingdom, November 2005
  18. Towards a More Inclusive View of the Religious ‘Other’ through Rethinking of the Past, Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Sydney, October 2005
  19. Debates on the Interpretation of Riba Among Muslims, Monash University, Melbourne, October 2005
  20. Creating a Culture of Human Rights from a Muslim Perspective, Griffith University, Brisbane, August 2005
  21. Muslims in the West and their Attitudes to Full Participating in Western Societies: Some Reflections, University of New South Wales, Sydney, July 2005
  22. Muslims and Active Participation in Secular Societies, MUIS, Singapore, 2005
  23. Muslims under Non-Muslim Rule: Evolution of the Juristic Discourse. National University of Singapore, Singapore, April 2005
  24. Muslims in the West between Participants and Isolationists. Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, December 2004
  25. Muslims in the West – Coexistence or Conflict? Inaugural Professorial Lecture, The University of Melbourne, 19 October 2004
  26. Muslim Christian Relations: Is Rethinking Doctrines the Way Forward? Keynote Speech, International Colloquium on Managing Muslim-Christian Relations: Educational Policy Options, The University of Melbourne, February 2004
  27. Reform of Traditional Islamic Education: The Debate. Islam and the West post September 11, 2001 Conference. Monash University. August 2003.
  28. Muslims and Christians: Where do They Stand? Jesuit Seminar Series. (in all capital cities of Australia). July-August 2003
  29. Islamic Law in Minority Contexts: A Pragmatic View. Asian Law Centre Conference on Shari`ah and Law in Southeast Asia. Melbourne. October 2002
  30. Apostasy between Text and Context. Australian National University. February 2002
  31. Sufism: The Spiritual Dimension of Islam? Institute of Spiritual Studies. Melbourne. August 2001.
  32. Bediuzzman Said Nursi as a Religious Reformer. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Seminar. University of Melbourne. August 2001.
  33. Nursi as a Leading Muslim Thinker of the 20th Century. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Seminar. University of Melbourne. August 2000.
  34. Islamic Banking and Finance: In Search of an Islamic but Pragmatic Model. Islamic Perspectives on the New Millennium Conference. Australian National University. Canberra. November 2000.
  35. Religious Reconciliation in Indonesia: Inclusivists Versus Exclusivists. Australian Academy of Humanities Seminar. University of Western Australia. November 2000.
  36. Islamic Finance and Community Development in Indonesia. Institute for the Study of Islam and Muslims (Netherlands) Seminar. Jakarta. October 2000.
  37. Towards a Hierarchy of Values for the Interpretation of the Qur’an. Qur’an: Text and Context Conference. School of Oriental and African Studies. University of London. October 1999.
  38. Values in the Interpretation of the Qur’an. Emory University. Atlanta. October 1999.
  39. Money, Myths and Islam. Asialink Seminar Series. Asialink-Melbourne. July 1999.
  40. Islam: Threat or Reformasi? Australia–Asia Institute Seminar. University of New South Wales. Sydney. 1999.
  41. The Role of Academic and Cultural Exchanges in Strengthening Bilateral International Relations. United Arab Emirates Embassy Seminar. Canberra. 1999
  42. IAIN and the Emergence of a More Tolerant Islam. Asian Studies Association of Australia Conference. University of New South Wales. Sydney. 1998
  43. Emerging Islamic Liberal Thought in Indonesia. British Middle Eastern Studies Association Conference. Birmingham. July 1998.
  44. Towards Religious Tolerance through Reform in Islamic Education: The Case of IAIN of Indonesia. Islam. Globalization and Development Conference. University of Melbourne. July 1998.
  45. Synthesis of Traditional Islamic Education and Modern Education: IAIN of Indonesia. American Association of Asian Studies. Binghampton, New York. November 1997.
  46. Religion and Society: Rights and Responsibilities. Religion and Cultural Diversity Conference. Australian Multicultural Foundation. Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne. July 1997.
  47. Reform of Islamic Religious Education. Islamic Schools’ Curriculum Reform Seminar. Melbourne. August 1997.
  48. Capitalizing on the Current Status of the Interpretation of Fundamental Shari`ah Principles Applicable to Islamic Investment Funds. Islamic Funds Conference. Kuala Lumpur. June 1997.
  49. Islamic Neo-modernism in Indonesia. Australasian Middle East Studies Association Conference. Deakin University, Melbourne. September 1996.
  50. Ijtihad and Neo-modernist Islam in Indonesia. AFEMAM-EURAMES Conference. Aix-en-Provence. France. July 1996.
  51. Murabaha Financing in Islamic Banks. Australasian Middle East Studies Association Conference. Deakin University. Melbourne. September 1994.
  52. Islam, Other Faiths and Tolerance. World Conference on Religion and Peace Conference. Radisson Hotel. Melbourne. September 1993.
  53. The Place of Pluralism in Islamic Thought. Difference and Tolerance: Ethnicity, Religion and Human Rights in Southeast Asia Conference. Deakin University. September 1993.
  54. Islamic Banking, Interest and Riba: The Case of Murabaha. Australasian Middle East Studies Association Conference. Deakin University. October 1993.
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