Our Team
Dr Safaruk Chowdhury
Chairman
Dr Safaruk Chowdhury studied Philosophy at Kings College London completing it with the accompanying Associate of Kings College (AKC) award. He then travelled to Cairo studying the traditional Islamic Studies curricula at al-Azhar University.He returned to the UK to complete His MA at the School of Oriental and African studies with distinction. His doctoral dissertation was on the eminent Sufi hagiographer and theoretician Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami (d. 412/1021) published as A Sufi Apologist of Nishapur: The Life and Thought of Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami (Sheffield: Equinox Publishing, 2019).Saf’s research interests in addition to Sufism at the moment are in paraconsistent logic, metaphysics, ethics and epistemology with keen interest in how these subjects were all utilised for clarifying and explicating Islamic theological doctrine – especially within kalam theology. His forthcoming book is entitled Islamic Theology and the Problem of Evil (New York and Cairo: AUC Press) which is the first work in Islamic studies to treat the topic within the analytic theology approach.
Samuel Bartlet
Senior Researcher
Samuel completed his MA from Cardiff’s Islam UK Centre and is currently writing his PhD thesis on the Islamic thought of Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall at Royal Holloway. His work ties Pickhtall’s thought to a variety of subjects, including postcolonial literature, tasawwuf, translation studies, secularisation, pan-Islamism, British Muslim Studies and wider imperial history. He was also recently involved in a research project carried out at Cardiff University’s Islam UK Centre documenting the history of Islam in Wales under the lead of Dr. Abdul-Azim Ahmed.
Zaiti Athirah Zaiful Amri
ILS Digest Team
Zaiti Athirah, an enthusiastic English major at IIUM, is fueled by a passion for writing and editing. Her focus on Islamic Literature enriches her cultural understanding.She’s made significant impacts at SUBEST Magazine and The BENL Chronicle, showcasing leadership as Head Editor. Currently, she excels as Managing Editor at The BENL Chronicle, balancing managerial duties with writing. Alongside her studies, Zaiti aims to contribute meaningfully to her field with her diverse skills and dedication.
Aiman Zhafran
University Representative
Aiman Zhafran is a second-year English Language student seasoned by his perusal of English classics, Russian masters, and the absurdist Camus. Interested in the absurdity of the human condition, world history, and post-Second World War poetry. Aiman is attempting to diversify his interests into Islamic literature and philosophy while promoting them to his peers. Aiman also contributed to the poetry landscape of IIUM as the former vice-president and the current president of the IIUM Poetry Club, intending to lay fertile foundations for aspiring poets of IIUM.
Alaa Dean Al-Zalam
Public Relations Manager
Alaa Dean Alzalam, from the UK, has over ten years of language teaching experience. He holds an MA in TESOL, an MEd in Islamic Education, and a PGCE. Alaa has taught at prestigious institutions including The University of Sheffield, University of Hull, and Qassim University, KSA.He is currently teaching in the English language prep school as well as coordinating the pre-faculty module, at İbn Haldun University, Istanbul. Alaa enjoys traditional heritage art and crafts such as Arabic calligraphy and paper marbling. On weekends, he enjoys visiting museums and exploring local historical sites in and around Istanbul.
Farish Nabil Amirul Bin Ramli
Social Media Manager
Farish’s engagement in the IIUM Toastmasters Club demonstrates his commitment to honing his public speaking skills, ensuring he effectively communicates his insights. Driven by a desire to expand his horizons, he seeks to reconnect with literature, enriching his understanding and broadening his worldview. This complements his academic and extracurricular activities, enhancing his knowledge and critical thinking. Farish aims to make a tangible impact on IIUM’s political environment, using his academic knowledge, practical experience, and honed skills to contribute to its gradual improvement. His proactive approach and passion for positive change highlight his potential as a future leader in both academic and political spheres.
Abden Ali
Business Manager
Abden Ali , who holds a postgraduate degree in business management, has spent the last 20 years in various business and management roles within the health sector. He is passionate about promoting reading, traveling, and cultural immersion.
Wan Athilah
ILS digest Team
Wan Athilah, from Malaysia, is an undergraduate student at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), pursuing a degree in English Language and Literature . She has a keen interest in creative writing, literary analysis, and exploring thematic patterns in literature. Athilah has worked on various academic projects, including digital humanities mapping and corpus analysis of literary texts, and has a growing passion for speculative fiction and forensic linguistics. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, researching themes in literature, and honing her skills as an aspiring writer. She also finds joy in attending workshops and exploring creative avenues to express her thoughts.
Abdul Hai
Operations Manager
Abdul Hai is a passionate enthusiast of literature, adept in various roles within the realm of books: he’s a devoted reader, skilled bookbinder, meticulous book restorer, and a leisure writer. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Birkbeck, University of London, complemented by a certificate of higher education from the same institution. Presently, he’s pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Wolverhampton.
Afifa Alam Raisa
Other Words journal Editor
Afifa Alam Raisa is an undergraduate English student at East West University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A passionate book reviewer, a voracious reader, and an enthusiastic writer, she explores worlds beyond her own through the pages of her books. A self-proclaimed cricket enthusiast, Afifa blends her love for stories and sports into a vibrant and curious personality.
Hannaan Fuad
ILS Digest Team
Hannaan Fuad, an undergraduate at IIUM majoring in English Language and Literature with experience as a writer and head editor of feature writing section for The BENL Chronicle. Her focus is on literary analysis and criticism especially in the intersections of literature, culture, and philosophy. Her main interest specifically lies in speculative fiction and its capacity to explore socio-political issues, and is especially drawn to themes of tragedy, spectacle, nationalism and resistance. Seeks to understand more the ways in which Islamization of Knowledge can be applied to literary studies beyond simple classifications of Islamic versus non-Islamic texts.