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Professor Bilal Orfali from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) has been awarded the distinguished Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Sponsored by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research, this prestigious award annually recognizes approximately 20 globally renowned scholars for their outstanding research contributions. Named after the esteemed German astronomer and mathematician Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel (1784–1846), the award celebrates academic excellence and fosters international scholarly collaboration.
An eminent scholar in Arabic literature and Islamic studies, Professor Orfali has made substantial contributions to the field through his numerous publications and editorial work. He has edited over 20 critical editions of classical Arabic manuscripts, bringing valuable historical texts to light. His notable works include The Anthologist's Art, an in-depth examination of Arabic literary anthologies, and The Maqāmāt of Badīʿ al-Zamān al-Hamadhānī: Authorship, Texts and Contexts, co-authored with Maurice Pomerantz, which explores the foundational maqāmāt genre in Arabic literature.
Professor Orfali's editorial leadership includes serving as co-editor of Abhath, a prominent journal in Arabic studies, and the Sheikh Zayed Series at AUB Press. Additionally, he is a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of Arabic Literature and al-Markaz Journal of Arabic Studies, where he continues to advance scholarship in Arabic literature and promote cross-cultural academic collaboration.
Upon receiving the award, Professor Orfali expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation's recognition. This award reinforces my commitment to advancing research in Arabic literature and manuscript studies at AUB, as well as strengthening academic exchanges between AUB and German institutions."
As a recipient of the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award, Professor Orfali has been invited to undertake a research project of his choice in collaboration with German colleagues, further enriching his contributions to Arabic and Islamic studies on an international level.