Nuri Friedlander is in his third year of graduate studies at Harvard University working towards a Ph.D. in Study of Religion. He received a B.A. in English and Comparative Literature as well as an M.A. in Arabic studies from the American University in Cairo. His master’s thesis was entitled The Intoxication of the Spirit: An Annotated Translation of Ahmad ibn Ajiba’s Commentary on the Wine Song of ‘Umar ibn al-Farid, in which he examined the commentary tradition in relation to Sufi literature and the symbolism found in Sufi poetry.

Although he retains an interest in Sufism and mystical literature in general, Nuri’s studies are currently focused on the relationship between Islamic law and ethics and how that relationship might influence approaches to them both.