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Gibril Fouad Haddad

Gibril Fouad Haddad is a Lebanese-born Islamic scholar, hadith expert (muhaddith), author, and translator of classical Islamic texts. Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1960 to a Catholic family, Haddad later received his education in the United Kingdom and the United States.

During his student days at Columbia University in New York City, he converted to Islam under the guidance of influential Sufi teachers such as Mawlānā Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani, a Cypriot Sufi teacher of the Naqshbandi tradition, and Shaykh Hisham Kabbani. After converting, Haddad spent most of his time after classes at the local church or library and occasionally visited his mother.

Haddad's conversion to Islam had a significant impact on him, making him feel envious towards an American embracing the religion he felt attached to. This realization led him to explore Islamic texts in depth, including those concerning Christians. Upon returning from Paris, where he spent a year on scholarship, Haddad listened to complete sets of Quran recitation tapes and paid special attention to passages relevant to Christianity.

As a scholar and translator, Haddad has penned numerous works, including translations of classical Islamic texts such as "Allah's Name and Characteristics" by Imam al-Bayhaqi and "The Prophet's Night Journey and Ascension" by Sheikh Muhammad ibn 'Alawi al-Maliki. He is considered one of the clearest voices of traditional Islam in the West.

Haddad has been a prominent figure in various Islamic online academies, including SunniPath (sunnipath.com) and Qibla (qibla.com), where he taught Islamic studies. In 2009, he was listed among the 500 most influential Muslims by the Prince al-Walid bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.

Currently, Haddad resides with his family in Brunei Darussalam and serves as a visiting fellow at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Center for Islamic Studies at the University of Brunei Darussalam. His work continues to be recognized through various publications and online platforms, solidifying his position as a leading figure in traditional Islam.