ʻAbd al-Jabbār al-Rifāʻī

Abdul Jabbar Al Rifai (Arabic: عبد الجبار الرفاعي) is an Iraqi theologian, and professor of Islamic philosophy, born in Dhi Qar, Iraq, 1954. He obtained several academic degrees, including: a PhD degree cum laude in Islamic philosophy – 2005, a master's degree of Islamic Ilm Al-Kalam – 1990, a bachelor's degree in Islamic studies – 1988, and an agricultural art diploma in 1975. He has a philosophical vision on religious reformation and religious thinking approaches. "The Vatican's Pontifical Institute of Rome" devoted its yearbook to the Contemporary Islamic Issues Magazine in 2012, in recognition of its mission in building new Ilm Al-Kalam -study of fundamental Islamic beliefs and doctrines- and in the philosophy of religion in Arabic, and acknowledged it as the most important periodic publications specialized in religions in Arabic language. Al Rifai founded the Contemporary Islamic Issues Magazine and he is its chief editor. It is an intellectual quarterly magazine that focuses on building the philosophy of religion and the Modern Ilm Al-Kalam, founded around 25 years ago, and continues to be published today.

Biography Abdul Jabbar Al Rifai was born and brought up in Al-Rifai district of Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq – 1954. He graduated from the Agrarian Institute in Baghdad in 1975. Al Rifai then enrolled in Religion Studies at The Najaf Seminary in 1978. He studied what is called “Moqadamat” and some of “Sat’s” related to it, these are mainly Quran, Hadith, and Islamic sciences in early education along with Arabic syntax, semantics, literary texts, and logic. Then, he proceeded to study “Sat’s” -study of Fiqh and philosophy-, and “Kharej Research” -researches beyond curriculum books- in Qom Seminary, which is the highest level of Islamic studies in Hawzas -Shia seminaries-.

Awards

He won first prize of Cultural Achievement in Doha, for his groundbreaking intellectual achievement, and his impact in entrenching knowledge and the culture of conversation, and in instilling higher values for diversity, plurality, and coexistence. Doha – Qatar, December 14, 2017. Gold Shield Award for his cultural movement in Antelias, Lebanon. For his significant role in enriching cultural achievement in the Arab world, March 1, 2013. First prize for his doctoral dissertation in a competition of more than 200 university theses and dissertations, conducted by Al-Shaheed Al-Sadr bureau in 2009. First prize for Islamic Unity book in Tehran, for his efforts in writing, publishing, and advocating unity and coexistence in a space full of diversities and differences – 2005. First prize of the historian and scholar Hassan Al-Amin in Beirut for his scholastic and cultural achievement – 2003.