{"id":50263,"date":"2020-10-26T19:37:57","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T19:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/arefnayed.com\/?page_id=50263"},"modified":"2021-11-11T09:52:12","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T09:52:12","slug":"scholar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/arefnayed.com\/en\/meet-aref\/scholar\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ background_color=”#0061af” custom_padding=”7px||0px|||” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.6.6″ custom_padding=”45px||45px||true|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Exclusive Feature Section” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”0px||19px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Exclusive Feature Area” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color_gradient_direction=”100deg” background_image=”https:\/\/arefnayed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/05a.jpg” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”6.8%||0px|2.4%||” custom_padding_tablet=”|5%||” custom_padding_phone=”|||” box_shadow_style=”preset7″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”-100px” box_shadow_color=”#ffffff” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_cta title=”Scholar and Scientist” button_url=”#” admin_label=”1″ _builder_version=”4.13.0″ header_text_color=”#0061af” header_line_height=”1.4em” background_color=”#ffffff” button_icon=”$||divi||400″ text_orientation=”left” background_layout=”light” width=”88.2%” custom_margin=”33px|||||” custom_padding=”50px|40px|25px|40px||” box_shadow_style=”preset5″ box_shadow_vertical=”10px” box_shadow_blur=”55px” box_shadow_spread=”0px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.07)” button_text_color_hover=”#ffffff” button_border_color_hover=”#3FA2F7 ” button_bg_color_hover=”#3FA2F7 ” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_color__hover=”#3FA2F7 ” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#3FA2F7 ” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

True scholars must have strong ethics rooted in honesty, must be accepting of the views of others and must treat others with respect. Scholars have great integrity to view facts and opinions as they must not be swayed by vested interests. Scholars also have a personal drive to address hard questions \u2013 which may not be in line with or acceptable to current views \u2013 to understand the past and to present creative and innovative solutions to forge a new direction.<\/p>\n

In his experiences as a servant of the Libyan people, statesman, activist, community leader and entrepreneur, Nayed has leveraged his integrity, problem-solving orientation, open-mindedness and focus on solutions gained from his time spent in academia to have a significant impact on Libya and its people.<\/p>\n

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True scholars must have strong ethics rooted in honesty, must be accepting of the views of others and must treat others with respect. Scholars have great integrity to view facts and opinions as they must not be swayed by vested interests. Scholars also have a personal drive to address hard questions \u2013 which may not be in line with or acceptable to current views \u2013 to understand the past and to present creative and innovative solutions to forge a new direction.<\/p>\n

In his experiences as a servant of the Libyan people, statesman, activist, community leader and entrepreneur, Nayed has leveraged his integrity, problem-solving orientation, open-mindedness and focus on solutions gained from his time spent in academia to have a significant impact on Libya and its people.<\/p>\n

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Upon completing his Ph.D., Nayed pursued an academic career as a professor of philosophy and comparative religion. Gaining a reputation as a leading scholar and pioneering figure in interfaith dialogue and Muslim-Christian relations, Nayed has taught at institutions in Libya, Italy, Malaysia, UK, the US, and Jordan. A professor for over 20 years, he has written books, monographs and more than 70 articles. The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center named him as one of the top 50 most influential Muslims in the world<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In Libya, Nayed has taught a variety of courses on interfaith dialogue, comparative religion, and Islamic jurisprudence at many respected, historical institutions such as the Othman Pasha Madrasa, Islamic Call College, Tripoli University, and Al-Jihad Historical Studies Institute.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In February 2011, together with religious scholars (ulema) from across Libya, Aref established the Network of Free Ulema. The Network united Libya\u2019s most senior Muslim to ensure the preservation of the orthodox<\/strong>, mainstream<\/strong>, compassionate<\/strong>, pluralistic<\/strong> and humane Islamic theological and religious outlook<\/strong>, that shunned all extremism. The Network of Free Ulema has since grown from an informal group of scholars to eventually form the League of Libyan Ulema (Rabita Ulema Libya) which continues to serve as an authority that guides Libya\u2019s moral, social, and political values.<\/p>\n

Nayed is a pioneering figure in the field of inter-faith relations. He was the only Libyan original signatory to the \u201cA Common Word Between Us and You<\/strong>\u201d Declaration which calls for peace and understanding between Muslims and Christians. In 2006, when Pope Benedict XVI made controversial comments on Islam, Nayed was instrumental in drafting a letter inviting Catholic-Muslim dialogue. He also took part in a conference of clerics which reinterpreted the 14th-century scholar Ibn Taymiyya\u2019s fatwa on jihad, arguing that radical Islamists who use it to justify killing are misguided. Nayed represents Libyan theologians as a member of the Board of Advisors of Templeton Foundation, a Senior Advisor to the Interfaith Program at the University of Cambridge<\/strong>, and a Fellow at the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute<\/strong> in Jordan.<\/p>\n

In 2009, when Aref noticed a lack of research and training on Islamic studies and comparative religion in the Arab region, he established Kalam Research and Media, a non-profit think tank honored by the John Templeton Foundation as one of the world\u2019s leading research institutions on interfaith dialogue. Kalam Research and Media (KRM)<\/a><\/span> publishes research on Libya\u2019s traditions, cultural values, and religious practices. Its Libyan Studies Center has contributed to the restoration of Libya\u2019s historical religious institutions such as the Othman Pasha Madrasa<\/strong> in the Old City of Tripoli.<\/strong> Through its publications, forums, and support of the League of Libyan Ulema, Kalam Research and Media has also ensured a fair and balanced religious dialogue that reflects the views of all Libyan Ulema.<\/p>\n

In 2012, Nayed founded the\u00a0Libya Institute for Advanced Studies (LIAS)<\/a><\/span>, a leading non-profit training institution dedicated to educating Libya\u2019s next generation of leaders based in Tripoli<\/strong>. It offers courses in areas such as public sector management, finance, media and communications, and environmental technologies<\/strong> which respond to current curricula gaps in Libyan higher education and technical and vocational training.<\/p>\n

LIAS has built academic partnerships with elite institutions across the globe and is committed to exploring and analyzing the most pressing issues facing Libya through applied research. LIAS has hosted a series of stakeholder consultations to encourage the conceptualization of innovative and practical on-the-ground projects that address key development challenges in Libya. These stakeholder consultations led to the Arab region\u2019s first participatory, crowd-sourced national vision called\u00a0Ihya Libya Vision 2030<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Aref’s Record Thus Far<\/span><\/p>\n

As a Leading Libyan Scholar and Scientist<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n