World renowned Author & Speaker
Mustafa Briggs
Mustafa Briggs is a graduate of Arabic and International Relations from the University of Westminster, where his dissertation focused on Arabic Literature and Literacy in West Africa. He began an MA in Translation at SOAS, University of London, specializing in Arabic and Islamic Texts, before pursuing another degree in Islamic Studies and Arabic at al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.In Cairo, Mustafa studied at Al-Azhar and engaged in in-depth learning across various Islamic disciplines with esteemed scholars. He studied Arabic Language, Grammar, and Morphology (Nahw and Sarf) with Shaykh Ahmad Tijani al-Azhary, Maliki Jurisprudence (Fiqh) under Shaykh Abdul-Rahman an-Nahwi, the son of the prominent Mauritanian Scholar Muhammad al-Hafiz an-Nawhi, and Usul al-Fiqh with Shaykh Shahawi, the Shafi Mufti of Egypt. Additionally, he studied the books of Ibn Ata Allah al-Iskandari with Shaykh Mohammed Mehanna, who served as Advisor to the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar and Director of studies at Al-Azhar Mosque. Furthermore, he spent many years studying Hadith and other sciences with Shaykh Muhammad al-Khamis Sueliman, a close disciple of Sheikh al-Islam Sharif Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini, the Mufti of Nigeria. This connection allowed Mustafa to receive valuable instruction and numerous ijazat (licenses) in several key Islamic texts and sciences directly from Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh.Mustafa gained international acclaim for his 'Beyond Bilal: Black History in Islam' lecture series, which explored the deep-rooted relationship between Islam and Black History, the legacy of contemporary African Islamic Scholarship, its role in the International Relations of the Muslim World, and the vital role of Female Scholarship in the West African Islamic Tradition. He presented this lecture series at over 30 universities across three continents, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale.The success of 'Beyond Bilal' led to its adaptation into a book, which became an Amazon bestseller within the first month of its release. This success prompted an American and European book tour, during which Mustafa was hosted and interviewed by various scholars at academic and Islamic institutions, such as Imam Omar Sulaiman of Yaqeen Institute, Shaykh Suhaib Webb of the Islamic Center of New York University, and Professor Shadaab Rahemtulla of Edinburgh University, where the book is currently part of the educational curriculum.In conclusion, Mustafa Briggs has made significant contributions to the understanding of Islamic history and scholarship, particularly in relation to Black history and the role of African scholars in the Islamic tradition. His work continues to inspire and educate people worldwide, bridging cultural and historical gaps through his lectures and writings.