Farid Esack

Farid Esack is a Muslim scholar, speaker, and human rights activist with an international reputation in Islamic Studies and Qur'anic thought. He has lectured widely on religion and Islam across the globe. He served as Commissioner for Gender Equality in the government of President Nelson Mandela in South Africa, a role that reflects his longstanding commitment to justice and human rights. He subsequently held the Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Visiting Professorship of Contemporary Islam at Harvard University. His published works include Qur'an, Liberation and Pluralism and On Being a Muslim (both published by Oneworld), as well as the co-edited volume Islam and AIDS: Between Scorn, Pity and Justice (co-edited with Sarah Chiddy, also Oneworld). He is the author of The Qur'an: A Beginner's Guide.