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PROF. DR. SULEYMAN DERIN

Adjunct/Visiting Professors
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PROF. DR. SÜLEYMAN DERIN
Professor of Sufism, and the Psychological Dimensions of Islam
Visiting Professor

Prof. Süleyman Derin is a scholar of Sufism whose work dwells in the subtle interior of Islamic thought, where theology meets the language of the heart. Born in Kütahya, Türkiye, he was formed within the scholarly tradition of Marmara University, where he completed his undergraduate and master’s studies in theology, before extending his intellectual journey to the University of Leeds.

His doctoral research—centred on the evolving paradigms of divine love from Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya to Ibn al-Fāriḍ—set the tone for a career devoted to uncovering the inner dimensions of Islam. His scholarship moves between classical Sufi texts and contemporary inquiry, exploring not only metaphysical doctrines but also the psychological and transformative aspects of faith.

Now a full professor in the Department of Sufism at Marmara University, he teaches the history of Sufism, Sufi tafsīr, and the encounter between Islamic spirituality and modern intellectual currents. His writings illuminate the enduring relevance of Sufi concepts—love, purification, and knowledge of the self—as pathways toward ethical and spiritual refinement.

Through his teaching and research, Prof. Derin invites a deeper reflection: that beyond doctrine lies experience, and beyond knowledge lies transformation—where the study of Sufism becomes, ultimately, a journey inward.

 
 
  • PhD in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies — University of Leeds, United Kingdom
  • Master of Arts in Theology — Marmara University, Türkiye
  • Bachelor of Arts in Theology — Marmara University, Türkiye
Article Publications
2024 Al-Ghazali’s concept of diseases of the spiritual heart and its relevance to DSM-5-TR diagnosis. Journal of Religion and Health, 63(1), pp. 490–514.
2021 İşârî tefsirlerde Hz. Nuh. Tasavvuf İlmi ve Akademik Araştırma Dergisi, 24(47), pp. 279–309.
2011 Benedict’in “The Rule” eseri çerçevesinde ruhbanlık ve tekke hayatı. Tasavvuf, 12(27), pp. 219–252.
2010 Şamlı bir sûfî: Şeyh Arslan Dımaşkî ve tevhîd risâlesi. Tasavvuf, (26), pp. 91–124.
2009 The self and the other in Ibn Arabi and Rumi. Tasavvuf, (23), pp. 109–130.
2009 Sîmurg’a yolculuk. Din ve Hayat, (2), pp. 30–33.
2006 Tasavvufun Orta Asya’da yakın geçmişteki rolü: Kırgızistan örneği. Tasavvuf, (16).
2005 The tradition of sulh among the Sufis. Journal of Academic Studies.
2003 Annemarie Schimmel’in tasavvufun kökenlerine dair görüşleri. Tasavvuf, 4(11), pp. 519–526.
2001 Gazzâlî’de Allah sevgisi. Tasavvuf, 2(5), pp. 143–159.
2001 Tasavvufi yolda ilerlemeye engel olarak evlilik ve manevi evlilik. Tasavvuf, 2(6), pp. 211–226.
2000 The origins of the term “Sufi”. Tasavvuf, 2(4), pp. 107–114.
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DATO’ PROF. DR. NOOR INAYAH BINTI YA’AKUB

Adjunct/Visiting Professors
Dato-Prof-Dr-Noor-Inayah-Yaakub

DATO' PROF. DR. NOOR INAYAH BINTI YA'AKUB
Professor of Civil and Sharīʿah Law
Adjunct Professor

Dato’ Prof. Dr. Noor Inayah binti Yaakub is a scholar of law and a transformative leader in higher education, whose work is guided by a rare synthesis of intellectual rigor and social compassion. Trained in both civil and Sharīʿah law at the International Islamic University Malaysia, and later refined through postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom at the University of Bristol and the University of Manchester, her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to bridging legal traditions and advancing knowledge with purpose.

Her leadership career has been marked by institutional transformation. As former President and Vice Chancellor of Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur and Chief Executive Officer of Baitulmal Professional College, she championed access to quality education for B40 communities, expanding opportunities in professional and accredited fields. Under her stewardship, education became not merely a pathway to employment, but a vehicle for dignity and empowerment.

Currently leading UCMI, she advances a vision encapsulated in her guiding ethos—Live to Give—where institutions serve as spaces of inclusion, compassion, and intellectual growth. Her initiatives supporting asnaf, mualaf, and underserved students reflect a philosophy of education grounded in care and responsibility.

Beyond academia, her roles in corporate governance and national institutions reflect a breadth of trust and influence. Yet, at the heart of her work remains a simple conviction: that knowledge, when guided by empathy, can reshape lives, communities, and futures yet to unfold.

  • PhD in Law — University of Manchester, United Kingdom 
  • Master of Laws (Comparative Civil & Banking Law) — University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB) — International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Bachelor of Shariah Law — International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia

Professional & Executive Certifications:

  • Advanced Certificate (Technology Transfer & Project Management) — University of Oxford (2009)
  • QS Apple Asia-Pacific Professional Leaders in Education Certification (2009)
  • United Nations Professional Certificate in Higher Education Strategic Planning (2012)
  • Advanced Certificate in Innovation & Strategy for Higher Education — University of Cambridge (2019)

She is also professionally qualified as:

  • Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya
  • Certified Syariah Lawyer (Negeri Sembilan)