Wandering Scholar

A Memoir

Abstract

Keyes reflects back on her time as a graduate student of Ibrahim Abu-Rabi‘ and his use of a range of materials from Edward Said to critical social theorists to Naomi Ateek to encourage his students to read widely and think broadly beyond the limits of traditional Islamic Studies. She documents her experience of numerous border crossings with him, both intellectual and physical. This Arab Muslim scholar, rooted in both tradition and socio-historical realities, worked to bring the Palestinian narrative to light. He is remembered for his concern for injustice and truth, his understanding of Islam as uniting and emancipatory, and his interest in and willingness to engage the people he met on his travels.