Abdulrahman Afif

Author and Translator

Abdulrahman Afif was born in Amuda in north-eastern Syria in 1971 and today lives in Hanover. He studied Arabic literature and, in Germany, German literature. Afif works as an author and translator at the intersections of Arabic, German and Persian intellectual history. His translations include an anthology of modern German poetry, stories by Wilhelm Hauff from German into Arabic, and texts by the mystic Suhrawardi from Persian. Most recently, he translated Meister Eckhart's mystical writings into Arabic, which will soon be published by Al-Jamal.

Most recent articles by Abdulrahman Afif

Author Taleb Alrefai

A window into the Kuwaiti soul

Does the German literary scene have a blind spot when it comes to Arabic literature? Abdulrahman Afif makes the case for the works of Kuwaiti writer Taleb Alrefai, whose socially critical literature deftly side-steps orientalist expectations.
By Abdulrahman Afif
Islamic history

The critic of Sufism who became its archivist

In the 12th century, the scholar Ibn al-Jawzi wrote "Talbis Iblis" or "The Devil's Deception" to expose Sufism as heresy. Today, his text is read in two ways: as a critique and as a captivating snapshot of Sufi teachings.
By Abdulrahman Afif

A window into the Kuwaiti soul

The critic of Sufism who became its archivist