VASIM MAMMADALI MAMMADALIYEV

(1942)

Orientalist

Vasim Mammadaliyev was born on 27 August 1942. In 1964, he graduated in Arabic philology from Azerbaijan State University, Faculty of Oriental Studies. The same year he embarked on postgraduate studies in Sami languages at Tbilisi State University. He defended a PhD thesis in 1968, and obtained a ScD degree in 1974 and professorship in 1978.

In 2001, he was elected a corresponding member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, becoming a full member in 2007. In 1968, he joined the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Baku State University, where his appointments included a teacher, associate professor and professor at the Department of Arabic Language. From 1981 to 1991, Vasim Mammadaliyev served as dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, and in 1991-1992 as vice-rector of BSU. He has chaired the Department of Arabic Philology since 1991, and headed the Faculty of Theology since 1993. He is the recipient of the title “Merited Scientist” of Azerbaijan (1992) and Dagestan (2003).

Vasim Mammadaliyev was elected a member of Iraqi Academy of Sciences (1989), Syrian Academy of Quran Sciences and Arabic Philology (1995), Academy of Arabic Language in Cairo (2003). He is also an academician and representative of Azerbaijan at the Academy of Muslim Law of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

He is the recipient of “Shohrat” (2002) and “Sharaf” (2009) orders. He has received an individual presidential pension since 2012.

Vasim Mammadaliyev`s research interests lie in theoretical issues of Arabic linguistics. He has published over 450 papers and articles and authored 20 books.

Together with academician Ziya Bunyadov, he translated the Holy Quran into Azerbaijani, which has been published nine times so far.

He has presented “Haqqın Dergahı” (Gates of Justice) program on Azerbaijan State Television since 1991. He has supervised 53 PhD and four ScD students to completion, including citizens of Turkey, Iran and Arab countries. He sits on the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Scientific and Religious Council of the Caucasian Muslims Office. Vasim Mammadaliyev also chairs the Scientific Council of BSU Faculty of Theology, and is a member of the scientific councils of the university and the Faculty of Oriental Studies.