Birthday:Born Damascus December 2, 1907

Social Status:Lebanese, married to Margaret Shahwan, has two sons Raid and Basim

Education:

• (1) Teachers Training College Jerusalem
• (2) University College - London University 1935-1939
• (3) SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) London University 1947-1949.

Degrees:

• (1) Teachers Training College 1924
• (2) Higher Education Certificate (Government of Palestine) 1931
• (3) B.A. (Honors) London University 1939
• (4) PHD in Islamic History London University 1950. Doctoral thesis -Civil Society in Syria 1200-1400AD-.

Scholarships:

• (1) Government of Palestine 1935-1939.
• (2) Government of Palestine 1947-1948
• (3) British Council 1947-1948

Academic Posts:

• (1) Teacher Acre High School 1925-1935
• (2) Lecturer Arab College Jerusalem 1939-1947
• (3) Lecturer Centre for Middle Eastern Studies Jerusalem 1944-1945
• (4) Reader at Cambridge University (Eastern Languages) 1948-1949
• (5) Assistant Director Barka Education Department - Libya 1949
• (6) Assistant Professor at A.U.B 1949, Professor 1958-1973
• (7) Emeritus Professor A.U.B. 1973-2006
• (8) Visiting Professor at:
• (a) Harvard 1957, 1962-63
• (b) Aligarh Islamic University India 1971
• (c) Kano University College and Zaria University Nigeria 1976
• (d) Ain-Shams University 1976
• (e) Jordanian University 1976-1978
• (f) Lebanese University 1974-1976 1978-1981
• (g) Part-time Professor at NEST (Near East School of Theology) Beirut 1985-1991.

Other Posts:

• (1) Interim chairman of Arabic Studies Programme A.U.B. 1954-1955
• (2) Chairman Dept. of History AUB 1955-1956
• (3) Chairman Dept. of History AUB 1965-1966
• (4) Secretary General of the Mediterranean Council for Economic and Social Research 1965-1970
• (5) Member of the BUC Council 1968-1970
• (6) Editor Longmans Arab Studies Series to 1990
• (7) Contributing Member Advisory Council -Al Mawsouah Al Falastinyah- (The Palestine Encyclopedia).

Fellowships:

• (1) Previously Fellow of the American Oriental Society.
• (2) Previously Fellow of The Medieval Academy of America .
• (3) Previously Corresponding Fellow of the Iraqi Cultural Council
• (4) Previously Emeritus member of The German Oriental Society