Bilal Philips

Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips (b. 1366 AH / 1947 CE) is a Canadian-Jamaican Islamic scholar, educator, and one of the most prolific English-language Muslim authors of his generation. Born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, he converted to Islam in the early 1970s and thereafter pursued formal Islamic education, studying in Saudi Arabia at the Islamic University of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud al-Islamiyyah in Riyadh. He later earned a Master's degree in Islamic Theology from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Islamic Theology from the University of Wales.

Dr. Bilal Philips is best known for founding the International Open University (IOU), formerly the American Open University, which offers affordable accredited degree programs in Islamic studies entirely in English. The IOU has enrolled students from across the world and has become one of the largest providers of English-language Islamic higher education globally. He collaborated with Shaykh Ja'far Sheikh Idris in the founding of this institution.

He has authored over 50 books covering a wide range of Islamic subjects accessible to English-speaking audiences. These include works on Islamic theology (aqeedah), jurisprudence, the fundamentals of Islamic faith, Islamic spirituality, and practical guidance for Muslims living in the West. Among his well-known works are The Fundamentals of Tawheed, Usool at-Tafseer, The Evolution of Fiqh, The Purpose of Creation, and Islamic Studies (a multi-volume school curriculum). His books have been translated into numerous languages and are widely used in Islamic schools, universities, and study circles.

Dr. Philips follows the Athari/Salafi approach in aqeedah and has been active in da'wah work internationally. He has taught at universities in the UAE and has delivered lectures globally. His contribution to making traditional Islamic scholarship accessible in English has made him one of the most recognized Muslim scholars among English-speaking Muslims worldwide.