Abdul Rahman Latif

About

Abdul Rahman Latif is the author of the unpublished young adult historical dark fantasy novel “Vultures in the House of Silence.” He is a PhD candidate in Religion at Columbia University where his research focuses on Medieval Islamic storytelling traditions. He currently serves as the Muslim Chaplain and Associate Director of the William Jewett Tucker Center at Dartmouth College. Abdul Rahman is an aficionado of spicy foods, an avid reader and tv-binger, and an aspiring wise Uncle-type. He grew up in the mountains of western Maryland and currently lives in the New Hampshire ‘wilderness.’ He comes from a multifaith and multiracial background, and manages to confuse people with his heavily-accented attempts at speaking multiple Islamicate languages.

Creative Writing

Novels (completed)

Vultures in the House of Silence is a YA historical dark fantasy set during the aftermath of the Mongol conquest of Baghdad. The gardener Khurafa tells a tale to fend off vultures. He recounts his journey seeking saintly aid against the ancient sorcerers known as the Servants, and finding mostly monsters instead. This work for fans of the Witcher, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Avatar the Last Airbender, draws extensively on Medieval Islamic history, Persian epics, and Sufi literature. To be published January 26, 2024 inshaallah.

Novels (in progress)

Two sequels of Vultures in the House of Silence (‘The Servants Trilogy’)- The overarching plot and twists are planned out, but waiting for representation for Vultures or the prospect of publication before resuming progress on them.

Ishraq- Envisioned as a duology; a story inspired by the Shahnameh, Aja’ib (marvel tales) literature, and Suhrawardi’s illuminationist (ishraqi) philosophy. Probably a few years away from completion.

The Mud Mage- A revenge tale involving lost magic, a mysterious alternate dimension, and lots and lots of mud. At least two years from completion.

Soraya and the Endless City- a YA story of urban fantasy, love, and political intrigue, set in a constantly-changing city of haves, and have-nots who live over a literal abyss. At least two years from completion.

Children’s Literature

Outshine the Sun: Forty Muslim Women in History- a work in prose and poetry about the history of several significant Muslim Women from a wide range of epochs and geographies. Illustrated by H. Sumeyra Kormaz, and intended for publication with Fons Vitae inshaallah.

The Tale of Ibrahim b. Adham- a poetic rendition of the life of the buddha-like Muslim saint Ibrahim b. Adham; illustrated by H. Sumeyra Korkmaz and available freely online here.

Academia

Curriculum Vitae

Public Scholarship

Zoom-era Lecture.

Podcast about Islamic storytelling (from Summer 2019)

Cohosted Episodes of Ottoman History Podcast: Khaled El Rouayheb

Cohosted Episodes of Ottoman History Podcast: Muslim World

Cohosted Episodes of Ottoman History Podcast: Beyond Timbuktu

Cohosted Episodes of Ottoman History Podcast: Arabic Records

Collected Jinn stories from a competition I ran in 2018.

Writing pieces for the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research: We've Been Here Before: Plague and Pestilence in Pre-Modern Islamic History

Writing pieces for the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research: "Be Brothers"- Case Studies of Muslim Receptions of Refugees in History

Chaplaincy

I work as the Muslim Chaplain at Dartmouth College and the Associate Director of the William Jewett Tucker Center for Spiritual and Ethical Living. For me, chaplaincy is about embodying the Prophetic model of radical presence, serving the community, and building a space for pauses and reflection. It involves making and drinking chai with chai with students, encouraging intellectual conversations about faith, and learning and teaching about Islamic traditions and modern challenges.

You can find out more about what I’m doing here:

Wiliam Jewett Tucker Center Profile

"Tucker Center Welcomes New Muslim Chaplain"

Sample Sermons:

Sermon Audio Files

• Instagram
• TikTok

Email arlatifauthor@gmail.com for authorial inquiries

Contact

(For literary and academic inquiries)

Contact

(For chaplaincy and administrative inquiries)

Elements

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											print 'Iteration ' + i;
											deck.shuffle();
											i++;
										}

										print 'It took ' + i + ' iterations to sort the deck.';