Adam Abate studied Judeo-Arabic and conducted research for his master’s thesis in Hebrew philology and Judeo-Arabic magic and ritual manuscripts. He focused his study on the Hebrew word for the underworld, Sheol, wherein he proposed a new etymology according to its linguistic and ancient Near Eastern context.
Adam completed a BA in ancient languages with a focus on Classical Hebrew at Wheaton College and spent three and a half years in Amman, Jordan studying both Levantine and Classical Arabic prior to coming to study in the Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures at Ohio State. Adam's research involves methods in comparative semitics and historical Hebrew grammar where he seeks to understand the Hebrew Bible in its Northwest Semitic linguistic context.
Asad Zaman took the opportunity provided by the fellowship to learn ancient Greek and Ethiopic. Knowledge of these languages is important to conduct research for his dissertation on Second Temple Jewish literature that is preserved in these languages. During the fellowship year, Zaman audited one year of the introductory ancient Greek course at Ohio State and studied part of an Ethiopic grammar text with a tutor. Such study now allows him to identify short passages in the Book of Enoch that he is comparing to the Qur'an that he will apply in his dissertation work.
Asad’s general research interest focuses on studying various religious traditions’ late antique reception of ancient Near Eastern thought and culture to better understand Islam's emergence in its West-Arabian milieu. He is writing a dissertation that brings together the topics of Satan, Jesus and female angels in the Qur'an in light of ancient Canaanite religion and Enochic lore.
