Abdallah Schleifer was the chief editor of The Muslim 500, journalist, scholar, and lifelong advocate of intercultural and interreligious dialogue. He passed away and was buried in his adopted country of Egypt. His life was a testament to curiosity, dialogue, and a profound commitment to understanding across faiths.

Born Marc David Schleifer in New York, he came of age amid the Beat movement of Greenwich Village. Inspired by poetry, jazz, and a spirit of spiritual inquiry, Schleifer embarked on a path that would transform his life. Drawn to Sufi mysticism during travels to Morocco, he embraced Islam, taking the name Suleyman Abdallah Sharif, and dedicated his life to building bridges of understanding between peoples.

Over decades, Schleifer became a towering figure in Middle Eastern journalism. He served as Middle East correspondent for Jeune Afrique, special correspondent for The New York Times, Washington bureau chief for Al-Arabiya, and NBC News Cairo bureau chief. His work was marked by deep contextual insight and a refusal to reduce complex realities to simplistic narratives.

As a professor at the American University in Cairo, Schleifer shaped generations of journalists, establishing the Adham Center for Journalism Training and Research. His role as Chief Editor of The Muslim 500 reflected his enduring belief in respectful dialogue, informed scholarship, and nuanced understanding of Islam’s role in the modern world.