Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
People File • Author

Raymond Ibrahim

Raymond Ibrahim is an American author, translator, and columnist known for writing on Arabic history, the history of Christianity and Islam, and contemporary Middle Eastern issues.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Raymond Ibrahim is an American author, translator, and columnist known for writing on Arabic history, the history of Christianity and Islam, and contemporary Middle Eastern issues. He has worked as a librarian and Arabic-language researcher and has held fellowships at policy-oriented institutions.

Early life and education

Raymond Ibrahim was born in 1973 and is American. He earned a master’s degree from California State University, Fresno, and has studied Arabic and Middle Eastern subjects. His academic background informs his work as a translator and researcher.

Career

Ibrahim has worked as an author, translator, columnist, and former librarian. He has been identified as an Arabic-language researcher at the Library of Congress and has held fellowships or affiliations with the Danube Institute, Gatestone Institute, and Middle East Forum. His writing appears in outlets such as Middle East Quarterly, National Review, and The Washington Times.

Key writings and themes

Ibrahim’s books include *The Al Qaeda Reader* (2007), *Crucified Again* (2013), *Sword and Scimitar* (2018), and *Defenders of the West* (2022). His work focuses on Arabic history, Islam, Christianity, jihad-related primary sources, and civilizational conflict. He writes for both scholarly and general audiences and has been cited by media and think-tank outlets.

In short

  • American author, translator, and columnist focused on Arabic history and Middle Eastern issues.
  • Former librarian and Arabic-language researcher at the Library of Congress.
  • Author of four major books including *The Al Qaeda Reader* and *Sword and Scimitar*.
  • Current visiting fellow at the Danube Institute and contributor to policy-oriented media.

Quick questions

Who is Raymond Ibrahim?
Raymond Ibrahim is an American author, translator, and columnist known for writing about Arabic history, Christianity and Islam, and Middle Eastern affairs.
What books has Raymond Ibrahim written?
His books include The Al Qaeda Reader, Crucified Again, Sword and Scimitar, and Defenders of the West.
What topics does Raymond Ibrahim focus on?
His work focuses on Arabic history, the history of Christianity and Islam, religious persecution, and related contemporary issues.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Ibrahim
    Supports: Birth year, nationality, occupations, education, and general biographical overview.
  2. Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00J0GL5BS
    Supports: Book titles and author biography, including institutional affiliations.
  3. Danube Institute — https://danubeinstitute.hu/en/authors/raymond-ibrahim
    Supports: Current affiliation, biographical summary, and areas of focus.
  4. Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-need-to-hear-this-about-islam-raymond-ibrahim/id1672658698?i=1000704323759
    Supports: Biographical details including education, Library of Congress work, language skills, and book list.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Ibrahim
    Supports: Notable books and role descriptions repeated across the article.