Or Amir studies the social history of Islam in the late Middle Ages, with emphasis on the Mamluk period. His research focuses on the social role of Sufi sheikhs and saint rituals in Islam, as well as questions related to religious, spiritual and social authority. Amir obtained his PhD from the Hebrew University in 2020. His dissertation examined the relations between Sufi saints and the Mamluk government. In addition to these areas, Amir also studies the history of Palestine in the Mamulk period; his articles on Safed and Gaza were published in leading journals. From 2014-2028, Amir was a fellow in an ERC research group led by Prof. Michal Biran focused on mobility and intercultural contacts in the Mongol Empire. This research produced several articles on the movements of Islamic scholars between the Mongol Empire and the Mamluk Sultanate. 

Courses taught:

Sufism and Saint Rituals in Islam; Religion, Society and State from the Seljuks to the Ottomans; Premodern Islamic Historiography

Recent Publications:

2021. “From Saint to Eponymous Founder: Abū Bakr al-Mawṣilī (d. 797/1394) and his Ṭarīqa Mawṣiliyya.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 143(1): 1-20.
2024. “The Dual Meaning of Shafāʽa and the Social Function of the Saints in Mamluk Society.” 2024. Arabica 71(4-5): 430-73.
2025. “'Is Fiqh Now Determined Based on Dreams?!' The Debate Over the Legal Value of Dreams and the Question of Religious Authority in Sunni Islam.” Islamic Law and Society 32(3): 173-202.