In Haya Sofya Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey, upper level.

My name is Timothy R. Furnish and I'm a Ph.D. in Islamic history (Ohio State, 2001) who works as a consultant, researcher and author on the topics of Islam, Mahdism, Jihadism, Shi`ism, other Islamic sects, the Caliphate and Eschatology in general.  During the Reagan years I was an Arabic linguist in the 101st Airborne Division; later I was commissioned and trained as a (Christian) Army chaplain, although eventually opting for an academic, rather than a military-pastoral, career.  My personal research specializations are Islamic eschatology (end of time beliefs), Mahdism, Islamic fundamentalism, jihadism, the Hidden Imam and how all of these relate to modern politics.  I am also a huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan and writing, believe it or not, a new book on the military and political history of Middle-earth.

Here's a link to an interview of me by the editor of the History News Network:

http://hnn.us/articles/29389.html

In Tehran, Iran, before the copy of the kiswah (Ka`ba covering) in the Hall of Leaders