Mohd Saiful Anwar Mohd Nawawi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fiqh-Usul and Applied Sciences, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya. He holds a Bachelor of Shariah, a Master of Science, and a PhD from Universiti Malaya.

His scholarship explores how scientific knowledge informs Islamic legal reasoning, institutional governance, and public policy. Using contemporary Islamic astronomy as a principal field of inquiry, his research examines how empirical evidence, computational methods, and emerging technologies support the interpretation and application of Shariah in matters relating to religious observance in contemporary Muslim societies.

His research encompasses lunar crescent visibility, Hijri calendar governance, prayer time calculation, Qibla determination, and the reinterpretation of classical juristic concepts through empirical astronomical evidence. Working in collaboration with government agencies, religious authorities, and academic institutions, he develops evidence-based legal frameworks, technical guidelines, and professional practices that advance the field of Islamic astronomy.

He has published extensively in both Islamic studies and international scientific journals, including Icarus, Scientific Reports, New Astronomy, and Astronomy and Computing. He is also the co-author of Python for Islamic Astronomy: Modern Computational Approaches to Hijri Calendar, Qibla, and Prayer Times (CRC Press, Routledge, 2025).

He currently serves as President of the Persatuan Jurufalak Syarie (JUFAS), Deputy President of the Southeast Asia Islamic Astronomy Association, and as an expert panel member for government agencies and religious institutions.