NALLINO, CARLO ALFONSO. - Arabist and Islamicist, b. in Torino on 16 February 1872, d. in Roma on 25 July 1938. Having graduated in letters at Torino in 1893, he was professor of Arabic at the Istituto orientale of Napoli (1894–1902) and at the University of Palermo (1902–13), and subsequently of Muslim history and institutions at the University of Roma (1914–38). He taught courses in Arabic at the Egyptian University of Cairo (1909–12 and 1927–31).
In his works he embraced every field of Arab-Muslim civilization, with writings on linguistics, literature, philosophy, history, law, religion, mysticism, geography, astronomy, and astrology.
Among his publications should be recalled: the Chrestomathia Qorani Arabica (Lipsia 1893); L'arabo parlato in Egitto (Milano 1900; 2nd ed. ivi 1913; reprint 1939); the edition, with Latin translation and notes, of the Opus astronomicum of al-Battâni (3 vols., ivi 1899–1907); and numerous articles, at times genuine monographs, which after his death were for the most part collected by his daughter M. Nallino in the Raccolta di scritti editi e inediti (6 vols., Roma 1939–48). He founded and directed until his death the journal Oriente moderno, giving it that character of scholarly seriousness which makes it a useful and important instrument of information on the contemporary Muslim East.