“I still want the Divinity School to say that they will be more sensitive towards Jews and Americans,” she said. “Harvard needs to say the center had major problems.”

According to McNeil, while the gift is on hold, the Divinity School will continue its search for a candidate to fill a professorship in Islamic studies. HDS is in the midst of a curricular review aimed in part at better incorporating world religions.

“There is no question of our commitment to Islamic studies,” McNeil said.

“If we found something we did want, we would pursue it with other funds,” she said, adding that “come end of the year, we’ll see where we are.”

Fish and others said that given the choice, HDS should fill the professorship without relying on the Zayed donation.

“It is extremely important to find an Islamic studies professor, but at what price?” Fish said.

Levenson remained similarly skeptical.

“If they have plans and money to expand in world religions, then that’s all the more reason to substitute that money for the Sheikh’s,” Levenson said.

—Staff writer Wendy D. Widman can be reached at widman@fas.harvard.edu.