Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad (also known as Dean Ahmad) (born August 11, 1948) is a Palestinian American scholar and the president of the Minaret of Freedom Institute, a libertarian Muslim think-tank.[1]; He also is president of the Islamic-American Zakat Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt religious and charitable organization which primarily serves poor and needy Muslims in the United States.[2]
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[edit] Biography
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad was born en route to the United States when his family left Palestine in 1948. He was raised in Pennsylvania and earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University (1970) and a doctoral degree in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Arizona (1975).[3]
[edit] Academic career
Ahmad teaches an introductory course on Islam at Wesley Theological Seminary.[4] He also has taught courses religion, science and freedom at the University of Maryland, College Park. [5] and courses relating to Islam and development at Georgetown University, the Johns Hopkins University, School for Advanced International Studies, and the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding.[3]
Ahmad is the author of Signs in the Heavens: A Muslim Astronomer's Perspective on Religion and Science and Islamic Rules of Order, co-editor of Islam and the West: A Dialog, and co-author of Islam and the Discovery of Freedom. His address on "Islam, Commerce and Business Ethics" was published in Nicholas Capaldi’s Business and Religion: A Clash of Civilizations?[6] He has been published by Middle East Policy, American Muslim Magazine, Economic Affairs and Georgetown Journal of International Affairs.[7]
Ahmad has been a frequent guest lecturer at the Foreign Services Institute. He is also the Islamic chaplain at American University and at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, Imam of the Dar-adh-Dhikr Mosque and arbitrator for the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area.[3]
Ahmad has written and spoken on Islam and legal and religious freedom, democracy in the Muslim world, Islamic civil society, property rights in Islam, women in Islam and female circumcision, Middle East conflicts in Palestine and Iraq, Palestinian human and property rights, terrorism and jihad, and American civil liberties.[7] Ahmad has been an outspoken critic of the role of neoconservatives in shaping United States' foreign policy, especially in the Middle East.[8]
During the 1990s Dean Ahmad participated in Maryland[9] and national Libertarian Party activities, including as platform committee chair[10] and member of the judiciary committee.[11] In 2001 Dr. Ahmad joined a delegation of American Muslims participating in the "First Conference on Jerusalem" in Beirut which was "dedicated to the liberation of Jerusalem."[12] He was a member of Academics for Ron Paul during congressman Paul's run for the 2008 presidential nomination.[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Minaret.org staff description.
- ^ [1].
- ^ a b c Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy Biographical Data on Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad.
- ^ [2]
- ^ Fall 2003 University of Maryland HONR Course Descriptions
- ^ Nicholas Capaldi, Business and Religion: A Clash of Civilizations?, M&M Scrivener Press, September 30, 2005.
- ^ a b Links to Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad's articles and speeches.
- ^ Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, "The Role of Neoconservatives in Shaping U.S. Policy", originally published in American Muslim Magazine, at at Minaret.org.
- ^ Maryland Libertarian Party Newsletter, January 2000.
- ^ Libertarian Party FAQ: Directory of National LP Officials, June 1996.
- ^ Six incumbents and eight first-timers are elected to Libertarian National Committee, Libertarian Party News, August, 1998.
- ^ Imad-ad-dean Ahmad's Address to the First Conference on Jerusalem; Carl Cameron, Clues Alerted White House to Potential Attacks, FoxNews.Com, May 17, 2002.
- ^ Academics for Ron Paul site.
[edit] External links
- Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad personal web site
- Islamic-American Zakat Foundation
- Reason magazine interview with Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad
- Public Broadcasting Service "Religion and Ethics" feature on "Ramadan Moon", including Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad and other guests, November 8, 2002, Episode no. 610.
- Public Broadcasting Service Discussion of "The Pope's Journey", featuring Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, May 8, 2001.
- An Interview with Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, featured on Free Market Mojo.
- 1948 births
- Living people
- American libertarians
- American Muslims
- American people of Palestinian descent
- Georgetown University faculty
- Harvard University alumni
- Johns Hopkins University faculty
- Members of the Libertarian Party (United States)
- Palestinian academics
- Palestinian emigrants to the United States
- Palestinian refugees
- University of Arizona alumni
- University of Maryland, College Park faculty
