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He is a frequent [[speaker]] at local and [[national]] Muslim events and has emerged as one of the nation’s top Islamic [[Scholars]] and a voice of conscience for [[American Muslims]] and non-Muslims alike.
He is a frequent [[speaker]] at local and [[national]] Muslim events and has emerged as one of the nation’s top Islamic [[Scholars]] and a voice of conscience for [[American Muslims]] and non-Muslims alike.

Shakir clearly stated in a 2009 interview with ''[[USA Today]]'', as a faith community our needs aren't any different than the needs of any other faith community. As Muslims, we need to develop institutions to allow us to perpetuate our values." ''<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-05-18-islamic-college_N.htm.]</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==

Revision as of 07:47, 27 September 2009

Imam Zaid Shakir
File:Photo Image ZS, 2009-09-20.jpg
Zaid Shakir on PBS interviewed by Bill Moyers, in New York, 2007
Born
Ricky D. Mitchell

May 24, 1956
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Islamic Scholar and Writer
WebsiteZaid Shakir.com

Zaid Shakir (born Ricky D. Mitchell, 1956) is an Islamic Scholar and Writer who moved with his family in 2003 to serve as a Professor and Lecturer at Zaytuna Institute in California, United States, where he now teaches regular courses on Arabic, Law, History, and Islamic Spirituality. He is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You[1], an open letter by Islamic Scholars to Christian Leaders, calling for peace and understanding.

Early life

Born in Berkeley, California, he accepted Islam in 1977 while serving in the United States Air Force, and shortly after changed his name to Zaid Salim Shakir. A summa cum laude graduate, he obtained a BA in International Relations at American University in Washington, D.C. and later earned his MA in Political Science at Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, he led a successful campaign for disinvestment from South Africa, and co-founded a local Islamic center, Masjid al-Huda. After a year of studying Arabic in Cairo, Egypt, he settled in New Haven, Connecticut and continued his community activism, co-founding Masjid al-Islam, the Tri-State Muslim Education Initiative, and the Connecticut Muslim Coordinating Committee. As Imam of Masjid al-Islam from 1988 to 1994 he spear-headed a community renewal and grassroots anti-drug effort, also accepted the position as Professor and taught political science and Arabic at Southern Connecticut State University. He served as an interfaith council Chaplain at Yale University and developed the Chaplaincy Sensitivity Training for physicians at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Years Abroad

Shakir then left for Syria to pursue his studies in the traditional Islamic Sciences. For seven years in Syria, and briefly in Morocco, he immersed himself in an intense study of Arabic, Islamic law, Quranic studies, and spirituality with some of the top Muslim scholars of our age. In 2001, he was the first American graduate from Syria's prestigious Abu Nour University and returned to Connecticut, serving again as the Imam of Masjid al-Islam, and writing and speaking frequently on a host of issues.

In 2003, as a scholar-in-residence at Zaytuna Institute located in California, Shakir began to teach Arabic, Law, and Islamic Spirituality. And, in 2008, he co-founded the Berkeley, California- based Zaytuna College dedicated to the revival of Islamic Sciences and the preservation of traditional teaching methods.

He has traveled all over the world lecturing about Islam and contemporary issues. Shakir has translated several classical texts from Arabic[2]. He has been a special quest and interviewed twice on Bill Moyers in January 18, 2002 and June 22, 2007, a prime time TV station network PBS. He is the first Islamic Scholar to spearhead a nationwide initiative Bite The Bug[3], along with many partners who are passionately concerned about matters plaguing Muslims regardless of culture, geography, language or race. This mission is to raise national awareness and demonstrate that the American Muslim community is compassionate, empathetic and action-oriented about basic maladies within the world.

Zaid Shakir is amongst the most respected and influential Islamic Scholars in the West. As an American Muslim who came of age during the civil rights struggles, he has brought both sensitivity about race and poverty issues and scholarly discipline to his faith-based work. He is married and has one adopted son [4]. Shakir was born in Berkeley, California and spent his formative years in Connecticut.

He is a frequent speaker at local and national Muslim events and has emerged as one of the nation’s top Islamic Scholars and a voice of conscience for American Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Shakir clearly stated in a 2009 interview with USA Today, as a faith community our needs aren't any different than the needs of any other faith community. As Muslims, we need to develop institutions to allow us to perpetuate our values." [5]

Publications

Books authored

Books translated with additions

Books which include his foreword or note

Papers

See also

Websites

  • zaidshakir.com- Zaid Shakir's biography, articles, online store, and blog
  • [2]- Resident Scholar, Author, and Lecturer
  • [3]- Zaid Shakir's Press Room
  • [4]- Zaid Shakir's Audio and Video lectures
  • [5]- Zaid Shakir Featured Member in Yearbook of Experts
  • [6]- Agenda to change our condition By Zaid Shakir
  • [7]- Foundations of the Deen, by Zaid Shakir
  • [8]- Zaid Shakir answers questions on religion
  • [9]- Imam Zaid Shakir on Twitter
  • [10]- Imam Zaid Facebook
  • [11]- My Space site with Zaid Shakir
  • [12]- New York Times

Articles,interviews

Videos

See also

References

  1. ^ . 2009-15-09 http://www.acommonword.com/index.php?lang=en&page=signatories. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ = NID Publishers "The Heirs of the Prophets". 2008-09-01. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |Title= ignored (|title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ . 2009-05-09 http://www.one.org/blog/2009/05/12/bite-the-bug-islamic-relief%E2%80%99s-fight-against-malaria/. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Title= ignored (|title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ http://www.zaytuna.org/teacherMore.asp?id=10
  5. ^ [1]
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