Every few months another story hits the news: Terrorist plot uncovered, Muslims implicated. Since the tragedy of 9/11, Muslims have remained under intense scrutiny, and more than a few Americans have called the religion “evil.” People still wonder: Why aren’t Muslims saying–or doing–enough to condemn terrorism and violence? Is Islam really a religion of violence?
The truth is, American Muslims are constantly condemning terrorism and religious extremism, unambiguously and in the strongest possible ways. But, many Muslims complain, their words and actions are not being heard. Here are some of the country’s most prominent Muslims, who battle these misconceptions everyday, to get their answers on this question:
Azhar Usman, Comedian
Usman is a stand-up comedian and member of the popular “Allah Made Me Funny” comedy troupe. The group travels the U.S. grabbing laughs about the situations in which Muslims find themselves in America today, like being subject to “random” airport searches and suspicious stares on airplanes. Usman believes humor is a universal way to break down religious and cultural barriers. He is also a lawyer, columnist, and an on-air personality on MTV Desi.
Shahed Amanullah, Journalist
Amanullah has harnessed the power of the Internet to spread a positive view of Islam. Amanullah is one of the country’s foremost Muslim journalists. He is the editor of altmuslim.com, a Muslim news website, and founder of Halalfire Media, a network of Muslim-themed websites with more than five million annual visitors. Through his work Amanullah has tapped into a strong force of online activism.
Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Civic and Social Leader
When Mattson was elected president of the Islamic Society of Northern America (ISNA) in 2006, she became the first woman to lead one of the most powerful Muslim social, civic, and political organizations in the country and America’s largest, most inclusive Islamic group. Mattson leads ISNA at a challenging time when American Muslims are struggling to promote their religion, encourage interfaith dialogue, and separate themselves from the views of extremists.
Imam Abdul Feisal Rauf, Religious Leader
One of the most sought-after American Muslims speakers, Rauf is an imam in New York City and the chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, a multi-faith organization that seeks to improve relations between the Islamic world and the West. As the author of several books, including “What’s Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West,” Rauf is on the frontlines of interfaith dialogue.
Asra Q. Nomani, Muslim Feminist
Nomani has been both hailed and denounced for her work as a feminist Muslim activist. In 2003, she challenged the leaders of her local mosque in Morgantown, W.V. to allow women to enter by the front door and pray alongside men. That protest led to her fight for women-led prayers and gender equality in mosques across the country. Though Nomani remains a controversial figure among American Muslims, her commitment to gender parity and support for a fair representation of Islam continues to attract attention.
Salam Al-Marayati, Political and Civic Leader
Al-Marayati is the man Muslims turn to for guidance in political and civic activism. As the executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, an organization dedicated to changing public opinion and policy, Al-Marayati has encouraged Muslims to get involved in anti-terrorism efforts like the National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism, which guides imams and mosque leaders to cooperate with law enforcement in exposing individuals with extremist ideas within the Muslim community.
Daisy Khan, Activist
Khan, the founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, is a driving force behind youth and women’s movements in American Islam. She organized the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow (which advises youth to reconcile varying ideologies within Islam) and the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equity (WISE), a 2006 project that gathered 100 of the world’s most influential Muslim women last year to develop a Shura (Muslim law) council to advance gender equality.
