10 Questions with Dalia Mogahed

Chances are if you’re a Muslim living in the United States today, Dalia Mogahed is somewhat of a household name to you. Dalia is the Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, and has most recently been in the spotlight for her high profile role on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The co-author of the acclaimed book “Who Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think,” Dalia is a trailblazer for Muslim women around the world. elan recently caught up with her to talk career, inspirations, and even the World Cup!

What led you to your career at the Gallup Center?

I heard about Gallup at business school. I realized the power of human potential, and the power of talent and engagement to transform organizations and countries. I believe in that mission and applied it after college.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Muslim youth today?

One of the biggest challenges is a lack of confidence in their ability to make a possible contribution to society. I worry that young people are very unsure about their place in their communities. A sense of individualization is one thing that is needed, in addition to positive efforts towards mobilizing people to discover their strengths and talents in an area where they are contributing positively. Their biggest obstacle is a lack of knowing how much they are really capable of.

Is there any project or person you have come across that is an example of something that is counter-acting this lack of confidence?

There are lots of things that are counteracting this. MSA [Muslim Student Associations], Project Downtown, for example. People are giving back to their communities. There are many leadership training programs helping young Muslims. Last summer, we wanted to document and survey communities as part of United We Serve, and young Muslims were the most heterogenic in responding to the call. This inspires the rest of the community and shows that young Muslims have a lot to offer. Of course, a lot more has to be done.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

I am inspired by a lot of different sources. The life of the Prophet is one. There is so much we have to learn from his struggles and successes. I have been studying his life for more than 10 years, and gain inspiration from him.

What are examples of initiatives you are working on through Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships?

The Advisory Council was given the task of coming up with concrete recommendations for government to solve common problems and improve the situation on a lot of things – inter-religious dialogue and cooperation, and in engaging Muslim communities around the world. Our role is to gain insight and advice to tap them as a brain trust to engage Muslims. Some initiatives we have worked on are listening tours on the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice on civil liberties, and partner with local community groups.

What changes would you like to see made?

The recommendations need to get implemented. They have to take hold in real policies and make a positive impact in US relations with Muslim communities.

What has been your biggest challenge on the job? What has been the most pleasant surprise?

The unexpected amount of attention that I suddenly got. Most of it was positive, but some of it was not. It was a new phenomenon for me, and a huge responsibility. The most pleasant surprise for me were the people on the Advisory Council. These are some of the most amazing, inspirational, faith-driven people, such as Joel Hunter, Jim Wallace and Eboo Patel. I am blessed to have gotten to know them.

What’s coming up next for you/your work with Gallup?

We are continuing to do lots of research, and are coming out with a major report on how attitudes have changed on who speaks for Islam. We want to look at attitudes in a way that our last report did not, and examine not just the demographics, but the psychological and social attitudes. We will compare attitudes on national institutions, media, the Afghan War, Iraq, the military, and many more topics

What’s the first thing you do on Sunday mornings?

After I pray, I work out.

Who are you rooting for in the World Cup?

I don’t know yet. Since Egypt didn’t make it, I guess the United States!