Professor Ahmed Big Ups Muslim Youth

Dr. Akbar Ahmed, is currently the chair of the Islamic Studies Department, at American University in Washington DC. You may have seen him on The Daily Show, as a commentator on BBC, and even Oprah! His recent book, Journey Into America: The Challenge of Islam documents the Professor’s fieldwork visiting Muslims throughout the United States. Dr. Ahmed recognizes the challenges young Muslims face today and offers his guidance, wisdom, and support to the difficult yet exciting times ahead.

You are an ambassador, playwright, professor, author, amongst many other roles. Which one is your favorite?

My favorite role, which you haven’t mentioned, is of a poet, that’s one that is always left out. I’m just getting my poetry book published. The reason I mention poetry is because it’s something so personal. It really reflects who you are. I have been writing poetry for a long time, and it’s like I’m finally coming out of the closet.

Is it nerve-wracking to be considered a world authority on contemporary Islam?

It is nerve-wracking because people think you know everything. I’m just a constant student of the world around me. I’m surprised at human beings, their behavior and their capacity to create predicaments for themselves.

It is nerve-wracking because people ring up at an instant, especially over the last few years, they’ll request a comment on something that has happened in Bosnia, Chechnya, Kashmir, West Bank or here, in America. You have to, as an expert, constantly prepare.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Muslim youth today?

The biggest challenge is to clearly understand their identity. It’s a very exciting time to be a young Muslim because there is so much happening but it is also a time of confusion and anxiety. I have the highest respect and affection and regard for the young Muslims. I realize the scale of the challenge they face.

What do you think of President Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world? Do you think it will yield positive results?

I think his intentions were noble, and I applauded them though his follow up has been disappointing. He needs to match his actions to his rhetoric – to his vision.

Would you like to elaborate exactly how?

The Muslim world was waiting for a president like Obama. There are many problems the Muslim world faces like: Palestine/Israel, Chechens being suppressed in Russia, Kashmiri’s going through a bad time in South Asia, etc. Obama talked about all these issues. After almost 2 years in office, many of these things are exactly as they were before he came to power. So a lot of people say what difference has he actually made? And that’s why I’m disappointed.

What’s the one thing Muslims could do right now, to change the perception of themselves in the media?

Muslims can emphasize the core features of Islam, which are compassion and mercy. God’s two greatest names are Rahman (compassionate) and Raheem (merciful). Unfortunately, in the media, Muslims are depicted as having the opposite characteristics as Rahman and Raheem. They are depicted as cruel and violent. This is the challenge Muslims face and they must restore the true image of Islam in America today. They have the microphone. People are listening to them. This is what they should focus on, the enduring qualities of Islam as a world civilization and not be so defensive. They must be proud, confident, and take the true message of Islam to America.

We find that a lot in elan. People get defensive when we are poking fun at ourselves and we get in trouble by trying to be funny …

I have been talking and writing about Muslims for many decades, and when you are tense as a community, you will see jokes as something that creates tension in you. Yet, when you go back to early Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a great role model for all of us. The Prophet (PBUH) was a man of charm, of friendship of charity, and of humor! He was famous for his sense of humor!

Ask yourself, as a Muslim, this question: do you think he would have been such a success that millions of people wouldn’t have gotten so upset when they made a cartoon of him? Would they have gotten so upset if they didn’t love him? Can you love a man that doesn’t have charm and humor? Suppose he was of a cruel nature, he would not have that kind of intense love that the Prophet (PBUH) evokes.

In your new book, Journey Into America: The Challenge of Islam, what is the biggest challenge you write about?

The biggest challenge for Muslims, especially Muslim leaders, is to vigorously create bridges with the mainstream community. They need to explain Islam, its culture, its tradition and to explain that Islam is bringing something positive to the table. Its not to be feared, hated and loathed as it is today. That is the biggest challenge they will face in the coming time, in America, and if they don’t succeed they will remain a homogenized community under a big cloud of suspicion and distrust.

You touch upon the Muslim leadership in America. What are they doing wrong? What are they doing right?

What they are doing right is that they’re aware that there’s a problem. So that’s a big step forward. What they’re doing wrong is the emphasis on making money. The young generation is encouraged by parents to become doctors, lawyers, businessman, which is fine but in the American context what about the media? What about commentators? Columnists? Newspapers? How many Muslims do you see there? There are some exceptions but very limited. You need a community to be conscious that the media plays a critical role in defining Islam in America. Where are the Muslim scholars who are countering people who write these dreadful books: The Terrorist Next Door, Every Muslim is a Terrorist, etc.? Where are the Muslim scholars, writers, and commentators refuting this sort of literature? This is important, because Americans form their opinion through the media, through scholarship and that is where Muslims have to engage. So far, that has been a failure

Do you feel Muslims don’t get enough airtime unless something negative happens?

Invariably, when I’m called to the media, it’s under a negative circumstance. The cards are stacked against Muslims and therefore, they have to emphasize appearing in media, publishing books/literature, etc.

What’s the biggest lesson you learned from your new book, Journey into America?

It was a very detailed one-year study of Muslims in America. I took a whole year to travel to 75 cities, and I had a team of remarkable young American researchers. We were very committed to building bridges. The biggest lesson I learned is that Muslims in America told us the best place to be a Muslim, in spite of the problems, is America. Many even said Thomas Jefferson is a hero of theirs. And the second lesson was it’s a time of great challenge for Muslims. They are facing discrimination, prejudice; mosques we visited were firebombed, and attacked – so it’s a time of challenge yet hope.

What does your family think of your success?

I don’t think they see it as success or not, they’ve been around with me for a long time.

What does Dr. Ahmed do in his spare time?

Dr. Ahmed doesn’t have too much spare time, but tries to take out some time in the evening to watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. They’re a suspension of all the constant activities of the media coverage around Islam. It’s always a relief to escape into this world of humor and sharp political commentary that these people provide.

Rapid Fire Questions

Fear or Respect

Respect

Blackberry or iPhone

iphone

Prius or Hummer

Prius

Christmas or Ramadan

Ramadan

Twitter or Facebook

Facebook

Dubai or New York