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Stop Islamophobia? Know that #BlackLivesMatter — Medium. Islamophobia is yet another ongoing manifestation of our inability as a nation to recognize that Black Lives Matter. We accept that there are, in practice, gradations of being American, and as long as we can easily penalize a people based on the color of their skin, we can do so to anyone we find different than what we perceive as American.

An American Muslim’s prayer: Forget love, let’s just be civil (COMMENTARY) – The Washington Post. Love is a nice sentiment. Real love, though, is work. I can have love in my heart, but to love someone is to know that person. It means having compassion and empathy, and being engaged. You and the person you love have to commit to each other.   But I do not know you enough to love you, and I do not want to have to get to know you that well. It is too much work.  I do appreciate the idea. I know it is…

I will be a panelist after a play at Princeton. McCarter Theatre. Hoodwinked is a riveting exploration of Islamist extremism sparked by the 2009 mass shooting on the Army base in Fort Hood, Texas. Created by the multi-award-winning playwright, Emily Mann (McCarter Theatre Artistic Director), the play asks us: how do we make sense of the questions, confusion, and misinformation surrounding one of the most pressing issues of our time, namely global Jihadism.      Be a part of the conversation: join us immediately following each intimately-staged presentation for moderated discussions with Emily Mann and expert panelists, who will engage…

My appearance on the Today show about being Muslim in America.  

Should we call them ‘ISIS’ or ‘Da’esh’? Hussein Rashid answers that and more with Amy Guth | WGN Radio – 720 AM. Truman National Security fellow and Hofstra University Department of Religion faculty member Hussein Rashid, PhD, joined Guth to talk about the implications of acts of terror, the rise of Islamophobia, and why it matters if we say ‘ISIS’ versus ‘Da’esh.’ Podcast link.

Sacred Matters | The Muppets are America. The Muppets offered us biting social commentary when their show began nearly forty years ago. Now, with their videos, they are showing us an antidote to the xenophobia infecting our political and popular discourses. In their videos, they are offering a hopeful and positive vision of America, which includes all of the people living in it — divorced, gay, Muslim, black, etc. — a message that will hopefully be even more explicit in their show.