Hussein Rashid

Academic. Speaker. Educator. Advocate.

Inter-faith Media Appearances

An Open Letter to Pope Francis by Dr. Hussein Rashid

Hussein

An Open Letter to Pope Francis by Dr. Hussein Rashid.

As you speak about the travails of the world, I fear that too many write their own hope and aspirations on to you. Your words are heard as statements about issues, and not calls to action based on deep and broad moral wisdom.

As religious people, we remember that our time is finite and miniscule. The truths that we follow are eternal. The process of justice is ongoing. The performance of mercy does not end.

Inter-faith

Tweeting the Qur’an #Quran #ttQuran #Ramadan 2015/1436

Hussein

Traditionally, Muslims read the Qur'an in its entirety over this time, in a section a day. The Qur'an is split into thirty sections, called juz', and one section is read each night. 

This year is the 7th year I am inviting people to tweet the Qur’an for Ramadan. I will be tweeting @islamoyankee.

Untitled

To see how the call has (not) evolved, here are the six five call outs:

2009 Windsor Star Article

2010 (despite the title, which says 2011)

2011 USA Today Article

2012

2013 Storify (including press stories)

2014 A piece I did on Immanent Frame

 

The Background [from the 2009 post]

This year, I have been thinking it would be fun to tweet the Qur'an for Ramadan. Coincidentally, Shavuot came, and several people I follow on Twitter tweeted the Torah. Since that experience seemed to be successful, it further cemented my belief that this would be a good idea.

I remain grateful to Aziz Poonawala (@azizhp), who helps me refine our guidelines and provide technical feedback every year.

Our guidelines from last year:

  1. Anyone is welcome. You do not have to be Muslim.
  2. The point is to provide greater access to the Qur'an, so please tweet in English, regardless of the language you read in. Multiple language tweets are welcome.
  3. You should tweet verses that appeal to you each night, not the entire juz'. Some of you may wish to do the whole juz', but the idea is that we find comfort in the word of God, and we approach it and understand differently every time we come to it. Each night, there are certain verses that will have more power/resonance. Simply tweet those.
  4. Include chapter and verse numbers using "Arabic" numerals, eg. 1:1, 33:72, etc.
  5. Some verses may be too long for 140 characters. Split the tweet. Summarize. As you will, but make sure you make it clear what you are doing, and include the verse number.
  6. You should feel free to offer commentary on why you chose that verse. If you know some tafsir, please include as well, if relevant.
  7. Tags: please include #ttQuran .
  8. You do not need to commit to reading/Tweeting every night. However, when you do Tweet, please make sure you are on the same juz as everyone else.

If there are are other guidelines you believe should be included, please leave them in comments and I'll move up some to the main post.

Events Inter-faith

Event: McGinley Lecture, April 14 and April 15

Hussein

It is time for the McGinley Lecture at Fordham. This term, I will be giving a response to the theme of “Poverty: The Curse and The Blessing.”

The event will be Tuesday, April 14 at 6PM at the Lincoln Center campus, and repeated on Wednesday, April 15, at 6PM at the Rose Hill campus.

Details on this event can be found here.

Previous topics I have been a respondent to include:

Usury: A Moral Concern for Jews, Christians and Muslims (Video | text of my response)

Life After Death: Hopes and Fears for Jews, Christians and Muslims (Video | text of my response)cf. my talk at the Chautauqua Institution.

Inter-faith Media Appearances Music

Interview on NPR on Riyaaz Qawwali

Hussein

I was recently interviewed on NPR about Riyaaz Qawwali, a group out of Austin, TX.

Hussein Rashid, a professor of religion at Hofstra University, says that many qawwaliartists working in South Asia today have limited themselves. He believes this American group is bringing the music back to its roots. 

“You know, I think there’s been so much concern about what is Islam, and what isn’t, politically speaking and artistically speaking,” Rashid says, “that there’s been a push in modern qawwali to actually sanitize it and make it very sterile — and almost rule-bound — rather than ecstatic and devotional. For me, I think what Riyaaz Qawwali is doing is trying to go back to that very exciting, innovative space that qawwali was.”

And so to Rashid, it’s totally logical that such a burst of inspiration would come from deep in the heart of Texas. “In fact,” he says, “it seems natural that we would get a new flourishing of Muslim devotionals in a place like America, where we do have this freedom of religion.”

I previously wrote about the group of OnBeing, in a piece called Qawwalis, Found Sounds, and Benghazi: Locating the Sacred in a New York Church. 

Inter-faith Video

Marble Church Sermon

Hussein

Marble has a rich history of participating in interfaith activities and one of the highlights is our “Trialogue” under the leadership of Dr. Michael Brown. The focus of the service is a conversation among spiritual leaders of three faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Ask a friend to join you for this unique and memorable worship experience.

With A Mighty Arm And An Outstretched Hand from Marble Collegiate Church on Vimeo.

Inter-faith

State of Formation – The World is on Fire, so I rode The Ark

Hussein

State of Formation – The World is on Fire, so I rode The Ark.

On Sunday, September 21, I was blessed to be asked to join The Ark, organized by Auburn Seminary and Groundswell (with help from lots of named and unnamed supporters) for the People's Climate March. The New York Times found it an “odd juxtaposition," that so many faith groups were next to one another, missing the point that we all share one planet. More importantly, the NYT is in the business of showing us in conflict, not the billions of ways we get along with one another because of all the things we have in common. 

 Like so many others on Green Faith Street, I marched because it is a moral imperative. Although I could easily point to the Quran and show how defiling and wasting water are potentially the greatest sins in the tradition, I want to move immediately to a broader discussion. The ethics of caring for God's creation is a means of being God conscious.

Inter-faith

State of Formation – I am ي، ن، ر

Hussein

State of Formation – I am ي، ن، ر.

It is obvious that most Muslims across the world find the actions of the so-called “Islamic State” abhorrent; from condemnation in the US and UK, to satire in the Middle East, there is no point in elaborating my own personal opposition to them. However, while they may denigrate the name of the religion, and spitting on the declaration of faith they sewed into their flag, I will not give them the power to define my faith in relation to them. So, I am not ISIS, let me tell you who I am.

Books Events Inter-faith

Speaking Engagement: Presentations on Islam at East Meadow Public Library

Hussein

EMPL receives Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys Grant
Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys is a scholar-led reading and discussion program designed to foster opportunities for informed community conversations about the histories, faith, and cultures of Muslims around the world and within the United States. This is only available to sites that have been selected to receive the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf. ALA and NEH invited the humanities councils and public, academic, and community college libraries that are participating in the Bookshelf to apply for Let’s Talk About It. In May 2013, NEH and ALA selected 125 libraries and humanities councils to participate in the project. Each participating site will focus on one of five Muslim Journeys themes, hosting a five-part, scholar-led reading and discussion series exploring the theme and related books.

We have chosen the theme American Stories. Our scholar is the esteemed Dr. Hussein Rashid from Hofstra University. Look out for our accompanying programs. Please see our schedule of book discussions on Thursdays at 7 p.m. below:

Prince Among Slaves by Terry Alford January 9

The Columbia Sourcebook of Muslims in the United States (selections) Compiled by Edward E. Curtis, IV February 6

Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation by Eboo Patel March 6

A Quiet Revolution: The Veil’s Resurgence, From the Middle East to America By Leila Ahmed (Special Guest Speaker) April 10

The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson May 8

Reem Hussein, Islamic Calligraphy Sunday, January 26
American born Muslim artist Reem Hussein holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. She
completed her training in interior design and the restoration of antiques and decorative arts objects at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Her study of antiques, and preserving of the visual aging qualities of metal, wood, and ceramics inspire the background renderings for her paintings. Traditional calligraphy is produced with a reed pen that the calligrapher herself carves, and homemade. Though Reem still practices her art using this medium, her finished works are usually in watercolor. Join us for this interactive presentation. 
Reservations open on Monday, January 13.

Events Inter-faith

NYC Event: Eboo Patel at Hofstra University, Wed. Apr. 18, 2012

Hussein

ACTS OF FAITH: INTERFAITH LEADERSHIP IN A TIME OF RELIGIOUS CRISIS

A conversation with Dr. Eboo Patel
Recipient of Hofstra University’s 2012 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize and Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core

Moderated by Dr. Hussein Rashid
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Religion, Hofstra University

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Helene Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center, South Campus

37697 Guru Nanak Poster.pdf

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