Zaid Shakir

Early life Shakir was born in 1956 in Berkeley, California as Ricky Daryl Mitchell to a family descended from African, Irish and Native American roots. His formative years were spent in housing projects in New Britain, Connecticut. He converted to Islam in 1977 while serving in the United States Air Force and shortly after changed his name to Zaid Salim Shakir.

Education

Shakir obtained a BA in International Relations at American University in Washington, D.C., and later earned his MA in Political Science at Rutgers University. He then left for Syria to pursue his studies in traditional Islamic Sciences. and Sheikh Mustafa Al-Turkmani. In 2001, he was the first American male graduate from Syria's Abu Nour University of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.

He assumed leadership of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA) from 2020 until 2022.

Shakir is co-founder and chairman of United For Change, whose stated goal is to leverage the diversity of the Muslim and interfaith community and address divisive obstacles.

In 2020, Shakir partnered with Green Faith to develop programming with religious groups centered on sustainable development and climate change.

Shakir is one of many signatories to a statement prepared by religious leaders from around the world who presented the UN Secretary General with a declaration in support of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Zaytuna College

In 2003, as a scholar-in-residence at Berkeley, California based Zaytuna Institute, Shakir began to teach Arabic, Law, and Islamic spirituality. In 2004, he initiated a pilot seminary program at Zaytuna Institute.

in the fall of 2010, Shakir and colleagues Hamza Yusuf, and Hatem Bazian reorganized the institute into Zaytuna College, a four-year Muslim liberal arts college, the first of its kind in the United States, dedicated to "educate and prepare morally committed professional, intellectual, and spiritual leaders", who are grounded in the Islamic scholarly tradition. In 2015, he signed the official Memorandum of Understanding between Zaytuna College and Hartford Seminary in Connecticut.

In 2016, Zaytuna College became the first accredited Muslim campus in the United States after it received approval from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Views In 2010, Zaid Shakir appeared with nine other influential Muslim scholars in a YouTube video denouncing militant Islam.

Reception

The 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world edition 2020 describes Zaid Shakir as "an influential Islamic scholar and a voice of conscience for American Muslims and non-Muslims alike", edited by John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin He was, in Shakir's description, "a praying man" who understood he belonged to Allah. But he also knew he was Muhammad Ali, and so belonged to the world".

Zaid Shakir was named in CNN's 2018 list of "25 Influential American Muslims", where he was described as "one of the West's most respected Muslim scholars."

Publications + Publications and Articles by Zaid ShakirTitleDescriptionTypeWhere I'm Coming From: A Year In Review 2010.AuthorBooks and Pamphlets Agenda To Change Our Condition 2007.co-authored with Hamza YusufBooks and Pamphlets Scattered Pictures: A Reflection of An American Muslim 2005.AuthorTranslationsHarith Al-Muhasibi, Treatise for The Seekers of Guidance (2008).Translation, notes, and commentary of Risala al-Mustarshidin, composed d.243/857 by an Iraqi scholar.TranslationsIbn Rajab Al-Hanbali, The Heirs of the Prophets (2000).The translation and introduction of Al-Ulama' Waratha Al-Anbiya, composed d.1375 by an Iraqi scholar.Books with a foreword or introductionDawud Walid, Towards Sacred Activism (2018).Books with a foreword or introductionArsalan Iftikhar and Reza Aslan, Scapegoats: How Islamophobia Helps Our Enemies and Threatens Our Freedoms (2016).EndorsementBooks with a foreword or introductionMuslims and The Climate Crisis: Responding To A Higher Call Available in

Creation at the Crossroads, (contrib. article) (2016) (2018).Books with a foreword or introductionMeraj Mohiuddin, Revelation: The Story of Muhammad (pbuh) 2015.EndorsementBooks with a foreword or introductionAbdullah bin Hamid Ali, Tears Of The Yearners For The Meeting With God 2015.Books with a foreword or introductionIbrahim Abdul-Matin,Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet 2010. Editorial reviewBooks with a foreword or introductionMaraqi'L-Sadat, Ascent to Felicity 2010. Editorial reviewBooks with a foreword or introductionSa'ad Quadri, The War within Our Hearts: Struggles of the Muslim Youth 2010.IntroductionBooks with a foreword or introductionAbdul Azeez Ahmad,Living With Blindness: Lessons from the Life of Imran Sabir 2009.IntroductionBooks with a foreword or introductionSierra Club, A Gathering of Voices on Caring For Creation 2008.contributing articleThe Zaytuna Ruku TreeBooks with a foreword or introductionRichelene Mitchell, Dear Self: A Year In The Life of A Welfare Mother 2006Books with a foreword or introductionAftab A. Malik and Ibrahim M Abu'- Rabi, The Empire and The Crescent: Global Implications For a New American Century 2004.contributing article Jehad as Perpetual WarBooks with a foreword or introductionJoseph Lumbard, Submission, faith and beauty: the religion of Islam (2009).Co-edited with Hamza Yusuf.Edited Books Where Islam and Nationalism Collide The Human in The Quran A Muslim Response to Pope Francis Laudato S' - "Muslims and The Climate Crisis: Responding To A Higher Call", (115 -119) Crescentwatch Position Change American Muslims, Human Rights, and the Challenge of September 11 Malcolm X (1925-1965) Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and BlacknessPapers