An Interview with Imam Zaid Shakir. Hillary, Obama and the Clash of Civilizations

Many of his students refer to him as the "new Malcolm X for Muslim Americans." Trying to obtain an interview with the "new Malcolm" requires persistence, patience, and several callbacks. "He had an unexpected speech, can we re-schedule?" "Sorry, he's completely booked for the next week. Can you all call again?" "O.K., he can squeeze in some time at 9 a.m., can you do that?"

Imam Zaid Shakir, an African American convert to Islam and one of the most influential and popular Muslim American religious scholars, commands a rock star following: legions of enthralled and inspired Muslims filling rooms to standing only capacity waiting to hear his words. It represents a fascinating and dynamic phenomenon illuminating the resurgent identity of an educated, spiritual, religious and political Muslim American identity emerging from the post 9-11 era. Shakir, a student of the civil rights era and an educated scholar of political science and traditional Islamic jurisprudence, casually interjects tidbits of political theory, economic reform, critical race theory, Arabic, traditional Islamic philosophy and religious didacticism within his rhetoric.

I was lucky to talk to the highly sought scholar for an honest, informative and in depth discussion on "the Clash of Civilizations," the 2008 presidency, religious extremism, and an emerging Muslim American identity.

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