Imam Zaid Shakir

Imam Zaid Shakir has taught courses in Arabic, Islamic spirituality, contemporary Muslim thought, and Shafi’i fiqh at Zaytuna College. He presently teaches Islamic history and politics. He speaks and writes on a wide range of topics and has become a voice of conscience for American Muslims as well as people of other faiths. He is regularly included as one of the Western world’s most influential Muslim scholars in The Muslim 500, an annual ranking edited by John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin. He is also one of the signatories of “A Common Word Between Us and You,” an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders that calls for peace and mutual understanding. He holds an MA in Political Science from Rutgers University. He is one of three co-founders of Zaytuna College and serves on its Board of Trustees.

Selected Works:

• Where I’m Coming From: The Year In Review, NID Publishers, 2010.
• Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance, NID Publishers, 2008 (translated with commentary has been awarded as a finalist in the category of general spirituality by USA Book News).
• “The Zaytuna Ruku Tree”, Holy Ground: A Gathering of Voices on Caring and Creation, 2008.
• A Sierra Club landmark book collection. Scattered Pictures: Reflections of An American Muslim, Zaytuna Institute, 2005, and reprint NID Publishers, 2007.
• Agenda to Change our Condition (2007).
• The Heirs of the Prophets, Starlatch Press, 2001 (translated).
• Muslims and The Climate Crisis: Responding To A Higher Call, Creation At The Crossroads, 2016.  A faith-sharing resource created in collaboration by RENEW International, GreenFaith, and the Catholic Climate Covenant.

Education:
BA, Islamic Law and Arabic Language, Abu Nour University, Damascus, 2001 MA, Political Science, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 1985 BA, (summa cum laude), International Relations, American University, Washington, DC, 1983. Computer Support Specialist, United States Air Force, Logistical Support Training School, Denver, Colorado, 1976 United States Air Force – Accommodation Medal – 1981 Diplomas (ijazahs) from Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghuri (non-philosophy Tasawwuf texts), Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani (Islamic Sciences) and Shaykh Muhammad al-Ya’qubi (Islamic Sciences).