Imam Zaid Shakir is an influential leader in the American Muslim community. As a co-founder, board of trustees, and faculty member of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, CA, he has dedicated his life to Islamic education and community activism.
Early Life and Education
Born in Berkeley, California, Imam Zaid Shakir converted to Islam in 1977 while serving in the United States Air Force. He went on to obtain a summa cum laude BA in International Relations at American University in Washington D.C., and later earned his MA in Political Science at Rutgers University.
Community Activism and Islamic Studies
In 1983, Imam Zaid co-founded Masjid Al-Huda in New Brunswick, N.J., where he served as the Imam for four years. After a year of studying Arabic in Cairo, Egypt, he settled in New Haven, Connecticut, and continued his community activism. He co-founded Masjid Al-Islam, the Tri-State Muslim Education Initiative, and the Connecticut Muslim Coordinating Committee.
As Imam of Masjid Al-Islam from 1988 to 1994, Imam Zaid led a community renewal and grassroots anti-drug effort. He also taught political science and Arabic at Southern Connecticut State University and served as an interfaith council chaplain at Yale University. He developed the Chaplaincy Sensitivity Training for physicians at Yale New Haven Hospital.
After leaving for Syria to pursue his studies in traditional Islamic sciences, Imam Zaid spent seven years in Syria and briefly in Morocco. During this time, he immersed himself in an intense study of Arabic, Islamic law, Quranic studies, and spirituality with some of the top Muslim scholars of our age. In 2001, he became the first American to graduate with a BA in Islamic Sciences from Syria’s prestigious Abu Noor University.
Leadership and Advocacy
Imam Zaid is a co-founder and chairman of United For Change since 2009. This initiative aims to create awareness of the broadest and most consuming topics within the Muslim community through modern discourse. The goal is to leverage diversity through cooperation and goodwill and address the obstacles that have proven to be divisive.
In 2007, he co-founded the Lighthouse mosque in Oakland, CA. As a gifted author and lecturer, Imam Zaid has authored numerous articles and translated several classical Arabic traditional texts into modern English. His contributions have helped bridge the gap between Islamic scholarship and the English-speaking Muslim community.
Conclusion
Imam Zaid Shakir’s life and work have had a profound impact on the American Muslim community. Through his leadership, advocacy, and scholarship, he has made significant contributions to Islamic education and community activism. His efforts continue to inspire and empower Muslims around the world.
