Akbar Ahmed

Akbar Ahmed

Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University

“On Faith” panelist Akbar Ahmed holds the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University. He is a former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain and has advised both Britain’s Prince Charles and U.S. President George W. Bush on Islam. Ahmed’s numerous books, films and documentaries have won awards and been translated into many languages including Chinese and Indonesian. Ahmed has worked to increase interfaith understanding, most prominently touring with Judea Pearl, father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, to speak about the necessity of tolerance. Ahmed was the first Muslim to lecture at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He is a senior fellow at The Case Foundation in Washington, D.C. He spoke at the Chairman’s Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series at the Pentagon and gave the inaugural lectures for the first Chair in Jewish-Muslim Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago. In 2005 he was finalist—along with Judea Pearl--in a competition for “Most Inspiring Person of the Year” run by www.beliefnet.com. Close.

Akbar Ahmed

Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University

“On Faith” panelist Akbar Ahmed holds the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University. He is a former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain and has advised both Britain’s Prince Charles and U.S. President George W. Bush on Islam. more »

Main Page | Akbar Ahmed Archives | On Faith Archives


Events highlight book’s message of hope, friendship and dialogue

I want to share some very exciting news about my book, Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization. Some friends have organized a book launch at the National Cathedral and the Brookings Institution, both in Washington DC. I believe the...

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Rationalist:

Nothing new or interesting. Same old babbling. Nothing new contributing factor in author's writing. Same theme to malefactoring west for not endorsing Islamic values and Islamic way of life, and in the mean time author has the tendency to spread the idea of victimization of Muslim communities in the hands West-Civil society.
Anonymous is absolutely right, that Muslims demanding democratic rights from West, but at the same time Muslims in their Home land are not granting or tolerating the Non Muslims [who are residing today in Muslim countries] same of their religious rights?
The author's own home land, Pakistan- about three weeks ago, An ancient statue of lord Buddha, near Khyber Pass [in side Pakistan territory], was destroyed by Muslim zealots. They used Explosive to do this heinous crime. Question I like to ask Mr. Ahamed, why the Islamic thugs have destroyed this ancient Relic, which was there for last sixteen hundred Years? How Islam will benefit from this Dastardly religious vandalism? Isn't the proof that how much intolerant Muslim societies as a whole to other faiths and faith hodders?
Then logically how Mr. Ahmed expect magnanimity from us the westerns, when his religion is so Isolationist and extreme self centric and through and through a selfish Entity?
Mr. Ahmed- Isn't true that Your religion condone forceful conversion of other faith holders *with the Blade of a sword* against their will? And Their women are forcefully abducted and remarried by your Muslim brothers? What kind of religion it is?? So.......
Islam is a Violent Religion, and we must avoid it.

gomeDouttygok:
telegu:


Anonymous:

I found Dr. Ahmed's book to be offensive.

It's all about how the West must bend over backward to 'understand' Muslims. Does anyone see Muslims bending over backward to understand the West?

Muslims continually demand rights in the West that THEY would never allow non-Muslims in their own countries. People of other faiths are continually slaughtered in Muslim countries, but in the West...should one simply offend a Muslim, they break out in violence like animals.

If you've not got the inner fortitude to withstand the criticisms of an open society than
DON'T LIVE HERE! It is as simple as that.

I would never go to another country and FORCE my ways upon them and expect them to forfeit their own culture to accomodate me! That is arrogance and inconsideration. Basically this is all Muslims give. Their focus is not on humanity but SELFISHNESS.

karamat:

on a recent bbc programme prof akbar said that jinnah was very misunderstood in india. would he agree that jinnah is also misunderstood and mis-represented in pakistan

Syed K. Mirza:


Please read Jihad:

Jihad in Islam: An exegesis.

http://www.islam-watch.org/SyedKamranMirza/exegesis_on_jihad.htm


SKM


Syed Numan:

The book 'Journey into Islam:the crisis of globalization' is one of the best books i have ever read.Akber ahmed has offered a clear,timely and by far the most accurate analysis of the ongoing situation and mindset of the Islamic world.I salute Mr Akbar ahmed for this timely book which should definitely rank as a must have for everyone who desires a clear understanding of the complex interaction between the present day islamic world and the west.
Mr Akbar ahmed is one of the selected few scholars of our time with the capacity to understand and elucidate upon some of the complex and vexing issues of our time.
Best wishes
Dr Syed Numan

Professor WARIS SHERE:


Professor Akbar Ahmed's brilliant book " JOURNEY INTO ISLAM" is indeed sprinkled with tremendous
optimism and has been written with extraordinary insight and understanding. He exposes the
ongoing tensions with tremendous clarity. Personally, I am not aware of anybody with such
an excellent and clear understanding of Islam. I am fascinated after reading Professor Ahmed's
book and am left with a great sense of optimism. A healthy dialogue between people of different
faiths is very essential and desirable. Professor Ahmed combines the deep and a thorough
knowledge of a thinker and scholar with a great persuation towards better understanding and
reconcilation. For me personally it was an unique experience and delight reading Professor
Ahmed's book. This book does bring our understanding of the complex relationships which exists
between globalization and Islam. In the final analysis Professor Ahmed invites us to listen and
open a dialogue to the numerous voices of Muslims today as they face a troublesome and
threatening world. JOURNEY INTO ISLAM is a must read book. I shall always tresure this book.
>
BY: PROFESSOR WARIS SHERE - Author of "IN SEARCH OF PEACE" and "ARM DISARM FOR PEACE"
"ARM DISARM FOR PEACE".
> WINNIPEG, Canada
>
>

Professor WARIS SHERE:



Professor Akbar Ahmed's latest book " JOURNEY INTO ISLAM" is indeed sprinkled with tremendous
optimism and has been written with extraordinary insight and understanding. He exposes the
ongoing tensions with tremendous clarity. Personally, I am not aware of anybody with such an
excellent and clear understanding of Islam. I am fascinated after reading Professor Ahmed's
book and am left with a great sense of optimism. A healthy dialogue between people of different
faiths is very essential and desirable. Professor Ahmed combines the deep and a thorough
knowledge of a thinker and scholar with a great persuation towards better understanding and
reconcilation. For me personally it was an unique experience and delight reading Professor
Ahmed's book. This book does bring our understanding of the complex relationships which exists
between globalization and Islam. In the final analysis Professor Ahmed invites us to listen and
open a dialogue to the numerous voices of Muslims today as they face a troublesome and
threatening world. JOURNEY INTO ISLAM is a must read book. I shall always tresure this book.
>
> BY: PROFESSOR WARIS SHERE - Author of "IN SEARCH OF PEACE" and
"ARM DISARM FOR PEACE".
> WINNIPEG, Canada
>
>

Professor WARIS SHERE:



Professor Akbar Ahmed's latest book " JOURNEY INTO ISLAM" is indeed sprinkled with tremendous
optimism and has been written with extraordinary insight and understanding. He exposes the
ongoing tensions with tremendous clarity. Personally, I am not aware of anybody with such an
excellent and clear understanding of Islam. I am fascinated after reading Professor Ahmed's
book and am left with a great sense of optimism. A healthy dialogue between people of different
faiths is very essential and desirable. Professor Ahmed combines the deep and a thorough
knowledge of a thinker and scholar with a great persuation towards better understanding and
reconcilation. For me personally it was an unique experience and delight reading Professor
Ahmed's book. This book does bring our understanding of the complex relationships which exists
between globalization and Islam. In the final analysis Professor Ahmed invites us to listen and
open a dialogue to the numerous voices of Muslims today as they face a troublesome and
threatening world. JOURNEY INTO ISLAM is a must read book. I shall always tresure this book.

- PROFESSOR WARIS SHERE,

Author of "IN SEARCH OF PEACE"
&
" ARM DISARM FOR PEACE"

Winnpeg, Canada


Professor WARIS SHERE:



Professor Akbar Ahmed's latest book " JOURNEY INTO ISLAM" is indeed sprinkled with tremendous
optimism and has been written with extraordinary insight and understanding. He exposes the
ongoing tensions with tremendous clarity. Personally, I am not aware of anybody with such an
excellent and clear understanding of Islam. I am fascinated after reading Professor Ahmed's
book and am left with a great sense of optimism. A healthy dialogue between people of different
faiths is very essential and desirable. Professor Ahmed combines the deep and a thorough
knowledge of a thinker and scholar with a great persuation towards better understanding and
reconcilation. For me personally it was an unique experience and delight reading Professor
Ahmed's book. This book does bring our understanding of the complex relationships which exists
between globalization and Islam. In the final analysis Professor Ahmed invites us to listen and
open a dialogue to the numerous voices of Muslims today as they face a troublesome and
threatening world. JOURNEY INTO ISLAM is a must read book. I shall always tresure this book.

- PROFESSOR WARIS SHERE,

Author of "IN SEARCH OF PEACE"
&
" ARM DISARM FOR PEACE"

Winnpeg, Canada


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