Qasim Rashid

Qasim Rashid (born July 21, 1982) is a human rights activist and advocate of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in America. He is an attorney who received his J.D. degree the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law.[1] He served as Executive Editor of The Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business. He has authored two books, The Wrong Kind of Muslim and Extremist: A Response to Geert Wilders & Terrorists Everywhere, and has co-authored and co-edited two books, Towards a Greater Jihad and By the Dawn's Early Light. He has been featured in local and national news media including NBC and NPR.

Religious and social activism

The Wrong Kind of Muslim

This book, released in June 2013 is Qasim's first solo attempt in authoring a book. The book received financial support through crowd-sourcing[2] He looks at the treatment of Ahmadi Muslims and other minority faiths in Pakistan. Qasim conveys the stories of those who were jailed, injured, and martyred for their faith. He also seeks to explain why they maintain their faith.

Popularizing the American Muslim

A common theme in his written works and activism is the support of an American identity and lifestyle within the Islamic value system. In October 2010, Rashid rallied a group of Muslim youth to march on Washington, raising slogans of "Love for all, hatred for none" as a part of the "Muslims for Peace"[3] campaign. In August of the same year, the New York Times ran a feature story on Rashid, covering his outreach efforts in America's midwest.[4]

His essay I believe in love for all, hatred for none was featured on NPR's This I Believe.[5]

TalkToMe

Rashid newest book Talk to Me, was published on May 17, 2016. As stated on Rashid's website, TalkToMe is a non-fiction memoir from inspiring thought leaders on how the power of dialogue can overcome racism, xenophobia, intolerance, and violence.[6] The book highlights the importance of meaningful and moral conversation between people of all faiths, ages, genders, etc. in order to facilitate better understanding and tolerance and promote a more peaceful society.

Controversy

Rashid is a critic of certain clerics in the Muslim world.[7] His Huffington Post article[8] has been criticized online on the popular Muftisays.com forum.[9]

Muslim charity Islamic Relief cancelled a planned Twitter chat to be held with Rashid after extremists threatened a Twitter storm of the event and a boycott of Islamic Relief should it go ahead.[10]

During an interview, Rashid responded by saying "I never said I speak for others. According to me, I do represent mainstream Islam. But mainstream Islam does not accept me. I represent the Ahmadiyya interpretation of Islam to the best of my ability."[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Qasim in a MicroQasm « Qasim Rashid". Qasimrashid.com. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
  2. ↑ Rashid, Qasim. "The Wrong Kind of Muslim: An Untold Story of Persecution and Perseverance". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Home".
  4. ↑ Freedman, Samuel G. (2010-08-06). "Muslim Sect Uses Brochure Campaign to Push for Peace". The New York Times.
  5. ↑ Qasim Rashid (2010-08-03). "I believe in love for all, hatred for none « Qasim Rashid". This I Believe. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
  6. ↑ "Talk To Me". Qasim Rashid, Esq.
  7. ↑ Rashid, Qasim. "Tackling anti-Ahmadiyya bigotry isn't a job for the MCB – they're part of the problem". facebook.com. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "10 Fabrications Muslim Leaders Need to Stop Making About Ahmadi Muslims". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  9. ↑ "Fraud of Qadiyani Qasim Rashid". muftisays. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  10. ↑ "Islamic Relief Worldwide". www.facebook.com.
  11. ↑ "The Real Revolution Online Radio by Real Rev". Blog Talk Radio. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
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