A motivational discussion with Dr. Asad Tarsin, author of “Communal Life”, as part of our Not-a-Whole-Book club webinar series.
Dr. Asad Tarsin’s article clarifies how the way we eat, dress, seek a life partner, and honor our guests and neighbors reflects our submission to God. When done well, these things lead to mutual love and social cohesion. In the face of an individualistic global monoculture, we find a promising alternative in the very basics of Islam’s social teachings.
THE PANEL
Asad Tarsin has been designing Islamic educational programs and teaching the basics of Islam for more than a decade. After completing his bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he continued his study of Islamic theology, sacred law, philosophy and spirituality with some of the country’s most prominent Muslim scholars including Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Dr. Sherman Jackson, among others. He has served as the curriculum director for the Deen Intensive Foundation for the last ten years and has a particular interest in creating sustainable models of education for new and returning Muslims. He lectures and teaches courses on Islam across the country. Being Muslim: A Practical Guide is his first published work. He is an emergency physician by training and lives in California with his wife and three children.
Hazel Gómez
Hazel Gómez graduated from Loyola University Chicago with double Bachelor’s degrees in Forensic Science and Biology. Currently, she is studying the Islamic sciences with Rabata.org’s Ribaat Academic Program and Seminary under the tutelage of Shaykha Tamara Gray and other Muslim women scholars. Additionally, she serves as a curriculum developer, trainer, and mentor with the Muslim Power Building Project. Hazel also dedicates her time as a volunteer, advisor, and board member to various nonprofits ranging from community development and convert care to anti-racism work and bail reform.
Dr. Fareeha Khan is an intellectual historian and a founding member of the Sila Initiative. She holds an MA from the University of Chicago in Middle Eastern Studies and a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan. She has also studied with Muslim scholars in Jordan, the US and Canada. Born and raised in Chicago, she now lives with her husband Ibrahim Mansoor in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where she continues to write and conduct research.