Asma Gull Hasan
Encyclopedia
Asma Gull Hasan (born in 1974) is a Pakistani-American award-winning writer. Her work includes the book Red, White, and Muslim, a biographical view of growing up as an American Muslim. She is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, born in Chicago
, USA and raised in Pueblo
, Colorado
.
, where she talks about a childhood that was filled with snowboarding and riding horses. Hasan explains that she calls herself a "cowgirl" based on the cowboy values of appreciating the outdoors, oneself, and other people.
Hasan went on to receive her diploma from Groton School
in 1993, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She obtained a Bachelors in Arts from Wellesley College in 1997, graduating Magna Cum Laude, as well as being named a Durant Scholar. And in 2001, she received her Juris Doctorate from New York University
.
Hasan's latest work, Red, White, and Muslim (HarperCollins 2008), received a prestigious starred review from Publishers Weekly
.
In addition, Red, White, and Muslim has earned deep praise from many fellow authors, including Reza Aslan
, Fareed Zakaria
, and Jack Miles
. Aslan says of the book, "A warm, witty, wonderful story about what it means to be both Muslim and American in a post-9/11 world. This is a book that every American should read." Zakaria offers, "Asma Hasan will rock your stereotypes about Islam in this refreshing book. Here is a young woman who embraces Islam, modernity, America, her family, and her friends -- all with enthusiasm and commitment. She sees no contradictions between them and, after you have read this book, neither will you." Lastly, Miles is quoted, "At a dark hour, this book is a piece of bright and cheering news."
As an American Muslim voice, the United States Department of State
has often designated Hasan for educational presentations and missions, in hopes of building better relations between America and Muslims. One such mission included sending Hasan to Ethiopia
, where she spoke to people all over the country about the commonalities between Islamic and American culture, in hopes of building stronger relations between both countries.
Interviews of her work as an author are often seen on C-SPAN
's Book TV
.
as an American Muslim voice and political commentator. Her television appearances include The Factor with Bill O'Reilly, Anderson Cooper 360, Hannity and Colmes, and CNN Newsroom.
Surprising to some critics, Hasan identifies herself as a Republican
, often using her punditry to provide insight into Republican policies and their effect on the Muslim World.
Her op-eds have been published in The New York Times
, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Beliefnet
among others. She was a columnist for The Pueblo Chieftain, The Denver Post
, and The Pakistan Link newspapers. Her other political pundit appearances include the Today, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, The Dennis Miller Show of CNBC
and The History Channel
.
As of 2008, Hasan worked as a political blogger for Glamour Magazine
and their political website, Glamocracy, a website dedicated to featuring weekly political insight from American women writers.
is not required. "Modesty comes from within," said Hasan, who chooses not to cover her hair, citing that her statement is derived from the Quran.
Asma Gull Hasan has also expressed a deep admiration for Sufism
, a mystical practice within Islam
. The views are expressed in various interviews as well as in her book, Why I Am a Muslim. Of note, Hasan serves as one of the contributors on iSufiRock.com.
. She currently serves as a Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
to HealthTrio LLC, a software company that specializes in the Electronic Healthcare Record technology.
. She also has a sister, Dr. Aliya Gull Hasan and another brother, Rehan Khan Hasan.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, USA and raised in Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Early life
Asma Gull Hasan grew up in Pueblo, ColoradoPueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, where she talks about a childhood that was filled with snowboarding and riding horses. Hasan explains that she calls herself a "cowgirl" based on the cowboy values of appreciating the outdoors, oneself, and other people.
Hasan went on to receive her diploma from Groton School
Groton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
in 1993, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She obtained a Bachelors in Arts from Wellesley College in 1997, graduating Magna Cum Laude, as well as being named a Durant Scholar. And in 2001, she received her Juris Doctorate from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Author
Asma Gull Hasan is the author of three published works, including American Muslims: The New Generation (Continuum 2000), Why I Am A Muslim (HarperCollins Thorsons/Element 2004), and Red, White, and Muslim (HarperCollins 2008). All three books are non-fiction, dealing with the American Muslim movement through critical analysis and personal biography.Hasan's latest work, Red, White, and Muslim (HarperCollins 2008), received a prestigious starred review from Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
.
In addition, Red, White, and Muslim has earned deep praise from many fellow authors, including Reza Aslan
Reza Aslan
Reza Aslan is an Iranian-American activist, a nationally acclaimed writer of religions. He is on the faculty at the University of California, Riverside, and is a contributing editor for The Daily Beast...
, Fareed Zakaria
Fareed Zakaria
Fareed Rafiq Zakaria is an Indian-American journalist and author. From 2000 to 2010, he was a columnist for Newsweek and editor of Newsweek International. In 2010 he became Editor-At-Large of Time magazine...
, and Jack Miles
Jack Miles
Jack Miles is an American author and winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the MacArthur Fellowship. His work on religion, politics, and culture has appeared in numerous national publications, including The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and The Los...
. Aslan says of the book, "A warm, witty, wonderful story about what it means to be both Muslim and American in a post-9/11 world. This is a book that every American should read." Zakaria offers, "Asma Hasan will rock your stereotypes about Islam in this refreshing book. Here is a young woman who embraces Islam, modernity, America, her family, and her friends -- all with enthusiasm and commitment. She sees no contradictions between them and, after you have read this book, neither will you." Lastly, Miles is quoted, "At a dark hour, this book is a piece of bright and cheering news."
As an American Muslim voice, the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
has often designated Hasan for educational presentations and missions, in hopes of building better relations between America and Muslims. One such mission included sending Hasan to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, where she spoke to people all over the country about the commonalities between Islamic and American culture, in hopes of building stronger relations between both countries.
Interviews of her work as an author are often seen on C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
's Book TV
Book TV
Book TV is the name given to weekend programming on the American cable network C-SPAN2 airing from 8 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday morning to 8 a.m. Eastern Time Monday morning each week. The 48 hour block of programming is focused on non-fiction books and authors, featuring programs in the format of...
.
Political pundit
Asma Gull Hasan appears frequently on Fox News and CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
as an American Muslim voice and political commentator. Her television appearances include The Factor with Bill O'Reilly, Anderson Cooper 360, Hannity and Colmes, and CNN Newsroom.
Surprising to some critics, Hasan identifies herself as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, often using her punditry to provide insight into Republican policies and their effect on the Muslim World.
Her op-eds have been published in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Beliefnet
Beliefnet
Beliefnet is a large multi-faith e-community that aims to provide a free forum for religious information and inspiration, spiritual tools, and discussions and dialogue groups. Beliefnet provides information about various religious and spiritual beliefs, ranging from Christian denominations to...
among others. She was a columnist for The Pueblo Chieftain, The Denver Post
The Denver Post
-Ownership:The Post is the flagship newspaper of MediaNews Group Inc., founded in 1983 by William Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder. MediaNews is today one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, publisher of 61 daily newspapers and more than 120 non-daily publications in 13 states. MediaNews...
, and The Pakistan Link newspapers. Her other political pundit appearances include the Today, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, The Dennis Miller Show of CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
and The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
.
As of 2008, Hasan worked as a political blogger for Glamour Magazine
Glamour magazine
Glamour magazine means:* Glamour magazine, a U.S. publication aimed at a predominantly female readership* a girlie magazine aimed at a male readership featuring photographs of women...
and their political website, Glamocracy, a website dedicated to featuring weekly political insight from American women writers.
Views
Asma Gull Hasan has faced criticism for her view that the hijabHijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
is not required. "Modesty comes from within," said Hasan, who chooses not to cover her hair, citing that her statement is derived from the Quran.
Asma Gull Hasan has also expressed a deep admiration for Sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
, a mystical practice within Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. The views are expressed in various interviews as well as in her book, Why I Am a Muslim. Of note, Hasan serves as one of the contributors on iSufiRock.com.
Legal work
Asma Gull Hasan received her law degree from New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. She currently serves as a Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Chief Legal Officer
A chief legal officer is the highest-ranking corporate officer concerning legal affairs of a corporation or agency. Chief legal officers typically hold the title of general counsel.- Skill requirements :...
to HealthTrio LLC, a software company that specializes in the Electronic Healthcare Record technology.
Personal life
Asma Gull Hasan is the daughter of Dr. Malik M. Hasan and Seeme Gull Khan Hasan (co-founder of iSufiRock.com). She is the sister of film director and writer Muhammad Ali Hasan and cousin of Pakistani rock singer Salman AhmadSalman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
. She also has a sister, Dr. Aliya Gull Hasan and another brother, Rehan Khan Hasan.