Peaceful Coexistence with Jihad Turk
Have you ever felt judged? IMAM Jihad Turk visits with Lauren and shares how he overcame obstacles in his life as an American kid with the name “Jihad”, growing up where only 1% of our population is Muslim. He shows us how to bridge the gap between being misunderstood or feeling excluded to feeling loved, appreciated and have an inner peace which creates a path for more peaceful coexistence. Hear how Jihad ultimately embraced his religion to cure that indescribable feeling that “something’s missing” and why he chooses to live his life with love and hope!
In this podcast episode, Lauren and Jihad Jill discuss:
The story behind Jihad’s name and how he became a “walking teachable moment”
Jihad’s journey to become an IMAM and his interfaith experiences
The impact of creating the “Netflix for Islamic Studies”
Breaking down barriers with the “hand, heart, head” method
How Jihad keeps community alive during COVID
3 major misconceptions about Muslims and Islam
Challenging questions Jihad addresses about the religion of Islam
How Jihad makes religion relevant by providing purpose and inspiration
Having the right state of mind, heart, and action
A reminder to keep moving forward with hope
Memorable Quotes:
“The easiest way to overcome Muslim Bias is to meet a Muslim.”
“How to help a young person find meaning, and purpose, and faith and how to effectively pass on faith to the next generation is the biggest challenge that we face.”
“Look, religion when done right is spirituality plus discipline, plus community.”
“...the hope lies in not being overwhelmed by the negativity that must exist in order for beauty and goodness to mean something, it's in recognizing that you have a choice to contribute to beauty and goodness in the world, live up to the potential that you have, as we would say, as Muslims, that your God-created potential to help prepare the world to be amongst those who establish justice.”
About Jihad Turk:
IMAM Jihad Turk was born in Arizona to a Christian mom and a Muslim dad. Jihad spent his college years traveling the Muslim world and exploring his roots and the Islamic tradition. He taught as adjunct faculty for many years at UCLA and at Southwestern School of Law. He is the founding President and Dean of Bayan Islamic Graduate School, a preeminent Muslim institution of higher education offering accredited Master’s degrees in the fields of Islamic Studies, Leadership, Education, and Chaplaincy.
Today, IMAM Jihad Turk works tirelessly bringing cultures together as one and is a recognizable figure on the forefront of coexistence between communities.
Connect with Jihad Turk:
Jihad Turk at Bayan Islamic Graduate School
Listen to the episode here:
