What do American Muslims think about the conflict over the election in Iran? Or about Obama’s approach to the Muslim world? Many different things, no doubt, but for a thoughtful analysis from an African American Imam with wide knowledge of American Islam, you could not do better than to consult Imam Zaid Shakir.

Imam Zaid Shakir is one of the most thoughtful and dynamic teachers about the true nature of Islam in America today. He teaches at Zaytuna Institute, and lectures and writes about both the ideals and the history of Islam. His article “Obsessed with Defamation and Slander” in the May/June Tikkun corrects the widespread depiction of Islam as the current bearer of “fascism” in the world today, and as historically complicit with Nazism.

Imam Zaid talked with Tikkun readers for an hour Monday night — on a weekly phone call with Tikkun authors that is free to our subscribers (and if you truly can’t afford to subscribe but wish you could, please join us anyway) and to members of the Network of Spiritual Progressives. You can listen to my 20 minute interview with Imam Zaid followed by questions from Tikkun readers here. Imam Zaid first talked about his teaching since 9/11 and his recent visit to Africa, to visit development work being supported by American Muslims in Mali, and then discussed President Obama’s speech in Cairo and his approach to the Muslim world.

In analysing the Iranian situation, he said he thought Ahmadinejad had probably won the election but not by anything like the margin announced, and the regime was probably bitterly regretting having cooked the result and alienated so many people. At the same time, he pointed out that many people voted for Ahmadinejad because they did not trust Ayatollah Rafsanjani, the former president who had come from lower class origins and vastly enriched himself through corruption in office, and who had personally picked the opposition candidate, Mousavi, to run. It’s a complex situation and I can’t do justice to Imam Zaid’s views here, so tune in and listen.

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