Qamar-ul Huda
Senior Program Officer, Religion and Peacemaking Center of Innovation

Contact
Qamar-ul Huda joined USIP as a senior program officer in the Religion and Peacemaking Centers of Innovation in June 2005. His research focuses on Islamic thought and philosophy on violence, nonviolence and conflict resolution. Prior to joining the Institute, Huda was a professor of Islamic studies and comparative religion at Boston College’s Theology Department (1997-2005) and a visiting professor of Islamic studies at the College of Holy Cross and Brandeis University.
He serves as adviser on interfaith relations to the archdiocese of Boston and has written on the subject of dialogue and interfaith studies as a critical way to foster peace. Previously, Huda focused on political, theological and social history of Islamic mysticism and treatises dealing with Qur’anic hermeneutics.
He holds a B.A. from Colgate University and a Ph.D. in Islamic intellectual history from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Publications:
- "Coming to terms with the Qur'an," (Islamic Publications International, April 2008).
- Islamic Reform Relating to Conflict and Peace
USIPeace Briefing (2006). - The Diversity of Muslims in the United States: Views as Americans
USIP Special Report (2006). - "The 40th Anniversary of Vatican II: Examining Dominus Iesus and Contemporary Issues for Inter-religious Dialogue between Muslims and Catholics," Journal of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations (2004).
- "The Light beyond the Shore in the Theology of Proper Sufi Moral Conduct-Adab," The Journal of the American Academy of Religion (2004).
- Striving for Divine Union: Spiritual Exercises for the Suhrawardi Sufis (2003).
- "The Problems of Violence and Conflict in Islam: A New Theological Hermeneutic toward Building an Islamic Liberation Theology," Contagion: Violence, Mimesis, and Culture (2002).
Multimedia
- America & Islam (Gallup World Poll, September 14, 2007)
- Islamic Reform in Practice: The Ideas of Mahmoud Taha (USIP Event, January 2006)
Resources & Tools
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August 2009
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Book
by Daniel Brumberg and Dina Shehata, editors
Conflict, Identity, and Reform in the Muslim World highlights the challenges that escalating identity conflicts within Muslim-majority states pose for both the Muslim world and for the West, an issue that has received scant attention in policy and academic circles. |
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January 2009
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Special Report
by David Smock and Qamar-ul Huda
Muslims in general and Muslim leaders particularly have often been severely criticized for not more energetically condemning the violent acts of Muslim extremists. The uninformed often assume that extremists represent Islam’s mainstream. Issue Areas: Peacebuilding, Religion
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September 2008
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On the Issues
by J. Alexander Thier and Qamar-ul Huda
The resignation of Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf — once a key Washington ally — marks a new stage in the country’s often volatile politics. Institute specialists Alex Thier and Qamar-ul Huda discuss a host of challenges on Pakistan's political scene. Countries: Pakistan
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Events
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October 7, 2009
Grand Mufti of Egypt, His Excellency Dr. Ali Gomaa will speak about moderation in Islam and the challange of religious extremism. |
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September 30, 2009
H.E. Ihsanoglu discussed OIC projects contributing to peacemaking and assessed the prospects of advancing U.S. - Islamic relations. Countries: Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Europe, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon
| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Early Warning & Conflict Prevention, Economics and Development, Humanitarian Efforts, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Religion, Terrorism and Political Extremism
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June 25, 2009
On June 12, Iran held an historic, and as it has turned out, highly contentious presidential election. While the government declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the decisive winner, his challengers--led by Mir Hossein Mousavi--have accused the regime of massive voter fraud, thus setting up a unprecedented conflict between a regime and major segments of society. These developments come on the heels of efforts by the Obama administration to engage Iran. USIP hosted a fascinating discussion of the implications of Iran's presidential election for the country's domestic politics, and even more so, for the course (and fate) of U.S.-Iranian engagement. |
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December 11, 2008
A public event co-sponsored with the Heritage Foundation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Asia Society, Bridging Nations, East-West Center in Washington, Indian American Forum for Political Education, The Elliott School of International Affairs and the American Jewish Committee Countries: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
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March 4, 2008
Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan
| Issue Areas: Demographics, Governance, Political Systems and International Relations, Terrorism and Political Extremism
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November 27, 2007
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November 20, 2007
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June 8, 2007
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February 5, 2007
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November 21, 2006
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October 4, 2006
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January 20, 2006
Issue Areas: Religion
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