Qamar-ul Huda

Senior Program Officer, Religion and Peacemaking Center of Innovation

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Contact

Phone: (202) 429-4707

E-mail: qhuda@usip.org

Languages: Arabic | Urdu

Multimedia

The Road Ahead: Strategies for Improving U.S. - Islamic Relations

Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Religion

Qamar-ul Huda is a Senior Program Officer in the Religion and Peacemaking Program and a scholar of Islam at U.S. Institute of Peace. His area of expertise is Islamic theology, intellectual history, ethics, comparative ethics, the language of violence, conflict resolution and non-violence in contemporary Islam. His forthcoming USIP book, The Crescent and Dove: Critical Perspectives on Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam, provides a critical analysis of models of nonviolent strategies, peace building efforts, conflict resolution methods in Muslim communities. His research is on comparative Sunni-Shi’ite interpretations of social justice, ethics, dialogue, and the ways in which the notion of justice is used and appropriated. Dr. Huda has examined the production of religious knowledge, the diversity of religious practices, identity, and peacemaking in Striving for Divine Union: Spiritual Exercises for Suhrawardi Sufis (RoutledgeCurzon). He taught Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion at Boston College, College of the Holy Cross and Brandeis University. He earned his doctorate from UCLA in Islamic intellectual history and his B.A. from Colgate University.

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)
Madrassa Reform in Pakistan (Al-Jazeera, December 23 2009)

Resources & Tools

	In Pursuit of Democracy and Security in the Greater Middle East January 2010 \| Working Paper by Daniel Brumberg This Working Paper is the culmination of the work of the Study Group on Reform and Security. Countries: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Conflict Analysis, Economics and Development, Governance, Human Rights, Mediation and Facilitation, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Nongovernmental Organizations, Peacebuilding, Security and Strategy, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	Conflict, Identity, and Reform in the Muslim World August 2009 \| 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.
	Islamic Peacemaking Since 9/11 January 2009 \| 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
	On the Issues: Pakistan September 2008 \| 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

Events

	January 22, 2010 Pursuing Safety and Freedom This USIP Working Paper examines the complex nexus between democratic change and U.S. security interests, with a principal focus on Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen. Countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Early Warning & Conflict Prevention, Human Rights, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding
	October 7, 2009 The Challenge of Moderation in Islam: Egypt's Religious Institution vs. Extremism Grand Mufti of Egypt, His Excellency Dr. Ali Gomaa will speak about moderation in Islam and the challange of religious extremism. Countries: Egypt \| Issue Areas: Peacebuilding, Religion
	September 30, 2009 The Road Ahead: Strategies for Improving U.S. - Islamic Relations 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
	June 25, 2009 Iran's Presidential Election 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. Countries: Iran, United States \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Civil-Military Relations
	December 11, 2008 Terror In Mumbai: Where Do We Go From Here? 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
	March 4, 2008 Democracy's Revenge? Pakistan's Elections and Beyond Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan \| Issue Areas: Demographics, Governance, Political Systems and International Relations, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	November 27, 2007 Pakistan: The Struggle for Rule of Law Countries: Pakistan \| Issue Areas: Rule of Law
	November 20, 2007 Dialogue on Islamic Peacemaking: Report on a Mission to Iran Countries: Iran \| Issue Areas: Peacebuilding, Religion
	June 8, 2007 Education Reform and Conflict Prevention- Perspectives from Pakistan Countries: Kashmir \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Environment and Natural Resources
	February 5, 2007 Promoting Peace and Tolerance through Madrasa Reform Countries: Pakistan \| Issue Areas: Religion
	November 21, 2006 Religious Education in Indonesia: Implications for Interreligious and Interethnic Relations Countries: Indonesia \| Issue Areas: Education, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, Religion
	October 4, 2006 Looking Ahead at the Muslim World After 9/11 Issue Areas: Political Systems and International Relations, Religion, Security and Strategy, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	January 20, 2006 Islamic Reform in Practice: The Ideas of Mahmoud Taha Issue Areas: Religion

	In Pursuit of Democracy and Security in the Greater Middle East January 2010 \| Working Paper by Daniel Brumberg This Working Paper is the culmination of the work of the Study Group on Reform and Security. Countries: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Conflict Analysis, Economics and Development, Governance, Human Rights, Mediation and Facilitation, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Nongovernmental Organizations, Peacebuilding, Security and Strategy, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	Conflict, Identity, and Reform in the Muslim World August 2009 \| 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.
	Islamic Peacemaking Since 9/11 January 2009 \| 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
	On the Issues: Pakistan September 2008 \| 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

	January 22, 2010 Pursuing Safety and Freedom This USIP Working Paper examines the complex nexus between democratic change and U.S. security interests, with a principal focus on Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen. Countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Early Warning & Conflict Prevention, Human Rights, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding
	October 7, 2009 The Challenge of Moderation in Islam: Egypt's Religious Institution vs. Extremism Grand Mufti of Egypt, His Excellency Dr. Ali Gomaa will speak about moderation in Islam and the challange of religious extremism. Countries: Egypt \| Issue Areas: Peacebuilding, Religion
	September 30, 2009 The Road Ahead: Strategies for Improving U.S. - Islamic Relations 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
	June 25, 2009 Iran's Presidential Election 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. Countries: Iran, United States \| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Civil-Military Relations
	December 11, 2008 Terror In Mumbai: Where Do We Go From Here? 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
	March 4, 2008 Democracy's Revenge? Pakistan's Elections and Beyond Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan \| Issue Areas: Demographics, Governance, Political Systems and International Relations, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	November 27, 2007 Pakistan: The Struggle for Rule of Law Countries: Pakistan \| Issue Areas: Rule of Law
	November 20, 2007 Dialogue on Islamic Peacemaking: Report on a Mission to Iran Countries: Iran \| Issue Areas: Peacebuilding, Religion
	June 8, 2007 Education Reform and Conflict Prevention- Perspectives from Pakistan Countries: Kashmir \| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Environment and Natural Resources
	February 5, 2007 Promoting Peace and Tolerance through Madrasa Reform Countries: Pakistan \| Issue Areas: Religion
	November 21, 2006 Religious Education in Indonesia: Implications for Interreligious and Interethnic Relations Countries: Indonesia \| Issue Areas: Education, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, Religion
	October 4, 2006 Looking Ahead at the Muslim World After 9/11 Issue Areas: Political Systems and International Relations, Religion, Security and Strategy, Terrorism and Political Extremism
	January 20, 2006 Islamic Reform in Practice: The Ideas of Mahmoud Taha Issue Areas: Religion