HAMZA YUSUF

Contents

Short Biography

Introduction

Years abroad

Political Involvement

Books

Books Authored

Books translated with additions

References

See also

External links

Opposing Views

Short Biography

Introduction

'Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson' is an Islamic scholar who teaches at the Zaytuna Institute in California, U.S..
Hamza Yusuf was born as Mark Hanson in Walla Walla, Washington and was raised in Northern California in a Greek Orthodox family, the son of a US academic father and activist mother. At the age of 17, in 1977, Hanson became a Muslim in Santa Barbara, California, after having a near-death experience in a car accident which led him to read the Qur'an and eventually become a Muslim.

Years abroad

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf spent four years studying in the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere in the Middle East. Later he traveled to West Africa and studied in Mauritania, Medina, Algeria, and Morocco under such scholars as Sheikh Murabit al Haaj; Sheikh Baya bin Salik, head of the Islamic court in Al-'Ain, United Arab Emirates; Sheikh Muhammad Shaybani, Mufti of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamad al-Wali; and Sheikh Muhammad al-Fatrati of Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. After more than a decade abroad, he returned to the United States and earned degrees in nursing from Imperial Valley College and religious studies at San José State University. In 1996, Hanson co-founded the Hayward, California-based Zaytuna Institute, dedicated to the revival of Islamic Sciences and the preservation of traditional teaching methods.
He has traveled all over the world lecturing about Islamic spirituality and contemporary issues. Hamza has translated several classical texts from Arabic and presently oversees an effort to establish an Islamic seminary in Hayward, California. He has hosted three seasons of "Rihla (Journeys) With Sheikh Hamza" on the Arabic-language MBC satellite channel.
At the recommendation of Shaykh Abdullah bin Bayyah, he publicly appeared with President George W. Bush shortly after September 11 attacks, Arab League, and global leaders at the World Economic Forum at Davos. Sheikh Hamza has been a prominent Muslim voice denouncing terrorism and extremism, while promoting cooperation and education.
Yusuf is the first American lecturer to teach in Morocco's prestigious and oldest University, the Karaouine in Fes. In addition, he has translated several classical Arabic traditional texts and poems into modern English. ^[1]
He is married and has five children, all boys.

Political Involvement

Hamza Yusuf has occasionally found himself mired in controversy, from Muslims and non-Muslims alike, by shaking Joseph Downing's hand upon his conversion. He has been denounced by some for appearing with the Bush administration after 9/11, ^[2] and has been frequently called Bush's "pet Muslim."^[3]
Yet, he has been accused by Daniel Pipes and Stephen Schwartz of promoting a radical interpretation of Islam.^[4]
In addition, he was mentioned by the British government as someone to help it "combat radicalization" and like the US Government, the UK have used Yusuf as an adviser in dealing with Muslims in the United Kingdom. ^[5]

Books

Books Authored

★ The State We Are In: Identity, Terror, and the Law of Jihad (contributing Author), 2006.

★ Educating your Child in Modern Times

Books translated with additions

★ Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart

★ Content of Character

★ The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi

References

1. Speakers
2. Hamza Yusuf Hanson
3. http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,564960,00.html
4. Hamza Yusuf Fails My "Test"
5. Blair government’s strategy to police Britain’s Muslims leaked

See also

★ Muhammad al-Yaqoubi

★ Zaytuna Institute

★ Zaid Shakir

External links

★ www.zaytuna.org

★ Zaytuna Seasons Journal

★ www.sheikhhamza.com Contains list of books recommended by Hamza Yusuf, a comprehensive biography and forum.

★ Radio program interview with Hamza Yusuf & Zaid Shakir

★ Hamza Yusuf article in The Guardian

★ Hamza Yusuf on Al Jazeera English Riz Khan show

Opposing Views

★ Hamza Yusuf - Where did he go wrong? - opposing view by Yusuf Estes

★ Opposing views on Hamza Yusuf