Born in 1974 in Chicago, Asma Gull Hasan grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, where she talks about a childhood that was filled with snowboarding and riding horses and calls herself a cowgirl based on the cowboy values of
Asma Gull Hasan
Born in 1974 in Chicago, Asma Gull Hasan grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, where she talks about a childhood that was filled with snowboarding and riding horses and calls herself a cowgirl based on the cowboy values of appreciating the outdoors, oneself, and other people.
She is the daughter of Dr. Malik M. Hasan and Seeme Gull Khan Hasan, co-founder of iSufiRock.com. She is the sister of film director and writer Muhammad Ali Hasan and cousin of Pakistani rock singer Salman Ahmad. She also has a sister, Dr. Aliya Gull Hasan and another brother, Rehan Khan Hasan.
Asma Gull Hasan went on to receive her diploma from Groton School in 1993, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She graduated in Arts from Wellesley College in 1997, graduating Magna Cum Laude, as well as being named a Durant Scholar. In 2001, she received her Juris Doctorate from New York University.
She is the author of three published works, including American Muslims: The New Generation (Continuum 2000), Why I Am A Muslim (HarperCollins Thorsons/Element 2004), and Red, White, and Muslim (HarperCollins 2008). All three books are non-fiction, dealing with the American Muslim movement through critical analysis and personal biography.
Her latest work, Red, White, and Muslim (HarperCollins 2008), received a prestigious starred review from Publishers Weekly. In addition, Red, White, and Muslim have earned her deep praise from many fellow authors, including Reza Aslan, Fareed Zakaria, and Jack Miles.
Aslan says of the book - A warm, witty, wonderful story about what it means to be both Muslim and American in a post-9/11 world. This is a book that every American should read. Zakaria comments, Asma Hasan will rock your stereotypes about Islam in this refreshing book. Here is a young woman who embraces Islam, modernity, America, her family, and her friends all with enthusiasm and commitment. She sees no contradictions between them and, after you have read this book, neither will you. Lastly, Miles is quoted, At a dark hour, this book is a piece of bright and cheering news.
As an American Muslim voice, the United States Department of State has often designated Hasan for educational presentations and missions, in hopes of building better relations between America and Muslims. One such mission included sending Hasan to Ethiopia, where she spoke to people all over the country about the commonalities between Islamic and American culture, in hopes of building stronger relations between both countries.
Asma Gull Hasan appears frequently on Fox News and CNN as an American Muslim voice and political commentator. Her television appearances include The O'Reilly Factor, Anderson Cooper 360, Hannity and Colmes, and CNN Newsroom.
Surprising to some critics, Hasan identifies herself as a Republican, often using her punditry to provide insight into Republican policies and their effect on the Muslim World.
Her op-eds have been published in The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Beliefnet among others. She was a columnist for The Pueblo Chieftain, The Denver Post, and The Pakistan Link newspapers. Her other political pundit appearances include the Today, Politically Incorrect, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, The Dennis Miller Show of CNBC and The History Channel.
As of 2008, Hasan worked as a political blogger for Glamour Magazine and their political website, Glamocracy, a website dedicated to featuring weekly political insight from American women writers.
She has faced criticism for her view that the hijab is not required. Modesty comes from within, said Hasan, who chooses not to cover her hair, citing that her statement is derived from the Quran. Asma has also expressed a deep admiration for Sufism, a mystical practice within Islam. The views are expressed in various interviews as well as in her book, Why I Am a Muslim. Of note, Hasan serves as one of the contributors on iSufiRock.com.
Asma Gull Hasan received her law degree from New York University. She currently serves as a Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer to HealthTrio LLC, a software company that specializes in electronic healthcare record technology.