“I am mindful of the fact that when people think about Islam, the notion of a spiritual path a radical idea of love, is not the first thing that comes to mind,' said Safi. His earlier books include Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism (Oneworld, 2003) Politics of Knowledge in Premodern Islam (UNC, 2006) Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters (HarperOne, 2010) and Cambridge Companion to American Islam (with Juliane Hammer, Cambridge, 2013). It’s a different publishing direction for Safi, 47, the past chairman for the Study of Islam at the American Academy of Religion. Safi focused on the works from the Sufi or mystic tradition of Islam, which he describes as “a way of moving in the world grounded in love, beauty and tenderness, not just a capital 'M' for Muslim.' It’s a collection of more than 200 poems by medieval authors that he has translated from the original Arabic and Persian 'for anyone who aspires to be in a loving relationship with humanity and with God,” he told PW. In the midst of drumbeat of news and conflict, he brings a melodic note in Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition (Yale, June). More information is available at Illuminated Tours.He wants to change the subject. The trips are open to everyone, from every country. He leads spiritual tours every year to Turkey, Morocco, or other countries, to study the rich multiple religious traditions there.

Omid is among the most frequently sought out speakers on Islam in popular media, appearing in The New York Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, PBS, NPR, NBC, CNN, and other international media. His forthcoming books include Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Traditions and a book on the famed mystic Rumi. He has written many books, including Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism Cambridge Companion to American Islam Politics of Knowledge in Premodern Islam and Memories of Muhammad. Omid is the past chair for the Study of Islam at the American Academy of Religion.

King, Malcolm X, and is committed to traditions that link together love and justice. He specializes in the study of Islamic mysticism and contemporary Islam and frequently writes on liberationist traditions of Dr.

Omid Safi is director of Duke University’s Islamic Studies Center.

Progressive Muslims by Omid Safi