Sultan, Sohaib 1980(?)- (Sohaib Nazeer Sultan)

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Sultan, Sohaib 1980(?)- (Sohaib Nazeer Sultan)

PERSONAL:

Born c. 1980. Education: Indiana University, B.A., 2002; Hartford Seminary, M.A. Religion: Muslim.

CAREER:

Freelance journalist, public speaker, chaplain. Yale University, New Haven, CT, Muslim chaplain, 2005—; Trinity College, Hartford, CT, Muslim chaplain; Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, Muslim chaplain.

WRITINGS:

The Koran for Dummies, Wiley Publishing (Hoboken, NJ), 2004.

(Author of annotations and revisions) The Quran and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad: Selections Annotated and Explained, translation by Yusuf Ali, foreword by Jane I. Smith, SkyLight Paths Publishing (Woodstock, VT), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Sohaib Sultan is a freelance writer and public speaker with an undergraduate degree from Indiana University. He also studied Islamic chaplaincy, Islamic studies, and Christian-Muslim relations at the Hartford Seminary. In 2005, Sultan became the first Muslim chaplain at Yale University, and since then he has gone on to serve as Muslim chaplain for Trinity College and Wesleyan University as well, a particularly important position given that few American institutes of higher learning have Muslim chaplains on the faculty. More and more are adding the post, however, in the wake of 9/11, as they see a growing need to reach out to students of Muslim faith and to provide both religious and cultural support. In most instances, Muslims are not even considered an official religious group on American campuses, and are lacking official funding that goes to other school-sponsored activities and organizations. Teresa Mendez, writing for the Christian Science Monitor, noted of Sultan: "He speaks of the need to create a culture not just of tolerance, but of acceptance. He sees his job as a Muslim chaplain as a divine calling." Mendez went on to call Sultan "down-to-earth, self-deprecating, and compassionate." In addition to serving as chaplain, Sultan is the author of The Koran for Dummies, which was published in 2004, and also revised a new edition of The Quran and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad: Selections Annotated and Explained, as well as providing annotations for readers.