WORLDWIDEWOMEN
A Life in
Faith
By Sindhu Nair
A
“I see that being s the whole world watched US
President Barack Obama give
a Muslim and his momentous speech at Cairo
being an Ameri- University, Egypt, one lady, sitting
can as mutually in the front, experienced a wave of
emotions – a moment that she says will always be
enriching and not her most cherished one.
mutually exclu- Demure and soft-spoken, Dalia Mogahed, a
sive identities.” member of Obama’s Advisory Council of Faith-
based and Neighborhood Partnerships, played a
significant role in making the speech as powerful
as it turned out to be.
The feelings she experienced were one of pride
and joy. Pride since each of President Obama’s
quotes from the Quran and some insights,
reflected her choice, her recommendations along
with those of others on the panel (as she corrects
modestly). And joy at the impact of the speech
that is said to have raised curtains on a new era
of more understanding and less prejudice against
the Muslim world and Muslims in general.
“From the minute he (Obama) came on stage,
I knew that it was a historic moment, especially
because he began with the salutation ‘As-
salaamu Alaykum’ I knew that it has never
happened before – and perhaps it won’t
happen again – that an American Presi-
dent addresses the people like this.”
She is also the Senior Analyst and
Executive Director of the Gallup Cen-
tre for Muslim Studies and was here
to attend the Doha Silatech Summit,
a meet to improve youth opportuni-
ties in the Arab world.
Dalia talks on issues that are
close to her heart – her religion,
commitments and the impact of her
work on the world.
Shouldering responsibilities
Explaining more about her profile as
an advisor, Dalia says, “I am part of the
Advisory Council on Faith-based and
Neighborhood Partnerships, not a direct
JULY 2009 18
world do not hate American
freedom, and that in fact it is
one trait that they admire most
in them.
“Democracy was one of
the most admired aspects
of American society. This
actually explains why Barack
Obama is so popular in the
Muslim world. He personifies
American democracy. We
adviser to the President and it is an honouree also found that a majority of
post. Our role, along with other members, is Muslims reject terrorism.”
to provide ideas, mostly in the form of memos,
reports and recommendations on how the govern- Inspiring incident
ment can better partner with faith communities to On the one issue that has
solve shared problems. I am specifically working prejudiced the whole world
on fostering greater interfaith cooperation and against Muslims – 9/11, and
dialogue especially with Muslims in the US and on how this has affected
around the world.” her, she reminisces, “There
Being an Egyptian, Mogahed was flooded were moments of panic and
with encouraging mails from her country on her nervousness but then there
appointment, but she feels it is far too early to say were also moments of great
anything on this role she has taken. inspiration.”
“I think that this post comes with a great deal of She recounts one incident
responsibility and I am very grateful to the people that had inspired her and
who have showered me with good wishes but kept her spirits up during this
there is lot to be accomplished. The real accom- incident.
plishment is when I do the job to the best of my “It was the Friday after
ability, not the appointment by itself.” the 9/11. Many American
Muslim groups warned people
The path from possible backlash and
Dalia came to the US at the age of five with her cautioned against going to
parents, when her mother received a scholarship Friday prayers. My family and
to pursue her PhD there. I discussed this and decided
“I completed my degree in Chemical Engineer- that we would go because we
ing and then went on to work with Proctor and wanted to put our faith before
Gamble. I was working as the Products Research- our fear. When we went to the
er. I helped design products based on these Friday prayer, in Pittsburgh,
market researches. This was my first contact with PA, we found that half of the
research and I was so enamoured by the concept congregation comprised
of putting numbers on human perceptions that I Christians, Jews and people
decided to make that my career. I went on to take of other faiths. They had come
a master’s degree in management research and to show their solidarity. This
strategy and then joined Gallup as a Management act fostered my conviction
Consultant. to reach out to people of all
“When we launched our World Poll at Gallup, faiths around the world. It was
I suggested to the higher management, that we a touching moment.”
start a centre specifically for the understanding
of Muslims around the world, and give that study A bright future
a depth and importance. This is the Centre that I Dalia was here at the Silatech
head now. In this role, I along with my team mates Summit to identify various
try to make sense of the research we do." tools of youth empowerment
One of the interesting facts that were identified and also to reveal the details
during the study was that Muslims around the of Silatech Index, an Index
On a lighter note
I am most attached to the three men in my life, Mohammed
(my husband) and my sons, Tariq and Jbreel
If I could change my profession,
I would be
I love
a journalist
great books
Me in one word curious
As a professional, I am hard working
I unwind by talking to friends and playing with my kids
The source of my energy my love for my work
One book I will never forget Night by Elie Wiesel
I would like to be remembered as someone who helped people voice their
opinions
that is said to be the voice of values of honesty, integrity “One suggestion was to
the Arab youth. Of the youth and justice. These are Islamic continue building on the
of today, she says that they and American values. I see theme of mutual respect.
are more interconnected than that being a Muslim and be- My recommendation was
earlier generations. ing an American as mutually to recognise that Islam has
“They are able to commu- enriching and not mutually made and makes a positive
nicate to other cultures and exclusive identities.” contribution to civilisation. The
understand them much more And like most women, she second major theme was that
easily than the older gen- is not so sure about her work- of cooperation and the idea
erations. This builds relation- family balance, and has her of equal partnership. A third
ships, empathy and removes moments of doubts. theme that I referred to was
earlier prejudices. They are “Sometimes I think, I mange empathy: even if we do not
comfortable with and even pretty well, while some days share their opinion, we should
celebrate diversity. This will be I feel I don’t. It is a constant try to understand their point
important in the coming years. battle but there is one thing of view. These were the three
Dealing with lives as if we are that I am sure and that is of suggestions that Muslims
a single inhabitant of the world how important they are to me. around the world had voiced
doesn’t work anymore and Family takes top priority after concern over and I feel the
the youth are aware of this God and they are my greatest speech has communicated
intuitively and work towards a blessing.” the message that we want to
common understanding.” build relations, one based on
On bringing her kids up in Advice taken mutual interest and mutual
a society much freer that what Dalia talks about the three respect, and one based upon
her parents were used to, she main themes that she has the truth that America and
is emphatic on her ideals. recommended to the panel for Islam are not exclusive and
“I try to inculcate in them the Cairo speech. need not be in competition
JUly 2009 19