Imam Zaid Shakir

About Scholar

Imam Zaid Shakir, born Ricky Daryl Mitchell on May 24, 1956, in Berkeley, California, is a distinguished American Muslim scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley. He embraced Islam in 1977 while serving in the United States Air Force. Following his military service, he pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from American University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Rutgers University. During his time at Rutgers, he co-founded Masjid al-Huda, now known as the New Brunswick Islamic Center.

In 2003, Imam Shakir joined the Zaytuna Institute in California as a scholar-in-residence, teaching Arabic, law, and Islamic spirituality. He played a pivotal role in initiating a pilot seminary program that contributed to the development of Zaytuna College’s Islamic Studies curriculum. In 2010, alongside Hamza Yusuf and Hatem Bazian, he co-founded Zaytuna College, the first accredited Muslim liberal arts college in the United States, dedicated to preparing morally committed professional, intellectual, and spiritual leaders. Imam Shakir has been recognized among the 500 Most Influential Muslims globally and continues to be an active voice in interfaith dialogue and environmental advocacy.Wikipedia