Asma Gull Hasan () (born in 1974) is a Pakistani-American award-winning writer. Her work includes the book Red, White, and Muslim, a biographical view of growing up as an American Muslim. She is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, born in Chicago, USA and raised in Pueblo, Colorado.
Asma Gull Hasan grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, where she talks about a childhood that was filled with snowboarding and riding horses. Hasan explains that she calls herself a "cowgirl" based on the cowboy values of appreciating the outdoors, oneself, and other people.
Hasan went on to receive her diploma from Groton School in 1993, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She obtained a Bachelors in Arts from Wellesley College in 1997, graduating Magna Cum Laude, as well as being named a Durant Scholar. And in 2001, she received her Juris Doctorate from New York University.
Asma Gull Hasan 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.
Hasan's latest work, Red, White, and Muslim (HarperCollins 2008), received a prestigious starred review from Publishers Weekly.
In addition, Red, White, and Muslim has earned 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 offers, "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.
Interviews of her work as an author are often seen on C-SPAN's Book TV.
Asma Gull Hasan appears frequently on Fox News and CNN as an American Muslim voice and political commentator. Her television appearances include The Factor with Bill O'Reilly, 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 with Bill Maher, 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.
Asma Gull Hasan 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 Gull Hasan 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 the Electronic Healthcare Record technology.
Asma Gull Hasan 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.
