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Muslim FirstsMuslim FirstsContemporary Muslims in the US and the Contemporary Muslims in the US and the

world who made or are making a world who made or are making a difference.difference.

Changing the world one story at a time

JavedJaved MohammedMohammedWriterWriter--ProducerProducerk2film@live.comk2film@live.com

Copyright 2009

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DisclaimerDisclaimerAll images are obtained from the All images are obtained from the public domain and are the public domain and are the copyrights of the respective copyrights of the respective holders. This document and all holders. This document and all its other content and claims are its other content and claims are copyright of Javed Mohammed copyright of Javed Mohammed Copyright 2009.Copyright 2009.Although every care has been Although every care has been taken to research and present taken to research and present accurate information, some accurate information, some Muslim firsts are not well Muslim firsts are not well documented and others maybe documented and others maybe subjective. subjective. This presentation is not and This presentation is not and cannot cover all cannot cover all accomplishments of Muslims in accomplishments of Muslims in America or the world. It is a America or the world. It is a small effort to share and inspire.small effort to share and inspire.The writer/producer of this media The writer/producer of this media content bears no responsibility to content bears no responsibility to any claims made. any claims made.

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Why: Muslim Firsts?Why: Muslim Firsts?There is a lot of negativity around There is a lot of negativity around Muslims in America and the world.Muslims in America and the world.We all need heroes past and presentWe all need heroes past and presentWhat follows is a sample of What follows is a sample of Contemporary Muslims who have Contemporary Muslims who have made headlines or a difference to made headlines or a difference to the wider community.the wider community.They made a difference and so can They made a difference and so can you.you.

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US Muslim FirstsUS Muslim Firsts

PoliticsPoliticsScienceScienceBusinessBusinessCommunityCommunitySportsSportsArts, Music, LiteratureArts, Music, Literature

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First President to be elected with First President to be elected with a Muslim name: 2009a Muslim name: 2009Barack Hussein ObamaBarack Hussein Obama

Note: President Obama’s recognized faith is Christianity

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First Muslim to give opening prayer First Muslim to give opening prayer in Congress: 1991in Congress: 1991Imam Siraj WahajImam Siraj Wahaj

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First Muslim elected to US First Muslim elected to US Congress: Congress: Keith Ellison, 2006Keith Ellison, 2006

Took oath on Quran belonging to founding father, Thomas Jefferson

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First Muslim woman & First Muslim woman & hijabihijabi in in President Obama’s administration:President Obama’s administration:Dalia Dalia MogahedMogahed, 2009, 2009

Dalia led the Gallup American Center for Muslim Studies

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First Muslim CoFirst Muslim Co--Founder, Largest Founder, Largest AmericanAmerican--Muslim Civil Rights Muslim Civil Rights Organization: Organization: Omar AhmadOmar Ahmad

CAIR: Council on American Islamic Relations

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First Muslims to CoFirst Muslims to Co--Produce a Produce a PBS Nationally broadcast PBS Nationally broadcast Program: Program: Michael WolfeMichael Wolfe & & Alex Alex KronemerKronemer

MichaelWolfe

AlexKronemer

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First AfghanFirst Afghan--American to write a American to write a BestBest--seller: seller: Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini

Over 10 Million copies of Kite Runner sold

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First AmericanFirst American--Muslim Producer & Muslim Producer & Director of Epic films:Director of Epic films:Moustapha AkkadMoustapha Akkad

Directed “The Message”, “The Lion of the Desert” and Halloween series

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First Woman President of largest First Woman President of largest AmericanAmerican--Islamic Organization Islamic Organization ISNA: ISNA: Dr. Ingrid MattsonDr. Ingrid Mattson

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First MuslimFirst Muslim--American woman in American woman in space: space: Anousheh AnsariAnousheh Ansari

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First Nobel Prize in Chemistry First Nobel Prize in Chemistry by an Americanby an American--Muslim 1999:Muslim 1999:Ahmed H. Ahmed H. ZewailZewail

“For his studies of the transition states of chemical reactions using femtosecond spectroscopy"

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First Muslim Civil Rights leader:First Muslim Civil Rights leader:Malcolm XMalcolm X

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First Muslim structural engineer to First Muslim structural engineer to build tallest US building: Sears build tallest US building: Sears Tower: Tower: Dr. Fazlur Rahman KhanDr. Fazlur Rahman Khan

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First Muslim Woman to Become a First Muslim Woman to Become a Michigan State Representative: Michigan State Representative: Rashida TalibRashida Talib

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First Muslim chaplain at Marine First Muslim chaplain at Marine Corps: Corps: AbuhenaAbuhena SaifulislamSaifulislam

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First Muslim entrepreneur to go First Muslim entrepreneur to go IPO: Safi QuresheyIPO: Safi Qureshey

Co-founder and former CEO of AST Research (a top 10 major PC Computer manufacturer in 1990s) and a former member of President Clinton's Export Council.

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First mainstream Muslim First mainstream Muslim comedian: comedian: Dave ChappelleDave Chappelle

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First Person & Muslim to win the First Person & Muslim to win the heavy weight boxing championship heavy weight boxing championship 3 times: 3 times: Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali

Also the first person to have his title stripped away for Being a Conscientious Objector

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First player and Muslim to winFirst player and Muslim to winhighest points total of any NBA highest points total of any NBA player in league history (38,387) player in league history (38,387) Kareem AbdulKareem Abdul--JabbarJabbar

The first Muslim on an NBA team winning back-to-back NBAchampionships 6 MVPs, 6 NBA NBA championships and patented skyhook

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Muslim Firsts from the rest of Muslim Firsts from the rest of the Worldthe World

PoliticsPoliticsScienceScienceBusinessBusinessCommunityCommunitySportsSportsArts, Music, LiteratureArts, Music, Literature

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First Muslim Peer in House of First Muslim Peer in House of Lords, 1998Lords, 1998Lord Nazir Ahmed

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Canada's First Muslim Woman Canada's First Muslim Woman MP, 2004: MP, 2004: Yasmin RatansiYasmin Ratansi

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First woman elected to lead a First woman elected to lead a Muslim state, Prime Minister of Muslim state, Prime Minister of Pakistan: Pakistan: Benazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto (1988(1988--90; 90; 19931993––1996) 1996)

Assassinated in 2007 on verge of 3rd election

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First “Banker to the poor” & First “Banker to the poor” & Inventor of MicroInventor of Micro--loans: loans: Muhammad YunusMuhammad Yunus

Nobel Peace prize winner, 2006 with GRAMEEN BANK for their efforts to create economic and social development from below.

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First Muslim astronaut in space, First Muslim astronaut in space, 1985: 1985: Prince Sultan bin SalmanPrince Sultan bin Salman

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First Muslim Doctor & Malaysian in First Muslim Doctor & Malaysian in space, 2007: space, 2007: Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar ShukorShukor

(Prayed and kept Ramadan Fast in while in space)

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First Muslim to win Nobel Peace First Muslim to win Nobel Peace Prize, in 2005 for his work on Prize, in 2005 for his work on preventing nuclear proliferation preventing nuclear proliferation Mohamed ElbaradeiMohamed Elbaradei

“With IAEA for efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and for safe nuclear energy use.”

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First Muslim to win Nobel Peace First Muslim to win Nobel Peace Prize, for work on democracy and Prize, for work on democracy and human rights in 2003: human rights in 2003: Shirin IbadiShirin Ibadi

“For her efforts on democracy and human rights”

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First Muslim director nominated First Muslim director nominated for Academy Award for Best for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film:Foreign Language Film:MajidMajid MajidiMajidi

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First Muslim to win Nobel prize for First Muslim to win Nobel prize for Literature in 1988:Literature in 1988:NaguibNaguib MahfouzMahfouz

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First Muslim women to climb Mt. First Muslim women to climb Mt. Everest: Everest: Farkhondeh Sadegh & Farkhondeh Sadegh & Laleh KeshavarzLaleh Keshavarz

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First elected TurkishFirst elected Turkish--Muslim MP Muslim MP with hijab prevented from taking with hijab prevented from taking oath:oath:MerveMerve Kavakçı, 1999Kavakçı, 1999

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First French Muslim to help First French Muslim to help France win 1998 FIFA World cup:France win 1998 FIFA World cup:Zinedine ZidaneZinedine Zidane

Helped France reach the 2006 World Cup Finalsand recognized by Pele as one of the all-time greats in 2004

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First AfricanFirst African--Muslim Player to win Muslim Player to win backback--toto--back NBA Championships:back NBA Championships:Hakeem Abdul OlajuwonHakeem Abdul Olajuwon

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First Muslim athlete to ever take First Muslim athlete to ever take part in an Olympics wearing a part in an Olympics wearing a hijab: hijab: Ruqaya Al Ruqaya Al GhasaraGhasara

Ruqaya was from Bahrain,… and she won

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First Muslim cricketFirst Muslim cricket--player to hit the player to hit the fastest one day international century fastest one day international century (37 balls), in 1998 (37 balls), in 1998 ShahidShahid AfridiAfridi

Also 2nd highest runs in an over: Sequence 6-6-6-6-2-1

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First Muslim Squash player with First Muslim Squash player with longest winning streak:longest winning streak:Jahangir KhanJahangir Khan

6 World Opens, 10 British Opens and unbeaten from 1981-1986, 555 consecutive matches

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World Record for Mile:World Record for Mile:Hicham El Guerrouj: 3:43:13Hicham El Guerrouj: 3:43:13July 7, 1999, RomeJuly 7, 1999, Rome

Hicham is from Morocco. Previous record held by Noureddin Morceli (Algeria)

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First Muslim Bullfighter in Spain:First Muslim Bullfighter in Spain:Mehdi SavalliMehdi Savalli

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Australia's first female Muslim Australia's first female Muslim lifeguard: lifeguard: Mecca Mecca LaalaaLaalaa

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First EnglishFirst English--Muslim PopMuslim Pop--Singer: Singer: to hit multiple #1to hit multiple #1--hits.hits.Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)

As Cat Stevens, he has sold over 60 million albums around the world since the late 1960s

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First Muslim to win 2 Oscars, 2009: First Muslim to win 2 Oscars, 2009: Allah Rakha (A. R.) RahmanAllah Rakha (A. R.) Rahman

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First Miss Arab World Contest:First Miss Arab World Contest:2007: Wafaa Yaakoub2007: Wafaa Yaakoub

A beauty pagaent won by a hijabi

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First Afghan to don most popular First Afghan to don most popular cover for National Geographic: cover for National Geographic: SharbatSharbat GulaGula

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Conclusion: Muslim FirstsConclusion: Muslim Firsts

Although some of these people may be famous, rich, or had God-givengifts, each and everyone had to struggle to make theirmark. What is your vision, who is your inspiration, what are you waiting for? Time is the greatest asset we have: Use it or lose it. Now go make a differenceJaved Mohammed, Salam and Peace be with you.

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ReferencesReferences

WikiPediaWikiPediaThe WebThe WebThe Muslim community in the USThe Muslim community in the USReference Librarians in Milpitas and Reference Librarians in Milpitas and Sunnyvale, CASunnyvale, CAMyFavoriteReview.comMyFavoriteReview.comSlideShareSlideShare: :

Muslim CinemaFrom Hollywood to BollywoodMuslims and Media

CultureWars.org.uk (search javed mohammed)