I am happy to share this obituary I wrote on my father, M. Yaqub Mirza (1946-2025). My father taught me so many things, but one of the key ones was to be generous, generous with your time, knowledge, expertise and wealth. He understood that generosity was not only about money but spending time with people, hearing them out and forming deep and sustaining relationships. My desire to build bridges and create partnerships can be directly traced to his guiding hand and mentorship. academia.edu/165735013/Obitu…

We had a great book talk at Shenandoah University's library the other week on my book "The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries"! I enjoyed speaking about the origins of my book, Mary/Maryam in the Qur'an and why she matters today. I came of age in an era of the "Clash of Civilizations" and shared figures allow us to think of what relationships, bridges and partnerships are possible. The Barzinji Institute for Global Virtual Learning continues and implements much of my work in religious and interreligious studies. The Questions and Answers period was dynamic and I shared how the Islamic Mary even helps various Christians think about the role of Mary within their own traditions. I want to thank Andy Kulp for opening up the Library for us and making the space an area of intellectual exchange. I always enjoy going to the Library, interacting with the staff and organizing research sessions there. I also want to thank Ermin Sinanovic from @CICWatSU (CICW) for moderating and sponsoring the event. One of CICW's goals is to bring interesting and innovative programming to Shenandoah's campus and invite new and stimulating speakers. Thank you all to those who made the event possible!

I am happy to share that we have reached 10 episodes of the “A Common Word” podcast, which is hosted by Maydan through AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University! The experience has been great, as I have been able to interview authors and activists from around the world in the fields of bridge-building, peace studies, and social justice. The interviews range from discussions of Muslim-Christian relations to Qur’anic Studies to Interreligious Studies. Many of the discussions have been with friends and colleagues, as well as with senior scholars whom I have been following for a long time. It is always nice to actually talk to an author and ask them questions that emerge after you finish reading their work. There is always something that I want to further understand or discuss. One of the things that I love about podcasting is that it amplifies somebody’s voice. There is something special about the human voice: you can connect with it through its sound, expressions, and even melody. Podcasting further allows various people to participate in the larger public discussion. Instead of focusing solely on mainstream media, podcasting allows a range of folks, from students to experts, to share their thoughts, knowledge, and insights. Now, people from different backgrounds can share their expertise without necessarily aligning with larger corporate and business interests. Academic podcasting has been particularly rewarding because it makes elite and high-level discussions accessible to the average person. Few people have the time to read an entire academic book full of jargon designed for specialists. However, it is more feasible to listen to a podcast while driving, working out, or doing chores. Moreover, new insights emerge in the interview that don’t always appear in the book, as discussions often go “between the lines” to reveal the author’s real motives and goals. I look forward to the next 10 episodes of the “A Common Word” podcast! @themaydan themaydan.com/podcast-channe…