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The US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom will be a Muslim who has memorized the Quran.
Rashad Hussain was confirmed by the Senate in a vote of 85-5 last week, making him the first Muslim American to hold the position.
The 42-year-old is a Quran Hafiz who speaks Spanish, Arabic, and Urdu.
“This is a very historic moment for the American Muslim community,” said Shaykh Dr. Yasir Qadhi on Twitter.
“Rashad Hussain is a highly qualified Dallas native and hafidh al-Quran; he is known to all of us as a person constantly involved in good causes and concerned with community issues. I wish him the best!”
Hussain was the Special Envoy for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications and the US Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
‘Historic moment’
CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, said it was a ‘historic moment, alhamdulillah.’
“We commend @POTUS for this historic nomination. May God help Rashad advance religious freedom around the world,” the group said in a tweet.
Hussain was congratulated on his confirmation by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).
“Rashad has served our community and country at the highest level of integrity and intelligence,” said MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati. “We look forward to working with him in advancing religious freedom under his leadership.”
The lawyer was one of five nominees for the role.
“(A)s a Muslim American, I have seen the impact of bigotry and guilt by association tactics used against minority communities, including the message it sends and dangers it poses to young people,” Hussain said during his confirmation hearing in October.
