Armed with humor and a desire to engage in dialogue about Islam, a troupe of four Muslim comedians performed in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Billed as 'The Muslims are Coming!' comedy tour, they also set up a "Name that Religion" game in Birmingham, Ala. and an "Ask a Muslim" booth in Lawrenceville, Ga. What they found was often surprising.
Meet the Comedians
Negin Farsad
Q. How do you identify with Islam?
A. I'm pretty secular. Maybe even super-duper secular. I consider myself culturally Muslim like Christian friends who might say they're Christian but never go to church, or Jewish friends who barely celebrate Passover but have a great matzo ball soup recipe. I also view it as a minority/socio-political designation, i.e. to say you're Muslim is to identify with a group that is being marginalized and by identifying with them, you may help bolster their cause. Because of the current climate, admitting that I'm a Muslim has taken on a larger political meaning.
Q. How much of a role does religion play in your daily life?
A. Religious edicts were passed down to my parents - edicts like, "don't be a dick to people" (so to speak) and its those edicts that guide my every day (non-dickish) behavior. I don't eat pork, not because there's anything wrong with it – s***, sometimes its delicious! - but because I grew up in a household that didn't eat pork. So, Islam has had an effect on me even though I don't brandish a Koran around or pray multiple times a day. That's how religion inserts itself into someone's cultural reality and it certainly has inserted itself into mine.
Q. Years doing comedy as a full-time job?
A. 5 years as a standup comedian, filmmaker and television/web comedy writer (this is my third film so its more accurate to say I'm a "comedian/filmmaker")
Q. Where does your comedic inspiration come from?
A. Ah... that's a good question that even mystifies me. When I see ridiculous things, I write them down. When someone says something absurd, I write it down. When I feel like crap, and the root cause of it is something perfectly embarrassing, I write it down. And sometimes I just turn on Fox news and let the jokes flow over me.
I don't make religion funny. I think religious texts are hilarious because the parables in them are combination sci-fi flick and MMORPG. So those can be funny. A dude parted a sea, frogs rained, something about a hat - that's all very funny. I hope no one gets their panties in a ruffle because you have to admit, its entertaining. But, what I don't make fun of are the moral guidelines that people get from those parables or the basic ethical tenets of a religion. Ethics aren't funny, they're just good rules to live by. Even I have a line that I don't cross when it comes to making light of religions - I can't tell you exactly where that line is, but I know it when I see it.
Q. Childhood dream job?
A. I wanted to be President of the United States... and I settled on comedian.
Q. Favorite pizza topping?
A. PEPPERONI! That's only half true because I'm actually one of those weirdos that loves pineapple on my pizza. Don't judge me.
Q. If you weren't a comedian, what would you be doing?
A. I would be a policy analyst-turned-elected official. In fact, before comedy I was a policy adviser for the City of New York. It was important stuff and I really believed in it but I just had to go through with this comedy thing.
Q. What's next for you?
A. After "The Muslims Are Coming!" documentary feature is all done, I'll be back to standup and then... eh, probably another movie. But more than likely I'll settle on a really long nap.
Dean Obeidallah
Q. How do you identify with Islam?
A. I was raised with two faiths in my house--Islam because my father is Muslim and Christianity because my mother is Catholic. I identify as a Muslim but I have been influenced by Christian teachings, which I don't find inherently inconsistent; Islam is built upon the foundation of Judaism and Christianity--it's not a new religion. Indeed, Jesus is even refereed to in the Quran as "the Messiah" and Moses and Abraham among others from the Old and New Testaments are all recognized as prophets in the Quran. To me, my focus is my relationship directly with God which is the basis of Islam--submission to God.
Q. How much of a role does religion play in your daily life?
A. My last name has the word "Allah" in it so my relationship with God is present every day on some level. I have a very strong belief in God and look for guidance from God on a daily basis.
Q. Years doing comedy as a full-time job?
A. I left SNL four years ago, but I'd say I'm a full time comic in my mind for about 10 years.
Q. Where does your comedic inspiration come from?
A. I'm the most passionate when writing jokes that try to raise issues that I perceive as unjust--such as discrimination against Americans for any reason--or mocking the hypocrisy of people in power.
I don't try to make religion funny -- my comedy is not about the tenets of Islam, or any faith for that matter. My focus as a comedian in talking about religion...is defending freedom of religion for all Americans regardless of faith. Thankfully, we found that overwhelmingly, Americans favor freedom of religion for all. Those that don't are simply living in the wrong country.
Q. Childhood dream job?
A. President of the United States
Q. Favorite pizza topping?
A. Chicken or spinach - it's a tie.
Q. If you weren't a comedian, what would you be doing?
A. I was a lawyer so possibly practicing law, where I'd be miserable.
Q. What's next for you?
A. Finishing "The Muslims are Coming" movie! We still have more people to interview and a great deal of editing to do. After that it's more touring as a comedian and more writing of op-ed pieces which I frequently do for CNN.com.
Q. Anything else you wish we had asked you?
A. Which is my favorite "Glee" song? (Answer: "Don't stop Believing.")
Maysoon Zayid
Q. How do you identify with Islam?
A. I think religion is very personal. I definitely identify as Muslim. I consider myself practicing but I don't think people who observe me from the outside would think of me has devout and that doesn't bother me because one of the beauties of Islam is the fact that it is personal you read the Koran and what you believe this what you believe. I follow no one else's definition.
Q. How much of a role does religion play in your daily life?
A. I think it plays a major role in my daily life. I definitely pray when something major is about to happen. I'm superstitious, I say "mashallah" (God has willed it) all the time so I think it plays a major role.
Q. Years doing comedy as a full-time job?
A. I've been doing comedy for 10 years as of March 2012.
Q. Where does your comedic inspiration come from?
A. I'm very much inspired by things that anger me. If I see bigotry, stupidity, or injustice on the news I'm inspired to find a way to make it into something comedic and relatable. Anger inspires me. Stupidity inspires me. My family inspires me. My accountant inspires me. Everything and anything really.
Q. Favorite pizza topping?
A. Onions.
Q. If you weren't a comedian, what would you be doing?
A. I would either be a small town dance teacher with my own dancing school called "If I can can You can can" or a baker.
Q. What's next for you?
A. Well, I'm touring because I'm always touring. I think I'm going to tour until I can't anymore which I hope is a very very long time from now. I'm working on TV now as a full-time on air contributor on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, which is really a dream job. It combines two things that really interest me--comedy and politics. I'm also working on producing a screenplay, LAW, which was chosen for the Sundance Middle Eastern Screenwriters Lab. And, I'm developing a morning talk show. So there's a lot going on mashallah.
Omar Elba
Q. How much of a role does religion play in your daily life?
A. I get all "intellectual" and question the nature of religion in ordinary, day-to-day life, but if I find myself on a turbulent flight, I turn into a devout little b****.
Q. Years doing comedy as a full-time job?
A. Two years.
Q. Where does your comedic inspiration come from?
A. What is this, 'INSIDE THE ACTOR'S STUDIO'?
Q. Childhood dream job?
A. Pimp.
Q. Favorite pizza topping?
A. Black olives.
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