Haroon Moghul

Haroon Moghul is a Pakistani-American author, commentator, and interfaith advocate whose work explores Muslim identity, American life, and global Islamic thought. He has appeared on major U.S. news networks as an expert commentator on Islam, the Muslim world, and U.S. foreign policy. Moghul is a journalist and opinion columnist whose essays have been featured by The New York Times, NPR's Fresh Air, CNN, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, NBC, TIME, Newsweek, Haaretz, and The Guardian, among others. He has taught at universities, conferences, think tanks, and houses of worship on five continents.

Moghul first gained national attention after 9/11, becoming an undergraduate leader at New York University's Islamic Center and appearing on television, before interfaith audiences, and in print. He became a prominent voice for American Muslims while navigating his own relationship with Islam. That tension between public expectation and private doubt became the foundation of his most recognized work. Moghul has spoken openly about his diagnosis with bipolar disorder, and his memoir begins with his experience contemplating suicide. His openness about mental health, faith, and identity has resonated with audiences beyond the Muslim community.

Moghul is the author of the memoir "How to Be a Muslim: An American Story," published by Beacon Press, which chronicles his personal struggles with faith, identity, and mental health within American Muslim communities. The Washington Post described it as a profound and intimate book, while Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, noting its candor and relatability. His follow-up, "Two Billion Caliphs: A Vision of a Muslim Future," was translated into Albanian, expanding his reach to international audiences and establishing his voice on the future of Islam.

Moghul served as a fellow in Muslim politics and societies at the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School and held a fellowship in the National Security Studies Program at New America Foundation, focusing on security policy and Islamic societies. He is a member of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Engagement at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and played a role in the development of the Islamic Center at New York University, continuing to advise Muslim community institutions and organizations. Moghul earned his M.A. from Columbia University in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies.

As founder and president of Queen City Diwan, Moghul leads a company specializing in immersive travel and global leadership programs designed to educate and empower participants across cultures. He also serves as Muslim chaplain at Xavier University, where he teaches theology, philosophy, and related subjects, and co-hosts the "Avenue M" podcast, which addresses themes such as meaning, faith, and family. He writes about his curriculum, approach, and experience on his Substack, "Sunday Schooled," continuing to engage audiences with a blend of intellectual rigor, personal honesty, and accessible storytelling.