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About
Omer is an Instructor in the Theology Department and the Muslim Chaplain. He addresses theological, personal, social matters for students of all sectarian outlooks. During the school year, he also runs classes on Scripture, Student Life, and other matters.
He has received Islamic studies training both through traditional and academic sources. He is a Lecturer in the Departments of Theology and Modern Languages and Literatures. He has taught at the University of Chicago and DePaul University, among other schools. He has taught courses on the Qur'an, the Sira, the Hadith, Islamic Law, Spirituality/Purification, Islamic revivalism, Islam and Politics, Sectarianism, al-Ghazali, Rumi, Iqbal, Arabic, Film, and Comparative religions. In 2011, he was granted an "Excellence in Teaching Award in Humanities, Arts, and Sciences" through the University of Chicago's Graham School. For over two decades he has been giving sermons and leading classes at Islamic centers all across Chicagoland.
In 2009, the late film critic Roger Ebert named Omer one of his "Far Flung Correspondents." Omer has been writing film essays for RogerEbert.com.
In 2017, he was named Loyola University's "Staff Member of the Year."
In 2018, he began writing as a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times in its "Just Relations" series.
When he is not at Loyola, he is still probably at work.
Research Interests
Qur’anic Studies, Islamic intellectual history, Islamic Revivalist Thought
