Muslim Unitarian Universalists

Two women, one Unitarian Universalist and one Muslim, smile at each other.

Two women smile during a Building Bridges workshop, sponsored by Seattle UU and Muslim congregations.

Unitarian Universalist congregations have become religious homes to many people who have a personal relationship with Islam. Whether raised Muslim, married to a Muslim person, or simply inspired by Muslim teachings, a growing number of Unitarian Universalists weave strands of Islam into their faith today. It was like this for Hafida Acuay, who wrote in UUWorld:

"I had been reading the Tao Te Ching for a few years, and began to carry that little book in my purse, next to my pocket Quran. It gave me solace, too. I already knew that non-Muslims could also possess wisdom…. Eventually, I made the leap to Unitarian Universalism while searching for a philosophy that allowed me to identify and live my deepest values." (Read more from Hafida in "From Islam to Unitarian Universalism.")

Unitarian Universalists have supported American Muslim communities as they have faced threats, violence, and prejudice from citizens and authorities around the country. Through the Side With Love campaign, we have challenged biases, condemned harassment, and built bridges through engagement and training. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is also a founding member of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder campaign, a group of faith-based organizations that are dedicated to ending anti-Muslim sentiment. Before 9/11/2001, and ever since, we have sought to be good partners for justice and understanding of Islam.

The UUA’s two publishing houses have been part of this support. Beacon Press has published Eboo Patel’s Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation and Salaam, Love: American Muslim Men on Love, Sex, and Intimacy, plus many other engaging books about Islam by Muslims. Skinner House Books has published Muhammad: The Story of a Prophet and Reformer and Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents—books that seek to build understanding and share the beauty of Islam.

Our worship services, which draw from many sources, may include a reading from Islam’s sacred traditions, a passage by a contemporary Muslim author, or a poem by a Sufi mystic like Rumi or Hafiz.

Explore Muslim Connections

The cover of Living Islam Out Loud from Beacon Press.

Beacon Press books on Islam

The flame of the chalice symbolizes Unitarian Universalist commitment to the Seven Principles.

What We Believe

Young woman holding sunflowers with more UUs in background at 2014 People's Climate March in New York City.

What We Do

A young UU woman in a headscarf smiles.

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Eboo Patel delivers the 2013 Ware Lecture to the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. As founder of Interfaith Youth Corps, "Eboo’s core belief is that religion is a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division. He’s inspired to build this bridge by his faith as a Muslim, his Indian heritage, and his American citizenship."