Loading ...Islam and hilarity are not two words often found in the same sentence.
But a group of Muslim comedians is out to change that.
“Most people don’t see Muslims as funny or think of Muslims laughing at themselves,” says comic Dean Obeidallah, “But if you can’t imagine that then you don’t know Muslims.”
Obeidallah and fellow Muslim-American comic Maysoon Zayid are planning to fight stereotypes and racism with the most powerful weapon they know: humor. Later this month, the pair will host the first “Muslim Funny Fest” in New York, which will feature 10 professionals, who all happen to be Muslim, performing over three nights to make fun of themselves, the audience, and all the ways Islam has become vilified in American culture.
Known as ‘America’s Funniest Muslim,’ Azhar Usman co-founded the ‘Allah Made Me Funny’ comedy tour.
Obeidallah was in the news last month when he filed a federal lawsuit against the MTA, after the transit agency allegedly reneged on a contact to place posters around the subway system advertising Obeidallah’s new documentary, “Beware: The Muslims Are Coming.”
The MTA seemed to think the ads were political. Obeidallah insisted they were just humorous. At least in the upcoming “Muslim Funny Fest,” there will be no confusion.
“You don’t have to be Muslim to laugh, but you will be converted by the time you leave,” jokes Zayid about the festival. Zayid’s TED talk about growing up in New Jersey as a Palestinian American with cerebral palsy was the most viewed TED session last year.
“‘Muslim Funny Fest’ is actually an undercover recruitment drive for Islam,” adds Obeidallah. He, too, is joking.
Comic Negin Farsad will perform in the ‘Muslim Funny Fest,’ and is part of a lawsuit with Dean Obeidallah against the MTA for barring comedic advertisements.
Islam seems too delicate subject to joke about, but these comics do not agree. The organizers say no subject is off limits, so brace yourself for wisecracks about ISIS, Islamophobia and probably a burqa zinger or two.
Maysoon and Obeidallah are no strangers to using jokes to change attitudes. In 2003 they co-founded the “Arab-American Comedy Festival.” But “Arab” is a broad ethnic groups that can include many different religions. According to Maysoon and Obeidallah, their new “Muslim Funny Fest” is the first comedy festival ever to feature only Muslim comics.
Which is easier said than done, considering that stand-up comedy is not a popular career choice in the Islamic world. In fact, Maysoon and Obeidallah only know about a dozen professional comics who are Muslim. Dave Chappelle is perhaps the most famous, as he converted to Islam decades ago. Hasan Minhaj has been making a name for himself as a correspondent on “The Daily Show” hosting segments like “Minhaj’s Muslim Makeover.”
Otherwise though it’s slim pickings out there. Obeidallah jokes that he got a list from the FBI of all the comics they were running surveillance on, and then asked those comics to be in the festival.
Performers include Ali Al Sayed, known as one of the first professional comedians from Dubai. There’s also Preacher Moss, founder of the “Allah Made Me Funny” comedy tour.
“Non-Muslim audiences are at first a little wary of what will come out of these comedians’ mouths,” acknowledges Eric Hanson, the manager of the Broadway Comedy Club. “But once the audience sees the warmth and humor and sincerity of these comedians… It breaks down all the stereotypes. It becomes a comedy show, rather than a Muslim comedy show.”
“Muslim Funny Fest” runs July 21-23. For venues, show times and tickets seemuslimfunnyfest.com.
Comedian Preacher Moss is also on the bill of performers at the ‘Muslim Funny Fest.’
The old advice to ignore topics of religion and politics will be summarily ignored by the comics who will perform at the upcoming “Muslim Funny Fest.” Here’s a sampling of their humor:
Maysoon Zayid: A lot folks don’t realize you can be Muslim and American. They’re all, “Go back to your own country!” and I’m like, “You mean NJ?”
Maysoon Zayid: Trolls on Twitter say I need to accept Jesus. I tweet back, “I have. He’s our prophet, too. Now can you accept that Jesus was brown like me?”
Preacher Moss: The United States is afraid of two things: Black people and Muslims. I’ve got the best of both worlds.
Dean Obeidallah: It’s a challenging time being Muslim in America. But it would be even more challenging if they used Muslim names for hurricanes. Imagine you turn on the Weather Channel and hear: “Run for your life, Hurricane Mahmoud is coming! And Mahmoud is a killer!”
Dean Obeidallah: There’s a benefit to having a very Muslim sounding name: You’re probably are immune to identify theft. … I have an Arab American friend whose first name is Osama. He can leave his driver’s license and credit cards in a crack house, I can assure you no one will pretend to be Osama anything.
Azhar Usman: I just got back from performing in Europe and the Middle East. It’s a totally different vibe over there. I’m just so used to walking down the street in America and getting dirty looks for being a Muslim. So sometimes, it’s kinda nice to be hated just for bring an American. I felt so patriotic!
Negin Farsad: The thing about Iran, alcohol is banned because it is an Islamic republic. Because of that Iran feels a lot like the Prohibition-era United States. It’s literally the roaring 1320s over there.
Negin Farsad: Can you imagine Mahmoud Ahmadinejad doing a public service campaign on safe sex? It would be like, “Practice safe inter-gender flesh relation. And destroy Israel!”