This man just became Harvard's first Muslim cleric

The United States' prestigious Harvard University in Massachusetts has recently appointed its first-ever full-time Muslim chaplain.

After announcing the position earlier this year, the Ivy League university declared that Islamic studies professor Khalil Abdur-Rashid would be taking on the role starting July 5. 

Abdur-Rashid will thus represent Muslims within the Harvard Chaplains community, which brings together chaplains from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.   

In his new position at Harvard, Abdur-Rashid, an adjunct professor of Islamic studies at the Southern Methodist University and co-founder of the Islamic Seminary of America, is expected to "provide guidance and support to members of the Muslim community" and "promote greater understanding and fellowship among members of different religious, spiritual, and ethical traditions at Harvard". 

The university's President Drew Faust first initiated the search for a Muslim cleric in the wake of President Donald Trump's recently-renewed executive order that limits immigration from several Muslim-majority countries.

Abdur-Rashid was selected by a committee of students and faculty members led by Harvard Divinity School professor of Islamic studies Ousmane Kane.

"Khalil brings a remarkable combination of skills to the Harvard community," said Kane, according to the Harvard Gazette. "He has a deep knowledge of Islamic sciences, combines academic strength with experience as an imam and as a social worker, and is strongly grounded in the culture of the United States and of the U.S. Muslim community."

Kane also praised Abdur-Rashid's "warm and welcoming" personality, saying that he "exudes a sense of caring and of optimism".

Abdur-Rashid reacted to his new position saying, "These are challenging times that require us to commit ourselves to public service and mutual support."

Abdur-Rashid has served as an imam, social worker and a special adviser to the New York City Police Department on Muslim affairs. He was also the first paid Muslim programming associate at Columbia University.

Fluent in Turkish and Arabic, Abdur-Rashid holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Georgia State University, along with a master's degree in Middle East studies and Islamic law and a master's of philosophy in Islam and Middle Eastern studies, both from Columbia University.

Additionally, he has earned an Islamic specialized license (ijaza) in Islamic family law, as well as an Islamic advanced doctorate (ijaza ilmiyyah) in Islamic legal sciences and ethics. He is currently working towards a doctorate in liberal studies.