Please join ISNA in welcoming Chaplain Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad to the ISNA General Secretariat as Director of Chaplain Services and Islamic Endorsing Agent. Chaplain Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, LTC, U.S. Army (Retired) comes to ISNA after working as the first full-time Muslim Chaplain in the Department of Veterans Affairs. During his final assignment on active duty, he served as the Command Chaplain for the US Army Public Health Command (USAPHC) and Behavioral Health Program Manager in the Directorate of Health Promotion and Wellness (DHPW).
“As the Chaplaincy profession continues to grow within our American society, I’m very excited about the role Islamic Chaplaincy will continue to play in meeting the many challenges that are inherent in performing and providing religious support within a religiously diverse and pluralistic environment. With Allah’s help and guidance, as ISNA’s Director of Chaplaincy, I look forward to meeting these challenges and leading our many chaplains, chaplain candidates, and lay leaders, with the dignity and balance that reflect our Islamic faith, its traditions, as well as the mission and vision of the Islamic Society of North America,” said Chaplain Abdul-Rasheed.
Chaplain (LTC) Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad was affirmed into the U.S. Army as the first Islamic Chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. on December 3, 1993. His initial assignment was with the 28th Combat Support Hospital at Ft. Bragg, NC. He served with the 2nd Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment at Camp Casey, Korea, and the 593rd Corps Support Group, Ft. Lewis, WA, and hospital chaplain at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. He was then assigned as the Brigade chaplain 4th Brigade, 1st Calvary Division, Ft. Hood, TX. He was assigned as the DISCOM Chaplain for 1st Infantry Division, in Kitzingen, Germany, Family Life Chaplain, USAG-Heidelberg, and IMCOM-Europe. From 2008 to 2010 he served at the USA Chaplain Center and School as instructor in the Chaplain Captain Career Course, C4 Course Developer, and Task Analyst. Chaplain Abdul-Rasheed has been married the past 35 years to Saleemah Rasheedah Abdullah. They have five sons, and two daughters.
ISNA is excited to welcome Chaplain Abdul-Rasheed as part of ISNA’s staff, knowing that he brings a wealth of knowledge, and expertise to this important area of work. He has been an integral part of ISNA’s chaplaincy program for decades. “We look forward to significantly enhancing ISNA’s chaplaincy programs in strength as well as scope under his leadership,” said ISNA’s Interim Secretary General, Dr. Iqbal Unus.
