An interesting article on CNN by Aasif Mandvi and Dein Obedallah who consider themselves cultural muslims.
Here is an excerpt.
(CNN) -- "How can Jon Stewart hire you to be 'The Daily Show''s senior Muslim correspondent when you don't even know how to pronounce Salaam Al-aikum?!"
This was the immediate reaction of Aasif Mandvi's father after Aasif told him the news. His father then quickly followed up that comment with the admonition, "If Jon Stewart asks you any questions about Islam, don't say a word, tell him to call your mother, she knows everything. And don't embarrass your entire family from here to Mumbai ... oh, and by the way, we are very proud of you, congratulations."
Aasif Mandvi
Aasif Mandvi
Dean Obeidallah
Dean Obeidallah
It's not like Aasif didn't know anything about being a Muslim before he was hired by "The Daily Show" in 2006. But he wasn't that connected to his faith at the time. Something surprising happened, however, while working on the show for eight years. Jon Stewart made Aasif more Muslim-ish. In fact, Stewart did that to both of us.
We don't mean in the religious sense. In fact, we wrote this article in a bar while drinking beer and eating bacon cheeseburger. (Okay, it's an O'Doul's ... and it's turkey bacon, but you get the point.) For millions of Muslims, including both of us, we are connected more culturally than religiously to our faith.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/12/opinion/mandvi-obeidallah-muslim/index.html