Panel: RELIGION AS ART - ART AS RELIGION



1135.6 - FOSTERING JUSTICE, COMMUNITY AND PIETY: THE ETHICAL INTERVENTIONS OF US HALAL COMEDY

AUTHORS:
Thonnart M. (KU Leuven ~ Leuven ~ Belgium)
Text:
The last two decades have been marked by the greater visibility of Muslim comedians across the Atlantic, suggesting not only the growing diversification of non-white stand-up comedy but also the boom of faith-based comedy in the entertainment marketplace. Some of these comics have established themselves at the forefront of a halal circuit, such as Preacher Moss, Omar Regan, Yasmin Elhady and Moses the Comic (see Thonnart, 2025). Halal comedy specifically refers to a distinct genre of clean comedy that is grounded within Islamic normative prescriptions. Focusing on the work of these four stand-up comedians, this paper examines how humor can be mobilized to foster the principles of God consciousness, social responsibility and justice. Considering the ethical interventions of halal comics in both their religious traditions and communities, this paper demonstrates how humor represents an important avenue for socioreligious activism (see Thonnart, 2025). Preacher Moss, Omar Regan, Yasmin Elhady and Moses the Comic have all developed a brand of comedy that is marketed as 'clean,' and have built a major part of their career by performing for Muslim audiences. These comedians regularly take the stage together, extensively partner with Muslim organizations, and maintain ongoing conversations with religious leaders. Illustrating how these comedians cultivate collective and self-improvement within a discourse that is distinctly Muslim, this paper argues that their performances are both an affirmation and cultivation of faith and community (see Thonnart, 2025). Furthermore, this paper analyzes how these comics articulate their visions of racial justice and civic engagement on stage, showing how they invite their audiences to reflect on the meaning of individual and collective existence in light of the Islamic tradition. See Thonnart, M. "Matters of Conviction: Configurations of Morality and Authority in American Muslim Ethicist Comedy." JAAR 93, no. 4 (2025): 659-681.