Azeem Muhammad is a professional comedian and podcast host. He has performed in over 37 countries across 5 continents. In 2005, he won the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s Image Award for his stand-up set on the critically acclaimed Allah Made Me Funny: Official Muslim Comedy Tour.
Muhammad has contributed to various causes during his career, performing at colleges, corporate events, and religious functions alike. In October 2021, Muhammad then took his stand-up skills to the UK for charity Penny Appeal’s annual Super Muslim Comedy Tour.
Azeem Muhammad: The Comedian
Muhammad is the co-creator of the stand-up comedy troupe Allah Made Me Funny. In 2004, he launched the namesake comedy tour with comedians Preacher Moss and Azhar Usman. He toured the world with the troupe until he gave his spot to comedian Mo Amer.
In 2005, Muhammad debuted on Black Entertainment Television’s Comic View. He has also appeared on Comedy Central. He is a favorite onboard Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line ships.
“I like to discuss serious issues, but deliver them comically,” Muhammad told The Telegraph. “When people receive serious issues through laughter, it can help them to think about those issues deeper, through the persuasiveness of comedy – we should utilise humour in our communicational dialogue more often.”
In 2015, Muhammad released his first DVD Live and Unfiltered. The comedian then released his one-man show Funny, Faithful & Flawed in 2020.
Muhammad also hosts the weekly iTunes podcast I’m Just Serious, discussing topics from politics to popular media.
Comedy and Islam offer an out for teenage Azeem Muhammed
Muhammad hails from St. Louis, Missouri. He first began comedy in 1999. Then at age 26, Muhammad was working in mental health support at a rehabilitation center for the intellectually and developmentally disabled.
“I was always serious at work, but the clients just found me naturally funny,” Muhammad told The Telegraph.
“I’m a holistic healer through humor,” he said. “Laughter creates dopamine in the brain and reduces stress and anxiety.”
At 17 years old, Muhammad converted to Islam to avoid the gangs and drug dealing that were in his area.
“A lot of people join gangs to feel a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self-esteem that they previously lacked,” Muhammad said. “But Islam can cure that illness of having a lack of self-love and allows you to love others on a real, organic level. It can give kids like me, who got involved with the wrong crowd, a positive community and identity.”
Azeem Muhammad raises funds on UK Comedy Tour
Muhammad performed with the Super Muslim Comedy tour October 22-31st 2021. He appeared alongside comics including Paul Chowdhury, Fatiha El-Ghorri, and Ali Al Sayed.
“I came [to Penny Appeal in] 2018 and they wanted to see if my comedy would transcend from America into England,” Muhammad told Arab News. “Not only do I tell regular standardized jokes, but I also integrate that with my ability to talk to the audience.”
“The whole audience feels like this is a show that nobody else will ever get,” he said, “and you really have to be there.”
UK-based charity Penny Appeal organizes the annual tour to provide funds for communities in need around the world. The comics visit 10 cities in 10 days. Cities across the UK, including London, Manchester, and Glasgow, hosted the performances.
This year, Penny Appeal will use the funds to support sustainable water projects for communities across Asia and Africa. The charity’s Thirst Relief program assists those who are more susceptible to water-related diseases due to limited access to clean drinking water.
