With the rise of the Iranian Revolution, she was forced to juxtapose the peaceful Islam of her childhood memories with the violent struggles portrayed by the media.
Khan's first big project was helping to design the Islamic Center of Long Island, which was cofounded by her uncle and now one of the New York area's most prominent mosques.
After Shearson she worked for the publishing company Primedia, where she oversaw the design of Seventeen magazine's offices, and then later joined a telecommunications firm.
In order to promote their vision of a harmonious and forward thinking Islam, Khan and her ex-husband, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, established the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) in 1997.
[6] In an effort to emphasize commonalities among the Abrahamic traditions, Khan created groundbreaking interfaith theatrical productions including Same Difference and Cordoba Bread Fest.
To prioritize the advancement of Muslim women and the empowerment of youth globally, Khan launched two cutting edge programs to create a platform which maximized the collective impact of these social change agents.
In the early 2000s, Khan grew increasingly disturbed by the mistreatment (stonings, honor killings, forced marriages) of Muslim women around the world.
Drawing upon its members' expertise in both Islamic jurisprudence and fields such as history, political science, theology and sociology, the Shura Council issued its first statement in 2009 titled "Jihad Against Violence", condemning violent extremism.
The Global Muslim Women's Shura Council has made statements on domestic violence, violent extremism, female genital mutilation, and adoption.
The event, entitled In Good Faith: Stories of Hope and Resilience,[11] highlighted hundreds of bridgebuilding projects undertaken since September 11, while also paying tribute to the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim families of 9/11 victims.
She has served as an advisor and contributor to a variety of documentaries, including PBS's Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet, National Geographic's Inside Mecca, and the Hallmark Channel's Listening to Islam.