The tragic mass shooting at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, coming just a few days after the tragic mass shooting at the theater in Colorado, continues a deeply disturbing American trend. Since 1976, the U.S. has averaged 20 mass shootings a year – including 30 in 2003. Why is America such a violent place? Why are [...]

Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.” Is it the right thing [...]

How should people of faith respond to Osama bin Laden’s death? Peace and Blessings to All, As an American and as a Muslim we hope that the death of Osama Bin Laden brings closure and some degree of comfort for all of those who lost loved ones on the gloomy day of September 11, 2001.  I [...]

What concerns you about Islam in America? What concerns you about legislative efforts to question or restrict Islamic practices? What are the dangers of politicizing a particular faith or demonizing adherents of a particular faith? We often hear about the fear that once Muslims become the majority in a community we will apply shariah as the [...]

As a religious leader, what do you want to say to community about race? I was born in Ghana to Lebanese parents so I was always in the company of people from different races (although we never looked at the issue in a racial manner).  My wife is Ethiopian so my children are considered African American. [...]

What tests my faith in Memphis? What gives me faith in Memphis? I am a father of four Memphians. The oldest attends Rhodes College; the others go to public school. We made a conscious decision not to send them to Islamic schools. Many times when they were young we had to explain why Santa doesn’t [...]