I am an American Muslim, born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. I accepted Islam in 1998 at the age of 17 after researching various religions and philosophies. My journey toward Islam began at the age of 14 when I saw the movie “X” by Spike Lee, based on the autobiography of Malcolm X.

I speak about my journey in more detail in this episode of Sultans and Sneakers, hosted by Mahin Islam, if you are interested!

Soon after entering Islam, I traveled to the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia to increase my knowledge of Arabic and Islamic Sciences. I completed an American Imam certificate course with Shaikh Khalid al-Halawani.

I served as a director and chairman of Noor Islamic Cultural Center, and I currently lead Qableet Mujaddad, AlMaghrib’s Columbus volunteer team. I lead Friday prayers and teach at mosques around Central Ohio and other communities. I also lead and mentor a youth group and work with various organizations doing community outreach.

As of December 2022, I am the Youth Director for the Noor Islamic Cultural Center. You can learn more about our activities at www.niccyouth.com.

I am blessed with a wonderful wife, Sana, and three children. Professionally, I have worked in various technology and IT roles for over 15 years.