From the glamorous world of fashion modeling to leading congregational prayers as a Muslim Imam, this episode features a remarkable story of transformation. The guest shares how growing up in a Muslim family that was barely practicing, attending Christian school on a scholarship to become a pastor, and eventually returning to Islam through a group of loving South African Muslims changed the entire trajectory of his life and led him to over 40 years of dawah work in America.
From Christian School to Student of Ahmed Deedat
Despite coming from a Muslim family in the Caribbean, the guest grew up so immersed in Christianity that he had pictures of Jesus in his home and prayed to Jesus regularly. He received a scholarship to become a pastor and priest. But at age 17, a personal meeting with the legendary Sheikh Ahmed Deedat in Bangalore, India, planted the seed of change. Later becoming Deedat’s guest at the Islamic Propagation Centre in South Africa in 1994 cemented his commitment to Islamic dawah, learning from Deedat’s unique approach of connecting the Quran with Biblical teachings to bridge understanding between faiths.
“When people get cultural Islam, they are turned away. That’s what opened up my vision through the mercy and guidance of Allah — to do dawah in such a way that what I was hungry for, people like me, this is the message we need to bring to the world.”
Living Interfaith Next Door to a Church
The guest’s mosque in Hollywood, Florida sits right next to a Christian church, sharing parking lots and building genuine community bonds. His approach to dawah emphasizes finding common ground first: both Muslims and Christians love Jesus (peace be upon him), believe in God’s mercy, and want righteousness for their families. He explains that Muslims simply love Jesus so much that they pray to the same God that Jesus prayed to, a point that consistently amazes Christian audiences. Together with their interfaith neighbors, they combat issues like the Church of Satan movement in schools, drug culture, and moral decay.
“We love Jesus so much that we pray to the God Jesus prayed to. We have the same principle — the way to God is through following the Prophet, peace be upon him. That’s what Jesus meant.”
Key Takeaways for Muslims in the West
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself established Hilf al-Fudul, an organization working with non-Muslims for the betterment of society against crime and injustice
- Dawah operates at different levels: inviting people to God, inviting them to understand His teachings, and inviting believers to actually live Islam
- Sharia is widely misunderstood — the real Sharia Muslims follow is the Quran, and the US Constitution already grants freedom to live by it
- Understanding commonalities with other faiths is essential before addressing differences, as the Quran commands in Surah Al-Imran 3:64
- Showing genuine love, patience, and kindness is the most effective dawah strategy, just as those South African Muslims won this former pastor’s heart with mangoes and monthly letters
