When Patrick Bet-David and his guest “Vinnie” recently devoted airtime to claiming that Islam is merely a political movement bent on taking over America, three respected scholars — Sheikh Omar Husseini, Ustadh Obeda Evans, and Abdul Wahab — sat down at The Deen Center to set the record straight with knowledge, patience, and the timeless truth of Islamic guidance. Their response is a masterclass in dawah: measured, evidence-based, and rooted in the Quranic command to invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching.
What Islam Actually Means — And Why the Fear Is Misplaced
The word Islam literally means “submission to God” — nothing more, nothing less. As the scholars explain, this was the faith of every prophet: Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them all, submitted their will to the Creator. FBI crime data confirms that Muslims in America have among the lowest crime rates of any community, dismantling the narrative that practicing believers pose a threat. Sheikh Omar Husseini, a pathologist who also runs the Kufa Institute in Tampa, and Ustadh Obeda Evans, a Chicago-born scholar with the American Learning Institute for Muslims, bring decades of academic and community service to this conversation — credentials that speak louder than cable-news talking points.
“If you want to make America great again, return modesty, truthfulness, justice, respect of parents, caring for neighbors — get rid of corporate greed. These are Islamic values and they are universal values.”
- Islam is submission to God — the same message carried by Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all).
- FBI data shows Muslims have among the lowest crime rates in America, countering fear-based narratives.
- Sharia explained: God’s law is guidance for personal conduct — honesty, prayer, charity — comparable to the Ten Commandments, not a political takeover.
- Historical tolerance: Coptic Christians lived and worshipped freely under Muslim rule for centuries, a fact often ignored in modern discourse.
- Dawah is about saving, not changing: The scholars emphasize that their mission is to share truth and let hearts be guided by Allah.
- The Deen Center update: The masjid is open, prayers are established, and a shahada was witnessed — alhamdulillah.
- Open invitation: Patrick Bet-David and Vinnie are warmly invited to a civil, faith-based dialogue at The Deen Center.
Sharia, Western Values, and the Common Ground Nobody Talks About
One of the most powerful moments comes when the scholars break down the concept of Sharia for an American audience. Far from the bogeyman portrayed on partisan podcasts, Sharia is God’s law — a moral framework that calls believers to prayer, honesty, charity, and justice. It parallels the Ten Commandments that millions of Christians and Jews already revere. Historically, Coptic Christians thrived under Muslim governance for centuries, preserving their churches, language, and traditions — a living proof of Islamic tolerance that no amount of anti-Islam rhetoric can erase. Ustadh Obeda Evans captures the spirit of true dawah beautifully:
“Our job is to save people, not change people. We deliver the message with love and leave the guidance to Allah.”
Timestamps
- 00:00 – Podcast Intro
- 01:10 – The Scholars’ Background & The Deen Center
- 06:18 – Addressing the PBD Podcast
- 19:35 – Historical Tolerance & The Coptic Christians
- 32:02 – The Truth About “Sharia” and Western Values
- 39:08 – Defining “Islam”
- 43:48 – “Make America Great Again” Through Modesty
This episode is a sincere invitation — to Patrick Bet-David, to Vinnie, and to every honest seeker — to look beyond the headlines and discover what Islam truly teaches. The Deen Center’s doors are open, the scholars are ready, and the truth stands clear from falsehood. May Allah guide all who seek guidance, protect the efforts of dawah, and bless the work being done at The Deen Center. If this conversation moved your heart, share it widely so the message of faith, justice, and mercy reaches those who need it most.
