True to his words, Imam Omar Hazim leads the Islamic Center of Topeka with an open and generous heart. Over the years, many Americans have accepted Islam at the mosque. Even newborns, including my own two sons, listen to the Imam as he chants the first adhan in their ears. In a spirit of mutual respect, American Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, all are invited to attend khutbas, prayers, and iftar dinners during the Ramadhan. Reciting suras of the Quran with accruing facility, the suras that tell the stories of Ibrahim, Moses, and Jesus, the suras that recognize the dignity of all colours and languages, and the suras that forbid compulsion in religionImam Omar Hazim leads prayers attended by blacks and whites, men and women, Arabs and non-Arabs, Sunnis and Shias.
Dr. Khan is a professor of law at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.