in their words
THE AUTHO R WA S N AME D TH E B E ST
S E RIOUS CO LUMNIST OF 2 0 1 1 B Y T H E
N ORTH CA RO L INA
P RE S S AS S O C IAT IO N. HE IS THE CO -
P RODUCE R O F “ G O D
OF THE OPP RE SSE D,” AN UP COMING
DOCUME NTA RY F IL M
ON BLACK L IB E RAT IO N THE OLOGY A ND IS T H E
AUTHOR O F “ P RE AC H A’
Lessons of Interfaith
I
B Y CA RL W. K E NNEY II
MAN “ AN D T H E SE QUE L “BACK S LID E .” H E H A S
LE D CON G RE G AT IO NS IN MIS S OURI A ND
N ORTH CA RO L INA .
T’S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY SINCE Imam Abdul hafeez Waheed left New York City to share his faith in Durham. It began when Warith Deen Mohammed, leader of the American Society of Muslims, told a group of Imams to get out of the big cities and go to small towns. Abdul, interim Muslim chaplain/imam for the Center for Muslim Life at Duke University, was told to consider work on college campuses. A friend told him about Durham and the numerous surrounding colleges that make it fertile ground to share the message of Islam. “Islam was a ghost when I got here,” Abdul says. “I remember being in a meeting with Chief Paul Martin of the police department. He said, ‘I’ve been looking for you.’” Abdul has made it impossible not to be seen. I met Abdul in 1998 when I was the pastor at the Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church. His determination in meeting me conjured memories of other faith leaders’ intent on convincing people their truth offers a better solution. He proved me wrong when he shook my hand. I felt his strength and humility, and his eye contact affirmed respect and a will to build beyond the differences of our religions. He did not come to change me. He came to establish a partnership to help me understand the teachings that make him a better man. Abdul handed me a Quran. I read it often to remind me of the faith of my
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