Islam in the Heartland of America by Imam Omar Hazim offers readers curious about the world’s fastest growing religion a close-up look at how Islam is taught and experienced in a mosque in Topeka, Kansas, America’s heartland. He will speak as part of the library’s Sunday Afternoon with Kansas Authors Series on Sunday, October 23 from 2-3pm in the Topeka Room.
Omar Hazim is the only Imam the Islamic Center of Topeka has had since its establishment in 1990. Under his guidance, the center has developed distinct and respectful relations with the City of Topeka. Notably, Imam Hazim has the distinction of being the first Muslim Imam to give the opening prayer for the Kansas Senate and the City Council of Topeka several times over the years.
Islam in the Heartland of America opens with a preface by Law Professor Ali Khan of Washburn University and an introduction by Khalil Green, the first fulltime staffed Muslim chaplain for the State of Kansas in a prison environment. It also contains some of the sermons (Friday “khutbahs”) preached by Imam Hazim and other Islamic spiritual leaders, articles from various publications, photos, excerpts from additional sermons, and information about the diversity among the Muslim population in the heartland of America.
Notes Hazim, “I hope this book will help clarify some of the misconceptions and distortions about the religion of Islam and also show the special relationships our Islamic community has with the general public, elected officials, and Interfaith.”
Books available for sale and signing after the author talk. For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.