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America’s 1st Openly Gay Imam Daayiee Abdullah Was Born A Christian
December 24, 2013 – America’s First Openly Gay Imam, Daayiee Abdullah Was Born A Christian
Meet the first openly gay Imam in the history of America, Daayiee Abdullah who was born and raised in a Christian family in Detroit, Michigan.
Daayiee Abdullah’s parents were Southern Baptists. At age 15, he reportedly told his parent he was gay. At age 33 while doing his higher education in China, he converted to Islam. He later travelled to Syria, Jordan and Egypt to learn more about Islam.
But as a gay man in America, he saw that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Muslims had unmet spiritual needs, so he decided to become an imam to attend to their needs.
He’s been condemned by other Muslim leaders, and some local imams have even refused to greet him.
According to Aljazeera, his first act as an imam was performing funeral rites, Muslim body cleaning ritual for a gay Muslim who died of AIDS.
Pained Abdullah said:
“They had contacted a number of imams, and no one would go and provide him his janazah services. This pained me. I believe every person, no matter if I disagree with you or not, you have the right as a Muslim to have the proper spiritual [rites] and rituals provided for you. And whoever judges you, that will be Allah’s decision, not me.
“The beautiful thing about God is that when you change your attitude, and say, ‘God, I need some help,’ and mean it sincerely, God is always there for you,”
Abdullah serves as the imam and educational director of the Light of Reform Mosque in Washington, D.C. A mosque he helped form more than two years ago, to be a safe space for values and practices that other mosques may eschew.
In his mosque, women and men kneel side-by-side and women are allowed to lead prayers – actions that have sparked controversy even among American Muslims.
His mosque’s congregants are diverse and represent a wide range of cultures, religious upbringings and sexual orientations.
For its LGBT congregants, the Light of Reform Mosque is a rare safe space. But not all of them are gay. Many are just Muslims looking for a mosque that accepts all kinds.
Not everyone is happy with the mosque though.
Some local imams have refused to greet Abdullah, and many others across the country argue his work performing same-sex marriage is not legitimate, and that he should control his “urges.”
But Abdullah is firm in his belief.
“Being an openly gay imam and having been identified as such, I do get a lot of feedback and also kickback, but that’s OK. “I think that when people are unfamiliar with things, they tend to have an emotional knee-jerk reaction to it.
“It is our relationship with God and our relationship with each other that really establishes our faith.” Not whether you are gay or straight. – Abdullah told Al Jazeera network.
Hannah O
December 24, 2013 at 6:34 AM
This is unusual. He doesn’t have a typical muslim look.
He is more gentle and calm.
No wonder he came from a Christian family.
Imam Abdul God will still use you.
Farouk Lawal
December 24, 2013 at 6:37 AM
@ Hannah are you dumb or something, how does a typical muslim look like? f**l
Jesuit Onye
December 24, 2013 at 6:34 AM
Please Imam don’t travel to any muslim country, they will kidnap and kill you. Just my two kobo.
Hamzat
December 24, 2013 at 6:38 AM
abdullah is not an Imam he is an enemy of peace and Illuminati agent
MAXY
December 24, 2013 at 11:20 AM
WHAT DO U MEAN BY ENEMY OF PEACE?THIS’S SOMEBODY WHO CONFESSED HIS SHORTCOMING AND IS XPECTIN2BE ACCEPTED IN MUSLIM BUT YET U’RE REJECTIN HIM.
Damien
December 24, 2013 at 6:40 AM
The man seems very compassionate and gentle. His message will touch his followers but I don’t support his homosexual lifestyle
gbonty
December 24, 2013 at 9:30 AM
something they happen oh a lmam turn to gay dis america shall nah there u go dey see different thing make God help us oh.
ABC
December 24, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Most Western culture can’t be combined with Islamic culture.muslims have injuctions on all aspects of life and not just as u wish. Homosexuality is a condemnable act in Islam and it is well spelt in the Holy Qur’an which no muslim sh’ld go against.I pray he changes for the better.
Fortune
December 24, 2013 at 10:02 AM
We have 3 types of servants of God.1)self aclaimed servants. 2)satan chosen servants. 3)God chosen servants.This man should be seriously asked which group he belongs to.
Abdullahi
December 24, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Am not in in support of this gay stuff dat u ar doin imam…… U spoil our religion
Angry Nigerian
December 24, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Hahahah! Somebody above is asking hw a typical muslim look like. U can check it out wit a mirror. Lol.
abdul
December 24, 2013 at 10:51 AM
abeg go and sitdown my brother.
Blaze_boy
December 24, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Lol
j
December 24, 2013 at 1:40 PM
i don,t think he beleive in jihad. he look so gentle .i pray dat God should touch his heart to enable him know dat gay is a sin. pls don,t join does bomber muslims
amina
December 24, 2013 at 2:43 PM
Homosexuallty is harram so as a good muslim he is not expected to practice such.but Allah knows best…..
Nuh
December 25, 2013 at 8:37 AM
May God guide him onto the right path.
for what he is practicing presently is nt islam.
finally this man was a christain all his life suddenly say he is now a muslim & bcom a gay some years later.
it is a planed work to damage islam.
annonymous
December 25, 2013 at 8:59 AM
@hanna&angry man, only his type like u can see good in him.u ar quite right dt his look is not like dt of a muslim, he actually belongs 2 ur circle of hypocrites. The man has not met islam rather he has come to pollute it but like others of his type he will fail bcos islam is not established by man but God Almighty. When it has happen he wl tell u another amazing story, insha Allah.
Zeezy
December 25, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Itz da sign of end time, some people do things n 4get dat God still exist. Islam neva permitted homosexuality, lesbianism, Abortion n sheeding of blood! U knw dat there r sum people dat r deaf in d eyes n d hrt n diz bastard belongs 2 dat class. I gues he’z a member of the illuminate group;) God will judge u 4 spoiling da islam reputation:p
ibrahim Mustapha Achika
December 26, 2013 at 12:31 PM
wil I dnt tink he is a real muslim or imam bcus d Almighty Allah stated it in d holy Quran dat homosexual is an evil deed dat wil not be 4givin.if he is a real muslim or imam he should hve no dat.I tink enemy of islam wch is American is using dis man.wil may Almighty Allah 4gve him.nd he should repent if no hail fair is awaiting him.
2nas
December 26, 2013 at 1:27 PM
@Hannah. U ar very correct. He does not look like a muslim. He looks more like xtians especialy d anglicans who celebrate same sex marriage. I was surprise, Iman? A gay? Dis is only common among d xtians. Just as how dey legalise abortion, gay, worship images and so on.
guarantee
January 16, 2014 at 5:10 PM
Bla bla!!!we such of them ,they are many oh!all thos kind pple we know frm they come frm SATANIST!! MTCHEWWWW!