WASHINGTON – He’s been condemned by other Muslim leaders, and some local imams have even refused to greet him. But Imam Daayiee Abdullah – believed to be the only openly gay imam in the Americas – is proud of his story.

He was born and raised in Detroit, where his parents were Southern Baptists. At age 15, he came out to them. At 33, while studying in China, Abdullah converted to Islam, and went on to study the religion in Egypt, Jordan and Syria. But as a gay man in America, he saw that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Muslims had unmet spiritual needs and he became an imam to provide community support.

“Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention. And because of the necessity in our community, that's why I came into this particular role,” he told America Tonight about his journey.

His first act as an imam? Performing funeral rites for a gay Muslim who died of AIDS.

“They had contacted a number of imams, and no one would go and provide him his janazah services,” he said, referring to the Muslim body cleaning ritual. That pained him.

“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.”

It’s one of the mantras he lives by in his work, even as others condemn him.

“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 told congregants one night during a regular sermon, known as a khutbah, at the Light of Reform Mosque in Washington, D.C.

He serves as the imam and educational director of the mosque, which he helped form more than two years ago to be a safe space for values and practices that other mosques may eschew.

During his service, women and men kneel side-by-side and women are allowed to lead prayers – actions that have sparked controversy even among American Muslims.

"We do not limit people by their gender or their sexual orientation, or their particular aspect of being Muslim or non-Muslim,” he told America Tonight. “They're there to worship."

Imam Daayiee provides other services that are unique for an imam of a Muslim community, like marrying same-sex couples. So far in his 13 years as imam, he has performed more than 50 weddings.

http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/america-tonight-blog/2013/12/20/meet-america-s-firstopenlygayimam.html

cc:lalasticlala ishilove

SHALL WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN SIN THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND?





GOD FORBID

Followin

.

shooooo!
Many are mad but few are roaming

They really need it...




God#


Let them pray abeg.

I reserve my comment

fake imam, born Catholic

Wat GOD did 2 d people of sodom&gomorah as written in d bible, zz it stated in d kuran also??

Too bad for religious leader, but may be their religion permit it, but as Christian my Bible is totally against it.

Freemanan:

ifeanyija:

Goldmaxx:
.

hefty4real:
shooooo

tayebest:
Kk

Una well done Õoº°˚ ˚°ºoo.

This is bad.

The Muslim world is riddled with fagg0ts.

Madrasses world-wide and the equivalent Almajiri schools that dot northern Nigeria are dens of homosexuals.

This Iman is just shoving the hypocrisy down the muslim world.

MissSlimbody:





Una well done Õoº°˚ ˚°ºoo.

Yes love

The end is truly near....

Americans are funny. Trying to act Muslims and even going as far as acting Imam. So the so called Imam didnt bother to find out about what Quran says about homosexuality but felt the need to fill the void.
Appointing yourself to be Imam so as to have a mosque where practices you sanctioned take place, is not Islam. It is worshipping one's desire, a major sin.

DaBullIT:
His story shows how confused he is

Christian background,

Chinese Education

Conversion to Islam


Only Gay Imam

I bet he's tasted punnany and he doesn't like it

Why should you label him a confused man? He is just on a simple mission of changing the face of the religion of peace.

72 virgin men

ECOTERRORS:
Very soon that mosque will be bombed with the Imam.

Qn: if this Imam dies in jihad, what will be his reward, 72 men?

Me go comment my reserve ooooo

OREMUSSANCTUS:
I reserve my comment

His first act as an imam? Performing funeral rites for a gay Muslim who died of AIDS.

yes am homophobic, na AIDS go finish all of una

Obama should first not this dumbass FELLO am seeing

End time tinz lol
Nah wah oh ... Next thing now adoption process would be easy for them .. Start raising kids with dad n dad hmmmm
Neway i shouldnt judge ..

I feel sorry for him. They will probably murder him just like they did to that bangladeshi guy in birmingham.

Make ISIS no catch this man o

Ishilove:

Its depressing hmmm would our children n childrens children think its normal to be doing all this ....
Cuz ppl would think this is right cuz imam approves

Death to this nigga