Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini, a nationally known leader of American Muslims, will discuss Muslim-Christian dialogues on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. at Hope College in the Knickerbocker Theatre in an address sponsored by the college's Phelps Scholars Program.
Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini, a nationally known leader of American Muslims, will discuss Muslim-Christian dialogues on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. at Hope College in the Knickerbocker Theatre in an address sponsored by the college's Phelps Scholars Program.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini is the religious leader of the Islamic Center of America in Detroit, the oldest Shi'a mosque in the U.S.
A member of a prominent religious family, he was born in Karbala, Iraq. He joined the Islamic Seminary in Qum, Iran, in 1980, pursuing the highest Islamic studies in jurisprudence and Qur'anic commentary and graduating in 1992. During his studies he administered a prominent Islamic journal called "Annibras," or "The Eternal Light," which addressed many historical and Islamic issues. He also authored two books, "Meditation on Sahihain," a critique of Sahih Al-Bukhari, and Sahih Muslim, and "Prophet Mohammad: The Ethical Prospect."
He immigrated to the United States in 1992 and directed the Azzahra Islamic Center in Los Angeles, Calif. In 1997 he moved with his wife and three children to Detroit to serve at the Islamic Center of America. In 1998 he founded the Young Muslim Association (YMA), which has since become one of the largest Muslim youth organizations in North America.
Since the attacks of September 11, he has spoken at more than 100 churches, colleges and universities speaking of the need for reconciliation and tolerance and about the genuine and authentic teachings of Islam, to help dispel common misperceptions about Muslims in America. He has been invited by the White House several times to represent the Muslim community and offered the prayer for the opening session of the 108th Congress. He has been featured on CNN, NPR, the BBC, VOA, the "New York Times," the "Detroit News," the "Detroit Free Press" and numerous other media outlets.
The Phelps Scholars Program at Hope College is an academic program for first-year students interested in learning about issues of race and culture. They take one course together each semester, live in the same residence hall, participate in discussions and workshops, take part in service projects and engage in various social activities.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. 8th St.