Siraj Wahhaj facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Siraj Wahhaj
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Wahhaj in 2022
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| Born |
Jeffrey Kearse
March 11, 1950 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Islamic scholar |
| Spouse(s) | Wadiyah Wahhaj |
Siraj Wahhaj (born Jeffrey Kearse on March 11, 1950) is a well-known African-American imam (a leader in an Islamic community). He leads the Al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, New York. He is also the leader of The Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA) and was once the vice-president of the Islamic Society of North America.
Contents
Early Life and New Beginnings
Siraj Wahhaj was born Jeffrey Kearse and grew up in Brooklyn. His mother worked as a nurse, and his father was a dietitian at a hospital. As a child, he went to a Baptist church and even became a Sunday school teacher as a teenager.
In 1969, he joined the Nation of Islam. During this time, he changed his name to Jeffrey12x. He later said that while the group gave him a sense of pride, he felt some of his beliefs went too far.
When the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammed, passed away in 1975, Jeffrey started to question his own beliefs. With the help of Muhammad's son, Warith Deen Mohammed, he decided to become a Sunni Muslim. He changed his name again to Siraj Wahhaj, which means "bright lantern" in Arabic. In 1978, he traveled to Mecca to study Islam at the Umm al-Qura University.
A Leader in the Community
In 1981, Wahhaj started a mosque in a friend's apartment in Brooklyn. The group of worshippers grew, and they soon bought an old clothing store to create a permanent mosque, which they named Masjid at-Taqwa. At the mosque, Wahhaj leads prayers, gives Friday sermons, and teaches about Islam.
Making a Difference in Brooklyn
In 1988, Wahhaj and his community did something amazing to help their neighborhood. They worked with the local police to start an anti-crime patrol. For 40 days and nights, they stood watch in their Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, helping to make the streets safer. Their efforts were so successful that they were praised by the New York City Police Department and received attention from news media around the world.
A Historic Moment
In 1991, Siraj Wahhaj became the first Muslim to lead the opening prayer, called an invocation, at the United States House of Representatives. This was an important moment for Muslims in America.
Personal Life
Wahhaj has eight children.
