American Muslim Experience

08/29/2026

A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Imam Abdullah El-Amin and make this portrait of him. It was a brief encounter, but one I’m grateful to have documented.

Today, as Detroit honors his life by naming a street in his memory, I’m reminded of why the act of preserving our stories matter. Communities are shaped not only by the people whose names become widely known, but by those who spend decades quietly serving, teaching, leading, and showing up for others.

May Imam El-Amin’s legacy continue to live through the people and community he served. And may this photograph remain one small part of the record that he was here, that his life mattered, and that his contribution is remembered.

— American Muslim Experience

08/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Dqhbx2oJt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/25/2026

Freedom School 2026 is coming together — and your educators are ready for you. Join Dr. Aminah Al Deen, Dr. Oludamini Ogunnaike, Imam Rashad Abdul Rahmaan, Dr. Donna Auston, and Dr. Tseleq Yusef this June online. Register at bit.ly/ssfs2026 before registration closes in 10 day

03/20/2026

Eid Mubarak to our community. We are grateful for your commitment to storytelling and the preservation of the .

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02/27/2026

Conflicts can be messy, but it can also open the door to healing!

of share her insights on how to bring people together, even in the most challenging situations.

Listen more on our latest podcast 🎙️

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02/23/2026

Saturday I attended the 61st Commemoration of The Life & Legacy of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz at the Shabazz Center in Harlem. The evening opened with a welcome by Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz.

Being in that space was grounding. It also reminded me how much perseverance, strength, and struggle the Black Muslim community has carried so that many of us (immigrants) today can live with greater safety, dignity, and access. The freedoms and visibility many of us benefit from did not come easily. They were earned through sacrifice, organizing, and deep personal cost - and we must continue the work.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani was present. Seeing a Muslim mayor (with African & Indian roots) in that room carried weight. Representation matters especially when it shows up in community spaces.

For those of us working in storytelling, culture, and community work, moments like this clarify our responsibility. To honor those who came before us. To work with integrity in the present. To carry the work forward with care.

~ American Muslim Experience

02/18/2026

12/24/2025

For new Muslims, this time of year can be difficult.

Give yourself grace.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
Move at your own pace.

~

And to my born-Muslim friends —
be gentle with new converts.

Support them.
Don’t judge them.

Faith grows with patience and care.

~You’re not alone.
We see you. 🤍

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