Students Taking
the High Road to Religion:
Imam Oliver Mohammad
By Nazneen Malik
Oliver Mohammad never really had a desire
to become an Imam; it was more of a calling. Instilled with
a natural inclination towards helping others, Mohammad converted
to Islam 32 years ago and worked with Muslim inmates as a prison
chaplain before even considering becoming an Imam. “I wanted to help
inmates change their lives,” he says, “and as
I became more active in leading them in Friday prayer, having
classes, and sharing with them everything I already knew
about Islam, [my role] kind of evolved.”
A part-time student in the Master of Religious
Practice (MRP) program at the Graduate School of Islamic and
Social Sciences (GSISS) in Virginia, Mohammad is already an
Imam at his local mosque and only one paper away from graduating.
Mohammed actually
became an Imam shortly before gaining admission into the
MRP program. “I thought I was equipped,” he chuckles, “but
when I saw the scope of the position, I figured I needed some
concentrated study.” Most students often go abroad to
study, and as a result many Islamic institutions in the United
States do not offer programs that sufficiently serve those
students who wish to become Imams here. The GSISS is one of
the few institutions that does.
The MRP program can be completed in three years of full-time
study and it prepares students for service-oriented careers
in the Muslim community such as chaplaincy or other leadership
roles like that of an Imam. The curriculum includes, among
others, courses in the Quranic Sciences, Islamic Jurisprudence,
World Religions, the Hadith (teachings of Prophet Muhammad),
and Islamic History. Classes are taught primarily in English;
however, emphasis is placed on achieving Quranic proficiency. “Prayers
have to be led in Arabic,” states Mohammad, “and
we lead prayers with the Quran; we don't recite anything else
so learning the Arabic of the Quran is essential. An Imam should
be able to read it and understand it but not necessarily be
able to speak Arabic conversationally.”
The word, “Imam,” itself, means leader. Essentially,
any mature male can be an Imam without any formal education,
however, as the community grows and its needs grow, so too
do the roles and functions of an Imam. When asked how to determine
who can be an Imam, Mohammad
relates a well known hadith, “First, the Imam is the
person who knows more of the Quran. If that condition is met,
then he is the one who is aware of the Sunnah (life and teachings
of Prophet Muhammad). Next, the person who has been Muslim
longer, [after that] the one who is most senior in age.” These
criteria seem necessary for this complex and varied role. Imams
act as counselors; they deliver sermons every Friday prayer
as well as on other religious occasions, perform funeral services
and marriage ceremonies, teach classes in various areas of
Islam, participate in interfaith dialogues and outreach initiatives,
and build bridges in the community.
Although Imam Mohammad is very active in his community, the humility
in his voice is unmistakable. He fervently believes that the
greatest gift anybody can give to their community is a better
improved self and a persistent dedication to improving the welfare
of others.#
