Suhaib Webb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other persons named William Webb, see William Webb (disambiguation).
Suhaib Webb is a American Islamic activist and speaker, known for his moderate views and rapport with American Muslim youth.
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[edit] Youth
He was born William Webb in 1972 in Oklahoma, where he grew up in a Christian family. During his youth, he lost interest in religion and got into some trouble with the law before going on to becoming a successful local Hip-Hop DJ, making records with various artists.
[edit] Conversion to Islam
He first encountered Islam first-hand through Muslim contacts in the music. After a three-year period of exposure to Islam through local Muslim acquaintances, he became a Muslim in 1992 at the age of twenty, and took the name Suhaib.
After conversion, he left his career as a DJ and studied at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education. He also studied privately, learning enough to become a community leader in Oklahoma City, where he was hired as Imam, or religious leader, at The Islamic Society to Greater Oklahoma City as well as a teacher at the Mercy Islamic School there.
[edit] Activities
In 2004, he moved with his wife and children to Cairo, where he studies at the prestigious Al-Azhar Islamic University. Besides studying, he often gives lectures in the USA and elsewhere, and records commercial Islamic lecture series, such as on the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.
[edit] Reputation
Muslims value Suhaib Webb as a speaker not only for his burgeoning Islamic knowledge but for his familiarity with American youth culture and accessible personality, as well as for his reputation as a "moderate". The UK-based newspaper The Times, reported that the UK government identified Suhaib Webb as one of several "moderate Muslim leaders", along with Amr Khaled, Tariq Ramadan and Hamza Yusuf that it intends to support and "promote awareness" of.
