Imam Abdul Hafeez Waheed has for the last 42 years been an active member of the Muslim American Community in Association with the renowned leader and thinker Imam W. Deen Mohammed. As an associate of Imam Mohammed, he works tirelessly to arrange and seek opportunities to present the correct picture of Islam in different venues. In 1987, Imam Waheed performed the Hajj (pilgrimage to the Sacred House in Ka'ba) In 1998, Imam Waheed became the first Muslim Chaplain at Duke University. Imam Waheed has been serving on the Religious Life staff at Duke for over 20 years. In 2008, Imam Waheed was among several religious life chaplains at Duke University that lead an Interfaith trip to Jerusalem for students of the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu faiths. Currently, Imam Waheed is an instructor in Duke's Continuing Education program called Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Imam Waheed has taught courses on: New Perspective of Islam: Hopeful Vison for our Times and Religious Diversity. His class titled Religious Diversity.” was taught with Rabbi John Friedman and Reverend Elizabeth Marie Melchionna. In the fall of 2020, he taught a class titled “Racism, Religion and Reconciliation: Tensions in America.”
Imam Waheed has also served in the position of Chaplain in city, state, and federal correction institutions. He has also served as Resident Imam in both the Bronx, NY and Durham, NC and has been a respected leader in the Durham area for the last 27 years. His greatest asset is building relationships with all of the major arteries in the community. He has been an active member of many organizations and held various leadership positions on several committees to include Durham Congregations in Action, Urban Ministries, Durham Human Relations Commission, as well as Chief of Police Advisory Committee. In recognition of his commitment to community, Imam Waheed was the recipient of the 1996 MLK, Jr. Keeper of the Dream Award. On January 6, 2017 Imam Waheed participated in the Inaugural Prayer Service for newly elected Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina. In February 2017, Imam Waheed was an invited guest speaker at the Kansas City Revitalization Conference.
Imam Waheed loves to present the clear picture of Al-Islam to audiences via lectures, religious institutions, colleges/universities, public and private schools, as well as, radio and television shows. He has hosted, produced and directed a cable television show entitled "Abdul Hafeez Waheed and Guest." Imam Waheed is happily married to Khadijah Salaam, and they are proud of their four children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
TESTIMONIALS
Before Abdul Waheed arrived in Durham and became the imam at Ar-Razzaq, I had little contact with the local Muslims. I met Imam Waheed, appropriately, on the dais of a Christian Church where we both were scheduled to speak on a annual Martin Luther King observance in the 1990's. From that moment on, we were good friends and collaborators. Abdul's way of attracting you was completely irresistible. When you asked him a question about Islam and were afraid that your ignorance might offend, this Imam always responded in a way that both explained and made your question feel appropriate; even intelligent! We worked together on the divisive school merger, pastored our communities during 9/11, and traded cuisine at Jewish-Muslim dinners. For many years, we taught Jews to write Arabic and Muslims to write Hebrew! W e even taught Hebrew-Muslim cognate vocabulary to Christians. People valued and respected the Imam and he brought his congregation into the Durham religious family. My friend and colleague Abdul Waheed is one of Durham's true treasures.
Rabbi John S. Friedman
Durham, NC
