Johari Abdul-Malik

Johari Abdul-Malik
Born	Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Muslim activist, imam
Years active	1998–present
Known for	Director of Outreach at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center (2002–2017), first officially recognized Muslim chaplain at Howard University

Johari Abdul-Malik Ibn Winslow Seale (born in Brooklyn, New York City) embraced Islam and held the position of Director of Outreach at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center located in Northern Virginia from June 2002 through June 2017.

He has previously served as chairperson of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations, led the National Association of Muslim Chaplains in Higher Education, presided over the Muslim Society of Washington, Inc., and co-established the Muslim Advocacy Commission of Washington, DC. Moreover, he currently oversees government relations for the Muslim Alliance in North America.

Early life

Abdul-Malik’s mother hails from northern Louisiana, while his father originates from Barbados. Raised in an African American Anglican household in Brooklyn, he began to question Western Christianity during his confirmation process. During his high school years, he explored Asian spiritual traditions, including Taoism.

Starting in 1974 at Howard University, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Master of Science in Genetics and Human Genetics. Throughout this period, he was active as a Black activist, musician, vegetarian, and practitioner of Transcendental Meditation. He converted to Islam while pursuing graduate studies and served as president of Howard’s Muslim Student Association. He completed clinical post-graduate training in Bioethics at Georgetown University’s Kennedy Institute of Ethics and undertook Ph.D. coursework in Bioethics and Genetics.

Abdul-Malik completed the pilgrimage of Hajj in 1994.

Muslim chaplain of Howard University

In November 1998, Abdul-Malik was appointed chaplain at Howard University, becoming the first officially recognized Muslim chaplain within U.S. higher education institutions. He stepped down at the conclusion of the spring 2004 semester. Abdul-Malik took part as a panelist during the 2002 press conference organized by American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice, where he criticized Israel's policies concerning Palestine. He also expressed apprehension regarding the murder charges against former SNCC chairman and Black Panther minister Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown). Furthermore, Abdul-Malik publicly condemned U.S. government raids on Muslim residences and offices in northern Virginia connected to activist Sami Al-Arian.

Dar al-Hijrah

In June 2002, Abdul-Malik assumed the role of Director of Outreach and spokesperson for the Dar al-Hijrah mosque, highlighting the necessity of having an American representative to engage with media outlets and advocate for Muslim civil rights. He rejected allegations that Dar al-Hijrah functioned as a hub for Islamic fundamentalism.

Alongside Reverend Graylan Hagler, Abdul-Malik co-launched the Ramadan Feed-the-Needy Program in Washington, DC, which provided nightly meals to approximately 100 homeless individuals throughout Ramadan. After federal authorities charged Dar al-Hijrah congregant Ahmed Omar Abu Ali with conspiring with Al Qaeda to assassinate President George W. Bush, Abdul-Malik described the mosque community as feeling "under siege" amid increased federal scrutiny in Northern Virginia.

Response to Ali al-Timimi conviction

In April 2005, Ali al-Timimi, a U.S.-born Muslim preacher from Fairfax, Virginia, was found guilty of encouraging followers to wage war against the United States shortly after September 11 and recruiting for the Pakistani terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Toiba. Abdul-Malik remarked: "Many Muslims believed they could not be arrested for speech in America, but now they realize they are not free to speak their minds. If our opinions are unpopular, we all feel at risk." Al-Timimi was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Television Advertisement Condemning Terrorism

In the aftermath of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, which resulted in 55 fatalities, a 30-second public service announcement entitled "Not in the Name of Islam" was broadcast. This message featured Abdul-Malik alongside two American Muslim women, who declared:

There is a frequent misconception that Muslims fail to denounce terrorism and that Islam endorses violence. As followers of Islam, we want to make it unequivocally clear that those who perpetrate terror under the banner of Islam betray both the Koran and the Prophet Mohammed. We reject any individual—regardless of their faith—who engages in such heinous acts and refuse to let criminals appropriate our religion. Islam stands for peace and justice, not hatred or violence.

Press Briefing on Anti-Terrorism

On July 25, 2005, Abdul-Malik expressed, "Taking the life of anyone—irrespective of their religion or age—without just cause due to anger or alienation contradicts the will of God under any name." He shared an instance where he counseled a young man at his mosque who had been approached for recruitment into extremist activities, advising him to sever ties with those pretending to be friends but harboring betrayal.

Initiative Addressing Domestic Abuse

In January 2008, Abdul-Malik aimed to launch a nationwide campaign involving Muslim men advocating for a revised understanding of Chapter 4, Verse 34 of the Koran. Traditionally interpreted as permitting husbands to physically discipline their wives after escalating measures, he identified this verse as "the pivotal justification for domestic violence within Muslim communities." The intended reinterpretation would focus on women's submission to God rather than endorsing corporal punishment.

Response to Reactions Regarding Fort Hood Shooter

In November 2009, Abdul-Malik spoke out against former Dar al-Hijrah Imam Anwar al-Awlaki’s endorsement of the Fort Hood shooter:

Al-Awlaki endorsed Hasan’s violent act and labeled US Muslims who opposed it as hypocrites. I maintain that he has distanced himself from the American Muslim community. The Koran instructs us to contribute positively through humanitarian efforts, wisdom, and conveying God’s messages of love, mercy, and compassion for all.

Abdul-Malik observed that numerous mosque attendees subscribed to conspiracy theories, denying Hasan's culpability and drawing parallels to denial of the events on 9/11. Reflecting on his personal background as an African American Muslim, he stressed the importance of political involvement and advancement:

Many immigrant communities gravitated toward conspiracy theories, rejecting Hasan’s responsibility much like some denied 9/11. As a black American whose forebears have lived here for centuries, I recognize this denial as a reaction common among minorities less familiar with American society. We have progressed beyond such attitudes—now politically active with a black president. Having transitioned from Christianity to Islam myself, I view this phase as temporary and focused on forward movement.

Comments on Anwar al-Awlaki

In May 2010, Abdul-Malik unequivocally referred to al-Awlaki as "a terrorist, in my opinion."

Personal life

Abdul-Malik resides in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with his spouse and their three children.