Wael Abdelgawad
Wael Abdelgawad | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 2, 1965 United States |
| Occupation(s) | Author, web developer, martial arts expert |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Founder of Zawaj.com and Hammerhead Hapkido; columnist at MuslimMatters.org |
| Spouse | Yajaira Maxiel Menco Dominguez |
| Children | 1 (Salma) |
Wael Abdelgawad (; born May 2, 1965) is an American author, web developer, and martial arts expert, noted for establishing one of the pioneering online Muslim matrimonial platforms. He contributes as a columnist to the blog MuslimMatters.org, where his serialized novels about American Muslim experiences have gained significant popularity. His literary work is often cited across social media networks like Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter.
In 1998, Abdelgawad launched Zawaj.com, recognized as one of the earliest and longest-standing Muslim matchmaking websites. Additionally, he created IslamicAnswers.com, a platform dedicated to guidance on marriage and family matters. His blog IslamicSunrays.com was nominated for a Brass Crescent award in 2010.
Among his published novels is Pieces of a Dream, which unfolds in San Francisco and narrates the spiritual evolution of Louis, a taxi driver and veteran of the Iraq war. This novel contributes to the growing body of English-language Muslim fiction.
Background
The parents of Wael Abdelgawad, both Egyptian-American scientists, immigrated to the United States in 1964. He spent his early years in California, attended junior high school in Libya, and completed high school in Saudi Arabia. He pursued studies in English literature at California State University Fresno and Fresno City College. Since 1998, he has been active as a webmaster and writer and is currently a staff contributor for MuslimMatters.org.
Abdelgawad currently lives in Fresno, California.
Martial arts
Starting at age 14 with Shotokan Karate, Abdelgawad expanded his martial arts expertise to include HwaRangDo, Hapkido, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, Silat, Shorin-Ryu, Kokodo Jujutsu, Jeet Kune Do, and Aikido, achieving multiple black belt ranks. In 2013, he established Hammerhead Hapkido, a martial art style combining Silat elements with a focus on close-range combat techniques, seamless transitions from striking to joint manipulation, and defenses against knife attacks.
Appearances
Abdelgawad has been invited as a keynote speaker at events such as the ICNA-MAS convention held in Baltimore (April 2017), where he addressed how fiction helps reshape American perceptions of Islam. He also presented at the Islamic Society of North America's (ISNA) 54th annual gathering in Chicago (June 2017).
Personal life
He is married to Yajaira Maxiel Menco Dominguez, a Colombian lawyer, and they have one daughter named Salma (born 2006).
Controversy
Although Abdelgawad is recognized as the founder of Hammerhead Hapkido, limited information exists regarding his formal training credentials in Hapkido or any professional fighting record. Nevertheless, his "Sabeel Combatives" YouTube channel has garnered substantial viewership, and his Yelp profile features favorable customer feedback.