Muslim Leader Works to End Islamophobia in the Carolinas

John Ederer is the Imam of the Muslim American Society of Charlotte. He is a spiritual leader, husband, and father of two. He says, through Islam, he is able to have a direct relationship with God. Ederer is on a mission to end Islamaphobia in the region by educating the community, explaining that most Muslims are good and disciplined people.

“The spirituality of a Muslim is this constant attachment to revelation and purpose and fulfilling purpose through this divine awareness.”

Ederer says people in the Carolinas are surprised by his religious affiliation.

“As a white American convert, who spent a lot of time studying with scholars, in a traditional classical way, you have the group that's just amazed to see that. ‘Wow, Americans are choosing Islam.' Then you have the other group. How do I describe these people? 'Who is this guy to lead us?'”

An Oklahoma born man of faith, Imam Ederer was raised Catholic and had a conversion experience 16 years ago.

“I had a friend who killed somebody. I had a friend who killed himself. I was put in jail because of association, and I was really thinking about life. When I came out, I really aggressively searched in scripture in meaning in self and heart, and in reading the Qur'an, the Qur'an had this philosophically, theologically comforting structural systematic way of making me feel that God is talking to me and has a very set lifestyle for me. “

Ederer has traveled the world in search of truth, earning degrees in Arabic language and Qur'an memorization.