Friday June 9, 2017
Horsed Noah, the executive director of Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center in Columbus, Ohio, closes all his emails with the tagline: “Aim 2 inspire b4 u expire.” From mobilizing Somali communities throughout Ohio to advocating for human rights in East Africa, Noah is living out his personal creed.
Noah’s passion is rooted in demonstrating that most American values are Muslim values. He hosts regular “Meet-a-Muslim” meetings with members of local churches and mentors Somali youth.
The longtime advocate is committed to ensuring that his neighbors possess intellectual courage necessary to reject a false binary between America and Islam.
“I represent America,” Noah said. “I reject extremism on all sides.”
The example of the Prophet Muhammed guides Noah’s work. In the Prophet’s first public speech before a Jewish and Christian audience, he asked them to “Spread the peace wherever you are, see the hungry, and take care of your family.” These universal values drive Noah’s vision of what it means to be a Muslim in America.
One of the names of God, Horsed points out, is the all-wise-one: there is a divine wisdom behind our creation and we are created for a task. Noah’s is to inspire and unite, and he isn’t slowing down.