San Quentin’s new Imam, Kawsar Hossain, came here in October after volunteering at Old Folsom State Prison and Deul Vocational Institute (DV I). “What attracted me to S.Q. was the location of the Bay Area” says the Imam, “which happens to be my roots.” He started volunteering and consulted with some of his teachers. “The chaplain at Folsom recommended I pursue the position of chaplain at Folsom when he was leaving.”
Asked what is needed in San Quentin’s Islamic community, the Imam said, “I think it needs focus. Focus on the foundation of Islam. This is a loosely translated quote from a past Islamic scholar. ‘Before you try to become a scholar, become a Muslim and before you become a Muslim become a human.’ Sometimes when we have our eyes focused on the big things we have tendency to look past the future.”
“In the Muslim community at large we’ve lost focus on Tazkiya. It’s called the purification of the heart and purification of the soul.
So on the Islamic study of Tazkiya I have studied a good deal with my teachers. I have tried to at least incorporate that in everything I speak on. There’s also a saying of the Prophet: ‘I have not been sent but to perfect good character.’ We focus on a lot of different things. Even for the Prophet that was a big thing. But it is something that we look past.”
Asked what it means to be a Muslim, the Imam said, “To be a Muslim is to submit to Allah (S.W.T.) in the ways shown by the Prophet (S). To submit to Allah (S.W.T.) in every facet of one’s life, be it your character or your wishes or the way you think. Everything must be in alignment with Allah (S.W.T.).”
