Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif
Masjidush-Shura
3109 MLK Ave. S.E.
Washington, DC 20032
1-202-574-8417 FAX: 1-202-610-1092
IMAM GHAYTH NUR KASHIF is currently the resident Imam for Masjidush-Shura in Southeast Washington, DC. He has served as one of the past chairman for the Council of Imams of Washington, DC. He is now counsellor, for the Muslim American Military Association (MAMA) and was instrumental in negotiating the accreditation of the Muslim Endorsing Agency for military chaplains, resulting in the confirmation of the Armed Services first two Muslim chaplains. He is also a distinguished veteran of the US Air Force. Most recently he has been selected to chair the Committee for the Formulation Process of the proposed Masajid Council (Shura) for the Metropolitan Washington Area (including suburbia, Maryland and Virginia).
Imam Kashif was a founding member of the American
Muslim Council (AMC). As director of Congressional Affairs, he was the chief negotiator in
arranging two historical congressional "firsts" for Muslims: i.e.
opening invocations (prayers) in the Senate and the House by Imams WD Mohammed and Sara
Wahaj, respectively. Imam Kashif serves also as Muslim chaplain for patients at St.
Elizabeth Hospital and Prince George’s Correctional facility.
Imam Kashif is listed in WHO’s WHO in Black America for his pioneering
efforts in the alternative media. He is also listed in The International Authors and
Writers WHO'S WHO. He is often cited as a ‘primary source,' on the rise of Islam
in America, the "revolution of the 60’s," and the effects of international
foreign policy upon Muslim-Americans and African-Americans. In addition, he was earlier
accepted as a member of the International Platform Association. He has valuable
experiences as an editorial and communications consultant. Consequently, participates
frequently in local and national intercultural dialogues, and media presentations.
Imam Kashif served as in-house editor the International Institute for Islamic Studies in
Herndon VA, and was the initial designer (setting guidelines and specifications) for the
American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS). He has worked closely as special
assistant in editing for for Dr. Taha Alwani, current chairman of the Fiqh Committee of
North America and head of the SISS post-graduate institute in Loudon County, Maryland.
Thereby, serving in the same capacity for Dr. Abdul Hamid Abu Sulayman, now Rector for the
International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIU).
The Imam has also served as Editor-in-Chief and/or publisher for a number of other
significant publications, including the original Muhammad Speaks, the Bilalian
News, Muslim Journal, and the Congressional Black Watch. In
particular, he co-founded the METRO Magazine and worked in its editorial during
his professional career. His writings have been published in Minaret, Horizon
and many other Muslim magazines as well. He has authored a number of socio-political
papers for numerous publications. His popular Hajj narrative, "Sacred
Journey" continues to be hailed as one of the best-detailed Hajj experience of a
Western writer.
Imam Kashif is extremely well travelled. He has accompanied varied writers' groups to
conferences in Spain, Indonesia and other countries. He has held audience/interviews with
such international personalities as Zul-el Haqq of Pakistan, Fidel Castro, Prime Minister
Manley of Jamaica, Yaser Arafat, Khadifi of Libya, Kenneth Kaunda of Zimbawi and others.
He was also first to interview Willis Carto, a nebulous figure who fashioned America's
early political "Right Wing" movement. He interviewed much of the "Far
Right personages," including George Lincoln Rockwell, America's home grown Nazi
Leader (assassinated in the 1960's) and the White Citizen's Councils (offshoots of the Klu
Klux Klan).
He has held/holds personal acquaintance of such persons as Malcolm (X) Shabazz, Muhammad
Ali, Louis Farakhan, Imam W.D. Muhammad, Imam Jamil Alimin ("Rap Brown") and
Elijah Muhammad - all personages of the early Islamic movements among African Americans.
With reference to press certification, he has held press credentials for congress, the
White House and the State Department over the years. He has been published in op-ed
articles in the Washington Post and has been instrumental in effecting the Style changes
for AP, NY Times, the Post and most of the US media with reference to Moslem v. Muslim
appellations. (The word Moslem is no longer a style requirement for these newspapers.)
Kashif continues to be a "sought-after" media consultant for many alternative
and budding publications.
Imam Kashif has been a frequent speaker for university-related seminars, lectures on
African American issues. He has served as host and participant on several radio/TV
programmes, locally and nationally. He is married to Hafeeza Kashif, founder of UMME,
United Mothers for Moral Excellence. They have four children, and nine "grands."
Milton Coleman, Deputy Managing Editor, Washington Post; Kojo Nambi, WHUR TV, "Evening Exchange," Joe Walker, co-founder, Union of Black Journalists; Omar Abdullah, editor, Horizon (Islamic Society of North America) Magazine; Denise Rolark, Washington Informer; Imam W.D. Muhammad; Imam Saraj Wahij; Dr. Alwani, SISS Director; Dr. Almoudi, AMC Foundation; Sis. Mustafa, Muslim Journal (American Muslim Society); Dr. Esam Abdullah, president Masjid Dar-el Hijrah (Virginia); Writers: Bill Broadway and Bill Rasberry, Washington Post. Congressional Representatives: Charles Rangel (NY), Ron Dellums (Calif), John Conyers (Mich) and Bill Clay (Missouri).
(additional references available upon request).
