Our New Jersey Brother Wesley Abdur Razzaq Abu Sumayyah Lebron, is one of the most inspirational figures in the Islamic Society in America today.
At the age of thirty-seven, he has an impressive list of accomplishments. Allah has blessed him with the ambition to strive to do what is right, and the talent and drive to make it happen. His accomplishments in the community are admirable.
Born and raised according to the Pentecostal faith, he came from a very religious family. As a teen, he begun to question his faith. He could not grasp the concept of worshiping a man who walked the earth a few thousand years ago,
A foster child by the name of Edgar introduced him to the Zulu nation. Brother Wesley attended Zulu Nation meetings held in New York City. During one of these meetings, he met a Muslim brother named Aziz, who invited him over for coffee and tea.
Brother Aziz began speaking to Brother Wesley about Islam and gave him the book The Fundamentals of Tawheed by Dr. Bilal Philips. After quite some time studying, Brother Wesley was hesitant to accept Islam. Giving the faith he was born into a second chance, he read the Bible from cover to cover. He highlighted a few verses that he had trouble accepting. Determined to find answers, he went to speak with various pastors including his family who were well-versed in the Christian faith. The discussion only confused him even more.
He describes his main concern with the Bible as the claim that Jesus is God. However, Jesus acknowledges that God is in heaven. The Bible states O’ Goodness, why thou call me good? When the only one good is in heaven.[1] Wesley defended his argument by saying “Jesus is calling upon God. You [the Pastor] are telling me to call upon Jesus. I find it more comfortable to call upon the god that Jesus called upon.”[sic]
Shortly after, Brother Wesley recited the shahada, which is Islam’s testimony of faith. There is no God but Allah and that the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) is his servant and final messenger. Brother Wesley accepted Islam and became Muslim.
His educational journey started in 1998 by traveling locally to many seminars and gatherings of knowledge. He then traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2001 and back to America in 2002, utilizing various resources (such as Mishkah University) to continue studying.
Islam teaches that seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, whether male or female. Allah gave Brother Wesley the ambition to further his education. He has a Degree in Islamic Studies, which includes courses focusing on pedagogy, khatabah, Arabic, and Psychology from an Islamic Perspective. He is currently studying to further his education in Islamic Studies.
Being fluent in English and Spanish, he’s able to help others understand the message of Islam in both languages. He is currently studying Arabic to master that language as well – the language of the Quran.
As you may expect, brother Brother Wesley is quite an accomplished person, by Allah’s will and mercy. Wesley started his volunteer work in 1998 at Masjidul Ansari Sunnah in Paterson, NJ. Currently he manages the on-site courses of Mishkah University in New Jersey. He’s also an Islamic studies and Beginner Arabic teacher at Miftahul Uloom Academy.
To help aid the Muslims in Illinois, Governor Quinn appointed Islamic figures, Brother Wesley being one of them, to work in the Muslim American Advisory Council.
Brother Wesley has organized many programs to spread the awareness of Islam. “Coffee Talks”, “Qiyamul layl for Youth”, “Marital & Youth Seminars”, “Lectures and Classes”, “Entertainment Nights,” “Fund Raisers” and “Interfaith Events” to name a few. All of these are Islamic -based activities to spread the awareness of Islam in a creative and entertaining way. May Allah bless him for what he has accomplished.
