Abdul-Malik defended the June 2005 choice of Shaker Elsayed as the new Imam at Dar al-Hijrah , saying that " Elsayed is a good choice to lead Dar al-Hijrah because of his pre-eminence as a scholar and his ability to relate to both the immigrant and the native-born communities . Elsayed is an established religious authority who has previously served as imam at the Islamic Center of Washington . " He said political sermons had " to address the issues facing our community or else our faith will be irrelevant . That includes politics , education , health care ... the whole panoply of human issues . " After the July 2005 London bombings that killed 55 people , a 30-second public service TV spot was run called " Not in the Name of Islam , " featuring Abdul-Malik and two American Muslim women . In the spot they said : We often hear claims Muslims do n't condemn terrorism and that Islam condones violence . As Muslims , we want to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror in the name of Islam are betraying the teachings of the Koran and the Prophet Mohammed . We reject anyone – of any faith – who commits such brutal acts and will not allow our faith to be hijacked by criminals . Islam is not about hatred and violence . It 's about peace and justice . In a press conference on July 25 , 2005 , Abdul-Malik said , " People who would go out and kill anyone , of any religion , from any country , of any age , for no reason other than the fact they are angry , isolated and upset is against God by whatever name you call him . " He told reporters that the weekend before , when he attended his mosque , a young person told him someone had tried to " recruit " him , but Abdul-Malik said he had never heard of al Qaeda recruiting in his community . He said he told the youth , " You need to alienate yourself from those people . They 're saying to you that they 're your friend , and that you 'll be their confidant , when in reality , they 're going to sell you out . " In January 2008 , Abdul-Malik was trying to establish a nationwide movement of Muslim men to lobby for the new interpretation of Chapter 4 , Verse 34 of the Koran . The verse has long interpreted as giving husbands the right to beat their wives as the final step in an escalating series of punishments for being rebellious ( following admonishing their wives , and then abandoning them in bed ) . " That is the linchpin , the fulcrum that justifies domestic violence in the Muslim context , " he said . The new interpretation would interpret the verse as calling for women to be obedient to God
July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
Johari Abdul-Malik