Photographed at the Islamic Center of Nashville
Rashed Fakhruddin is serving a two-year term as president of Nashville's Islamic Center, but his history with the organization goes back much further — in fact, he remembers how the center began, and how it was helped along from its earliest stages by an unexpected philanthropist.
"In 1978, my father, two uncles and an Egyptian lady would meet at our house every Friday evening to go over the constitution they were developing for the Islamic Center of Nashville," Fakhruddin says. "We didn't have a mosque yet, they were coming up with the plans.
"But Cat Stevens was passing by," he explains with a twinkle in his eye. The singer-songwriter was known as Yusef Islam at the time, having converted to Islam only a few years earlier. The story, which has become part of the lore of the center, is that Stevens met with the founding members of the Islamic Center, and was so moved by their mission that he donated enough money that they were able to buy the plot of land on 12th Avenue where the center still stands today.
"I was just a kid," says Fakhruddin, "but I remember hearing about that story since it happened, and my dad saying this guy is such a beautiful guy — it's like there's a light shining from him."
The Islamic Center of Nashville, located in the neighborhood now known as 12South, was one of the first mosques in Middle Tennessee. Now, Fakhruddin explains, there are probably about eight or so in Nashville alone.
Although he's lived in Nashville for practically his whole life — he moved here when he was 1, he graduated from Hillsboro High School and then Vanderbilt — Fakhruddin has seen many changes in the treatment of the Islamic community here. In the soft-spoken, pragmatic manner that is typical of him, Fakhruddin explains that visibility in the Islamic community has become even more important in a post-9/11 world.
"After 9/11, which was such a tragedy happening on U.S. soil, all of a sudden people started asking questions. 'What is Islam? Who are Muslims? Do they teach hatred?' "
The Islamic Center has responded by opening their doors to curious people of all faiths, and bringing numerous outreach programs and interfaith activities to the community. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 2, for example, the center is hosting its second annual Diversity Brunch, a celebration of the more than 40 nationalities that are represented in the Islamic Center's congregations that's full of food, art and crafts, and is open to the public.
"To a certain degree, I can't blame if people have some ill feeling against Islam if all they see is world events. Crazy evil groups like ISIS coming out of nowhere, and these groups that really hijack our religion back us into a corner where we have to be proactive."
More From the 2016 People Issue
The Celebrity Chef: Maneet Chauhan / The Gold Medalist: Scott Hamilton / The Perception Changer: Kent Wallace / The Blogger: Melissa Watkins / The Biker Chaplain: Allen Tanner / The Man: Charles Kaster / The Islamic Leader: Rashed Fakhruddin / The Tubatroll: Joe Hunter / The Dog: Doug the Pug / The Emancipator Impersonator: Dennis Boggs / The Booker: Kathryn Edwards / The Right Brain/Left Brain: Coke Sams and Clarke Gallivan / The Professional Ass-Kicker: Eric Young / The Watcher: Debbie Field
