With Allah’s Name, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Biography of Imam Omar Jaleel Hazim
Imam Omar Hazim is the Imam of the Islamic Center of Topeka. He is the Islamic advisor to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections, and has served in these positions since 1990.
Hazim accepted Islam in 1962 under the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He served as a minister for Elijah Muhammad’s son, Minister Nathaniel Muhammad. Afterward he served directly for Elijah Muhammad as a minister. He has been a student of Imam W. Deen Mohammed since 1975. May Allah be pleased with him, and grant him His everlasting paradise.
Imam Hazim is a builder by trade, and has helped to establish many mosques and Islamic Centers in the Kansas City area. He is also one of the founders of the Islamic Center of Topeka.
He is a member of The Midland Islamic Council, and a member of the Islamic Society of North America. Imam Hazim is on the Advisory Board for the Chief of Police, of the City of Topeka, KS.
Hazim is currently a Student of The Muslim American Logic Institute.
He was the first Muslim to give the invocation to the Kansas House of Representatives and Senate on March 9, 1995.
Hazim served on the board of directors for Interfaith of Topeka Inc. for seven years. He has also been associated with Interfaith from its inception.
Hazim has written articles that have appeared in the Muslim Journal, which is an international publication. Over the years, he has written many articles for the Topeka Capital-Journal. His articles focused on Islam and current issues affecting the world.
To increase understanding and awareness, Hazim has addressed issues on death, sickness, suffering, social justice, the status of women in Islam, Jihad, human and civil rights, and the Islamic view on life after death, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, The Menninger Foundation, St. Francis Hospital, Washburn University, various churches, schools, civic clubs, etc., in Topeka since 1975.
Imam Hazim was married to Aliya Hazim from August 9th 1963 to September 13th 2010 the day she returned to Allah. May Almighty Allah accept her in His everlasting Paradise? They have eight children who all graduated from Topeka West High School and went on to college.
Omar and Aliya were recognized as Ambassadors for peace in December 2003 by the Inter religious and International Federation for World Peace.
Imam Hazim is now married to Deidre Gordon Hazim, Deidre is a writer, author and teacher at the Islamic Center of Topeka.
Imam Hazim received a special recognition on October 26, 2011 from the Midland Islamic Council. A Lifetime Achievement Award.
Imam Hazim was the winner of the 2015 Peace Award from The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice.
Imam Hazim is also the author of the book “Islam in The Heartland of America.”