Houston Imam Caught on Video Issuing Sharia-Law Ultimatums to Businesses
Masjid At-Tawhid Mosque leader gives store owners 30-day ultimatum to stop selling Islam-prohibited alcohol, pork, and lottery tickets or face consequences
Amy Mek, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the RAIR Foundation, broke a story on Sunday exposing what she characterizes as "Sharia patrol" activities emerging in Houston, Texas. The investigation centers on Masjid At-Tawhid, a mosque located in Houston's Fifth Ward, and its imam, F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan, who has been captured on video making demands to local business owners regarding the sale of products he deems religiously prohibited.
The Imam Behind the Controversy
Imam F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan, also known as Frederick Qasim Khan, has been a prominent figure in Houston's Muslim community for decades. According to biographical information, his journey into Islam began in 1971 through Louis Farrakhan Nation of Islam. By 1975, he had embraced mainstream Sunni Islam and transitioned into a ministerial role.
The imam founded Masjid At-Tawhid in 2012 and serves as the founder and president of the At-Tawhid Educational Center of Houston. His leadership extends beyond religious matters to community organizing and business enterprises through Tawhid Houston Enterprises, Inc.
Recent video evidence shows Khan approaching business owners with ultimatums regarding the sale of alcohol, pork products, and lottery tickets. In the footage, he warns managers that if they continue selling these items, they will face boycotts and public demonstrations. "Toward the end of this month, we're kicking off a national protest against all Muslim businesses that have haram in their stores," Khan declares in the recording.
The imam's approach has been characterized as following "the classic playbook of Sharia patrols: first bringing Muslims into line, then extending pressure to the wider community." Khan's stated philosophy, as captured in the videos, emphasizes that Muslims "should love what Allah loves, and hate what Allah hates."
Masjid At-Tawhid: Community Hub or Enforcement Center?
According to Mek, the tax-exempt Masjid At-Tawhid mosque flies the Palestinian flag, a display that Imam Khan himself stated was raised "to honor the martyrs" and "shaheeds."
Some observers voiced concern over what Mek describes as the mosque's maintenance of "a private security force in uniforms resembling Houston police."
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston
Masjid At-Tawhid operates within the broader framework of Houston's Muslim community, which includes the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH), one of the largest Islamic organizations in North America. Established in 1969, ISGH operates 22 Islamic Centers and mosques throughout the Houston area, serving an estimated 500,000 Muslims in the region.
The ISGH has faced its own controversies in recent years. Most notably, the organization became embroiled in a significant legal dispute when the Al-Zibdeh family sued ISGH in November 2024, alleging that the organization refused to perform funeral and burial services for Khaled Al-Zibdeh, a 33-year-old gay Muslim man.
In addition, ISGH withdrew from Houston's annual iftar celebration with the mayor in March 2024 after Mayor John Whitmire refused to call for a ceasefire during their meeting regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The organization's substantial financial operations have also drawn attention. ISGH collected approximately $18.9 million in 2023 and $13.5 million between January and July 2024, with significant revenue generated from funeral services totaling about $2.18 million during the same period.