The most important thing in a person's life is his faith and how he translates his faith into practical deeds.

I've now been in this country for thirteen years, since I was seventeen. So this is my second home.

My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players.

My life is very simple. I like simplicity and for my time to be my own, so that I have the freedom to devote the majority of it to Islam.

I'm shy, but sometimes my voice is so clear and strong.

When I was playing, I didn't realize how much of an impact I would make on people, Muslim or non-Muslim. We played a lot of games during Ramadan. On national TV, the announcers were commenting about Ramadan, and this raised the awareness to the general public and we made all the Muslims very, very proud.

Allah says in the Qur'an not to despise one another. So the criterion in Islam is not color or social status. It's who is most righteous. If I go to a mosque - and I'm a basketball player with money and prestige - if I go to a mosque and see an imam, I feel inferior. He's better than me. It's about knowledge.