Recognized by Islam worldwide as a major leader, Iman W. Deen Mohammed discussed “Islam in America” during his Wittenberg Series address, Sept. 23.

“People don’t know the truth about Islam,” he said.

Accepted by the World Mission Council of Imam Administrators as leader of the Muslim community in the United States, Mohammed addressed a number of issues in his speech, which was delayed by 30 minutes as a result of the extensive security check preceding the event.

Mohammed noted that some Islamic groups, such as the Nation of Islam, have unpopular ideas concerning Islam. “These are not true Islamic movements,” he said.

Muslims denounce violence, he explained, but they also will fight to protect their freedom of religion. Mohammed said that he and his followers would also fight to protect Christians if they were being persecuted for their religion.

He also criticized the media, especially with their translation of the word jihad.

“Jihad means to struggle against all that God forbids,” he explained. “It is a struggle to keep your own soul with God.”

Mohammed has been called the contemporary mujaddid, the renewer of the religion of Islam. He has twice met with Pope John Paul II, and in 1990, he was the first Muslim to be asked to open the U.S. Senate with prayer.