A forward-thinking Imam in America is certainly an intriguing subject. Mr. Shata struggles, adapts, and eventually leads a community of Muslim Americans trying to live a new way of life without disrespecting faithful religion and tradition. As an imam, Shata retains most of the values of his and his religion’s past, but he is progressive in adapting values to the way of American culture. For this, I feel that Shata is liberal. He is smart in knowing not to disrespect his religion, but he is wise for knowing that America is a different land, and this century is a much different time. He bends the slightest yet perfect amount so that his people will feel assured that they are living a new life within the lines of Muslim religion.