Testimonials

My personal experience with Imam Aly Lela as the Imam of IAGD was always a positive one. Imam Lela became the Imam of IAGD soon after I had given my shahada, so he was my Imam for the majority of the time I have been a Muslim. As a convert with a complex family situation, I had many questions over the years, andthe Imam's answers were always very helpful to me and made my life easier, ratherthan more difficult. This made it easier for me to practice and grow in Islam, and for this I will always be grateful to Imam Aly Lela. I also worked with the Imam when I was on the Outreach Committee and I learned a lot from listening to him answer thequestions that people of other faiths had. When I worked with other converts whose questions were beyond my capabilities to answer, I referred them to the Imam and he was able to answer them. When non-Muslims interested in Islam had questions that I could not answer, the Imam answered their questions. He must have answered hundreds of my questions over the years, and was always polite and respectful when replying to me. His knowledge of Islam allowed him to address my concerns in a way that made my life easier, without compromising the principles of Islam.My favorite lecture series by the Imam was his Tafseer of the Quran. Rather than just tell us what to think, the Imam strove to teach us how to think for ourselves. Whenever I asked him a question, he did not just tell me ‘this is haram’ or ‘this is halal’. Rather, he explained the matter to me, educated me on the history and the various scholarly opinions, and explained why it was permissible or impermissible. While it would be quicker and easier to simply say "haram" or "halal", he chose to educate me instead, so that my understanding would be more grounded. This madeit easier for me to implement whatever the ruling was. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from Imam Aly Lela for the past 12 years and I pray that Allah SWT will bless him with a bright future that will allow him to thrive and bring about positive change. May Allah SWT bring out the best in him, and allow him, by the will of Allah, to bring out the best in others as well. Ameen.

Imam Lela has been a great leader to our community. He provided us with knowledge that was grounded in the Islamic tradition as well as relevant to our current time. He has not been afraid to speak truthfully, which is a quality that is much needed at this critical time and one that important for us to see modeled by our leaders.

I came to IAGD as ‘other Muslim’. Imam Aly, you impelled my family and I to embrace main stream Islam. You truly are a very fine blend of a religious scientist, atheologian, and a liturgist who bears a progressive mind to unravel aspects of theosophy, philosophy and metaphysics, and often went beyond the surface level ofnarratives. Let there be no doubt, dear Imam Aly, that your unfortunate, unethical and uncivilized removal from IAGD is no panacea for spiritual malaise that is administered by IAGD BOD/BOT on Umma. Your penchant to speak the truth and call a spade a spade did not reverberate across the deceitful rich and powerful in IAGD. When you are lied about or discover an unfounded orthodoxy being peddled on a sly, your truthful rage and passionate urge finds an uneasy audience amongst IAGD rumor mongers; but certainly kindles hearts of others to introspect. Imam Aly, you have poured consummate energy to unify ethnically fragmented Umma with ghettoish mindset, and identity-based extremism at IAGD. You have sent out several feelers/messages in your Khutbas. Unfortunately, the select creeds of IAGD, with back-home cultural baggage, chose to dwell in their cell with scant effort to reflect on your messages. You have vociferously opined against the radicalorthodox groups to shield the IAGD youth. Your fervent appeals were perceived by the arrogant power brokers as ‘we know it all’. My family and I see you as embodiment of the much needed scholarship, thought leadership; one who tables a judicious blend of multiple aspects of our Deen. Most time, your discourses prodded us and rightly pierced thru our being, to reflect within, only to re-calibrate our spiritual dial. In my 26 years at IAGD, I don’t remember any discourse on Ahl al-Bayt series that you scholarly conducted during Ramadan. It is yet another testimony of your objective, unbiased conviction to educate IAGD beyond their denominational pockets of Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii and other schools of jurisprudence. In my concluding salutation, I take liberty to alter the beautiful lines of two bards: But how do you thank someone who has taken you from canonical rituals to Furqan,Taqwā and more?If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters that would soar a thousand feet high ‘To Imam Aly, With Love and Salaams

Thank you for leading the prayers at IAGD. You have been a great leader for the community all these years and will be missed greatly. I am sure you will be successful wherever you will end up at. Allah has a plan for all of us and for a reason which we don’t always realize. May Allah subahan o tala bless you and your family and please keep me and my family in your prayers!!!!

We have known Imam Aly Lela for 12+ years at IAGD. He has always shown a passion for communicating honestly with the congregation. He grew all thru the 12 years and matured into a highly respected Imam in the Metro Detroit area. My wife and I have always found him very approachable for one on one discussions on various subjects. His advice were invaluable. The special skill that we all appreciated a lot was being able to customize his presentations to the audience. Interfaith dialogues was his passion. His Friday Sermons were invaluable. Time and again I felt that he was directly addressing me, as did everyone else. Very positive outlook.We will sincerely miss Imam Aly Lela and wish him the very best in the new chapter of his life. Any community that he joins will feel blessed for his presence

Imam Aly Lela was a great asset for our community. He not only religiously and spiritually led us to better understanding of Islam but also made sure that he models personal and social attributes that enhanced our knowledge of Islam.

Imam Aly Lela is part & parcel of our community for last 13 years. I have the greatest of admiration and respect from him as a person, as a scholar of Islam and of course as a tennis player.He never demands respect for his scholarship but on the tennis court it is a differentmatter. Rarely, you find a combination like him, somebody who is scholar’s scholar but at the same time very humble and personable, who you can relate to and call asa friend.In one of my troubled times, the one person, I called was Imam Aly Lela. Even during the month of Ramadan, he made sure to listen and spend considerable amount of time, helping me out. His help was of great help and solace to my family. I have asked him for duaas before Ramadan, Umrah and Hajj. And not onlyhe remembered, but one time he texted me from the Kabah, letting me know that my family & I are in his duaas. I don’t think, I am the only one, with this kind of an anecdote.I have frequently talked to him about many of my doubts and questions, and till date, he has always engaged in conversation and not lectures. He understands thatwe need to work on peoples’ hearts and minds both to convey the teaching and percepts of Islam. He understands the Western context and how the teachings of our prophets can be applied now and how the door of ijtihad should never be closed. I cannot wait to call him Dr. Aly Lela.I look forward to his jumaa Khutbas. My son & I listen to the recorded version during our Sunday talk and Quran reading. Many a times, I have called my daughters about what he said in the khutba to remind them and myself of its benefits. His talk after Maghrib salah has always drawn me to the masjid on a weekday. I have enjoyed his Quran recitation particularly during Taraweeh. His measured tone, is not only soothing for our ears and souls, but help in figuring out what is being recited.I used to LOVE his Friday Quran tafseer, before it moved to the reading and explanation of Al Ghazali’s book. His videos on Ahl-al Bait should be watched throughout the Muslim world, they have the potential to bring our Ummah (Shia andSunni) together.For a period, I worked with him as a part of outreach committee at IAGD. I felt very proud that he was representing Muslims and Islam in the interfaith gatherings. May Allah SWT bless him and his family. And I hope that he continues to lead us in our spiritual journey.

Great Imam Masha Allah
Approachable Available Competent Diligent Thrust-worthy Intelligent And very very intellectually and intelligently guiding people to the right path with Wisdom in accordance with Quran and Sunnab
Both Adults and Youth
Amazing Qirat during Taraweh would make you wish it would go in for everAnd the list goes on Subhan Allah we were so blessed to have Imam Aly Lela as our mentor.
A great loss to the IAGD community to not have him lead the community going forward.
It will be extremely hard to find a match.

I don't remember when I first met him. He struck with his personality, humble smile and friendly talk. A very knowledgeable yet humble person, Imam Lela is the kind of leader we all should look for in the current environment we are in. I always enjoyed his interesting and informative talks I feel good that I crossed his path at some point in my life

Respected Imam Lela, thanks for everything you have done for this community .You have touched our heart in so many ways. May Allah bless you and your family with HIS choosiest blessing. Ameen.