IslaminSpanish builds bridge between Muslim and Hispanic communities

HOUSTON, Texas -- "I don't look at it as a religion, I look at it as a way of life."

IslaminSpanish was started by Mujahid Fletcher, who credits the Islam faith with saving his life from gang violence.

Fletcher converted from Catholicism, but found there was no material in the Spanish language. He, his wife, and his father began translating Islamic text to Spanish, and sharing it on CDs, then through audio books, television shows and live events.

They then started Centro Islamico in 2016, the country's first and only Spanish-speaking, Latino-led mosque. Members have moved from across the country to join, and IslaminSpanish now reaches millions around the world through the mosque and social media.

Fletcher, reflecting on all the organization has done over the years, added, "We're trying to leave this world better than the way we found it. We're glad that we're able to represent what it means to be, hopefully, the best version of being Latino, the best version of being a Muslim, the best version of being an American that we can be."