Imam Muhammad Shaaf Salaam has been the resident Imam of Masjid Bilal, since December of 2004. Imam Salaam has been married to Myra Salaam for 28 years he has five children and 3 grand children. In 2007 he and his wife were granted custody of a two month old.

Imam Muhammad accepted Islam in 1973 under the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. After the death of Elijah in 1975, he remained under the leadership of his son Imam W.D Muhammad, who brought the community into the fold of Al-Islam (see more on W.D Muhammad).

Imam Muhammad was born Calvin Leon Tyler. He changed his name in 1976 to Muhammad Shaaf Salaam. He choose this name in order to build his character around it’s meaning (One who praises Allah-God much, One who intends to heal, and peace).

Imam Muhammad has an extensive background as a corrections officer in the State of Virginia. He worked as a deputy sheriff for the Richmond Sheriff’s department for ten years.

 In Dec, 1990 he and his family moved to Hagerstown, MD. , where he worked as an Islamic Chaplain for the Md. Dept. of Corrections, He became a Certified Trainer for Trainers for the state of Md. , and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s designated personnel to hear and recommend solutions for disputes between Wardens, staff, and inmates. He also conducted services and counseled inmates on a daily basis. In 1999 to he began to work as a counselor/correctional officer for Dept of Juvenile Justice for the state of Va, where he was employed for ten years. Learn More