He did his undergraduate work at Harvard University and obtained both his M.D. and his M.S. in Biomedical Physics at UCLA. He has been an active member of the Los Angeles Muslim community for over 30 years. During that time, he has served on the boards of various organizations, including the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Islamic Center of Southern California, and the New Horizon School System. He has given numerous lectures on Islam, and is the co-author of two Islamic books: The American Muslim Identity, and In Pursuit of Justice. He has had a lifelong interest in the intersection of science and faith.