In a move sparking national backlash, a Houston-based imam affiliated with the Nation of Islam launched a campaign demanding Muslim-owned stores stop selling pork, alcohol, and gambling products—or face public protests. Imam F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan of Masjid At-Tawhid, speaking in viral videos circulating on TikTok and X, issued ultimatums to shop owners, warning that demonstrations will escalate unless “haram” items are purged from their inventory.
“We’re just getting started,” Khan told one store clerk. “In 30 days, we’re going city-wide.”
His message? Sharia compliance or public shaming. Khan’s demonstrations in front of local businesses have drawn comparisons to hardline “Sharia patrol” tactics seen in radicalized areas of Europe.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott didn’t mince words in response.
“I signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas,” he posted on X. “No business & no individual should fear fools like this.”
Abbott urged Texans to report any attempts to impose Sharia compliance to law enforcement or the Department of Public Safety.
I signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas.
No business & no individual should fear fools like this.
If this person, or ANYONE, attempts to impose Sharia compliance, report it to local law enforcement or the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. https://t.co/cVV2MJItLH
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 8, 2025
Critics warn the imam’s campaign is not only coercive but a potential flashpoint for creeping extremism. Videos show Khan confronting Muslim shopkeepers, insisting they’re violating Islamic law by selling forbidden products.
“We should love what Allah allows and hate what Allah hates,” he said while leading demonstrators through inner-city neighborhoods. “Little by little, one by one, we’re going to be visiting all the stores.”
Although no violence has been reported, the rhetoric is undeniable. Khan calls it da’wah—religious outreach—but the optics tell a different story. Armed with protest signs and camera crews, Khan accuses fellow Muslims of betraying their faith for profit, warning that the “best of the community” will only be realized through strict Islamic adherence.
Khan’s mosque, Masjid At-Tawhid, flies a Palestinian flag and employs private security personnel in uniforms that resemble local police. His red henna-dyed beard and firebrand style have become a visual marker of his strict Sharia-first ideology. While his protests remain within the bounds of free speech—for now—his message is unmistakable: Muslim-majority areas should adhere to Islamic principles, or face public pressure.
This comes amid broader concerns over Sharia-linked developments in Texas. Earlier this year, Abbott announced the state had halted construction on the so-called “EPIC City”—a proposed Muslim-only community near Dallas allegedly designed to operate under Sharia law.
“There is no construction taking place,” Abbott said, confirming multiple state and federal investigations into the project’s legality. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Attorney General Ken Paxton both raised constitutional concerns over religious discrimination and segregation.
Abbott connected the dots: “Texas takes matters like this seriously,” he wrote. “This is America. We don’t bend the law for imported ideologies.”
The rise of self-declared Islamic enforcers like Imam Khan—armed with a smartphone and a platform—signals a growing clash between religious radicalism and American law and culture. For now, Texans aren’t having it.
Neither is their governor.
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