Imam Akbar is married to Sister Darlene A. Akbar. In their 38-year marriage, they have parented seven daughters and have sixteen grandchildren. He has served as Imam since 1989. Having embraced the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1968, he accepted the new direction initiated by Imam W.D. Mohammed in 1975. He has diligently served in the role of Imam since 1977, including ten years as the Resident Imam of Harrisburg, PA. During his tenure as Imam of the Harrisburg masjid, Imam Akbar led the community to acquire its own property, which was renovated and fully paid for in less than five years. Under his leadership, the Harrisburg masjid became involved in the broader community, participating in such activities as voter registration drives, anti-crime seminars and family-oriented events. He established an annual Family and Community Day Program that attracted participants from the public and private sector of the community. Along with efforts to build a strong infrastructure (e.g., Radio broadcast of Imam W.D. Mohammed, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Prison Services, etc.), Imam Khalil worked hard to establish cooperation between the various groups of Muslims in the greater Harrisburg area.
In 1984, Imam Akbar enrolled in the Lincoln University Master of Human Services Program. He completed this program and earned a Masters of Human Services Degree in 1986. Through Harrisburg Masjid’s Prison Services Program, Khalil developed an interest in Prison Chaplaincy. As a Contract Chaplain, he completed a unit (400 hours of supervision) of Clinical Pastoral at the State Correctional Facility at Camp Hill, PA. The Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc, certified this training. To pursue a career in correctional Chaplaincy, Imam Akbar applied for and was selected to the position of Clinical Chaplain II/Coordinator of Islamic Studies in the Western Half of the North Carolina. As a result of this appointment, he resigned as Resident Imam of Harrisburg Masjid in December of 1987 and moved shortly afterwards with his family to Charlotte, NC.
In 1988, Imam Akbar began working with several Muslim families in Charlotte who identified with the leadership of Imam W.D. Mohammed. These Muslim families sought Imam Akbar’s assistance in establishing a place of worship that would belong to the association of mosques that supported Imam Mohammed’s leadership. Through a collective effort, Charlotte Masjid of Al-Islam (now Masjid Ash-Shaheed) was established in 1989. Imam Akbar was officially elected as Resident Imam in 1990. During Imam Akbar’s service as Resident Imam, our leader, Imam W.D. Mohammed, visited the city of Charlotte several times.
Imam Akbar is sought after for dialogue by civic and religious groups in Charlotte. He has served on the Board of Directors for the local branch of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) as well as Mecklenburg Ministries, an interfaith coalition in Mecklenburg County. Recently, Imam Akbar was asked to serve on the Charlotte Community Building Task Force, a diverse group of people whose race, culture, political beliefs and economic status are varied so they can enrich the planning process for an upcoming conference on race and community building. He has also served on the consultative body of Imams both in the city and in the state of North Carolina. Additionally, he has contributed to, and worked for cooperation between local Muslim communities in the city.
Imam Akbar performed Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia) in 1996.