Imam Ibin Saud wore a grey business suit and matching tie, instead of a traditional Islamic attire. He was a tall, sturdy man who had been born in the Bronx to a working-class African-American family. He was well-known to the African and Caribbean residents who lived in Le Petit Senegal, as the Harlem neighbourhood was called. Many of the residents prayed in the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque and sought his advice on spiritual and secular matters.

His destination was the mosque but first, he planned to visit Isia Lumier. She was overwhelmed with worry for her husband, Jean-Paul, who disappeared two weeks ago. The Imam rode the C subway line to the 116th Street Station and walked up to the street level. Two women wearing hijabs were walking up the block in his direction. He recognized them, two sisters from Ghana. He stopped to pay adab, the tradition of courtesy, “As-Salaam Alaikum.”

Both women smiled. “Wa alaikum salam,” they replied in unison.

“Are you on your way to work?” he asked.

“Yes Imam,” the woman named Dofi answered.

“Have you said the Fajr?” It was a baited question.

“Yes, we have. Allah give thanks for your guidance,” Dofi replied.

The Imam blessed them and continued on his way. It was seven-thirty in the morning and already the local street peddlers were setting up their wares on the sidewalks. Several men were unloading a van and filling up a table with incense, artwork and hand carved wood figures. Next to them, a man was using a fold-up stand and had laid out rows of Gucci sunglasses and Polo by Ralph Lauren sweatshirts that he suspected were knockoffs. Many of the vendors sold knockoff apparel and risked having their counterfeit goods seized. Although he disapproved of them selling knockoffs, he knew the men’s motives for selling the fakes were to send money home to support loved ones in their native countries. He passed an unfamiliar face and paused. The man was dressed in khakis and a sweatshirt. The Imam presumed the Prada sunglasses the man sold were counterfeit.

“Bonjour, Imam,” the man said. “As-Salaam Alaikum.”