Imam Omar Hazim has released “Islam in the Heartland of America,” an audiobook that presents firsthand accounts of Muslim American life through Friday sermons and community narratives from the Islamic Center of Topeka, Kansas. Now available on major audiobook platforms, including Audible, Storytel, and Audiobooks Now for $12.59 to $19.95, the seven-hour-and-26-minute production aims to clarify misconceptions about Islam by showcasing how the faith is practiced in America’s heartland rather than through political debates or media stereotypes.
From Topeka Pulpit to Digital Platform
The audiobook compiles Friday sermons, known as Khutbahs, delivered by Imam Hazim and several other spiritual leaders at the Islamic Center of Topeka, according to Audible’s product description. Narrated by Perry F. Bruns, the work was published through Omar Hazim Publishing House and became available to listeners on September 19, 2025, according to multiple audiobook retailers.
Imam Hazim has served as the imam of the Islamic Center of Topeka and Islamic advisor to the Kansas Department of Corrections since 1990, according to the mosque’s official website. The Topeka mosque website notes that Hazem, a builder by trade, helped establish many mosques and Islamic centers in the Kansas City area and was the first Muslim to give the invocation to the Kansas House of Representatives and Senate on March 9, 1995. He received the 2015 Peace Award from The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice for his interfaith work.
Centering Everyday Faith Over Headlines
According to the press release distributed by AB Newswire, the audiobook deliberately shifts focus away from political discourse to examine “everyday life—how Muslims in America practice their faith, engage with their neighbors, and navigate cultural misunderstandings”. The release states that Imam Hazim “draws from years of leadership and community engagement to present Islam as millions of Americans live it: thoughtfully, peacefully, and with deep roots in American values”.
The audiobook explores themes including the lived experience of Muslims in the American Midwest and heartland, faith and identity in a pluralistic society, overcoming misconceptions about Islam, the role of community and service in Muslim American life, and shared values between Islam and broader American culture, according to the press release.
Tapping Growing Audiobook Market
The release comes as audiobooks continue to gain popularity as a preferred medium for educational content. AB Newswire noted that the audiobook format “allows audiences to engage with complex topics in an accessible way—whether during commutes, workouts, or quiet moments of reflection”. The Islamic Center of Topeka stated the production is “designed for audiobook listeners seeking meaningful content” and represents an effort to reach audiences interested in religion, social identity, and American diversity.
According to the press release, the companion website at islamintheheartlandofamerica.com provides additional resources, including Friday sermons, Islamic FAQs, and educational materials. The Islamic Center of Topeka, which has operated since 1990 and expanded three or four times according to local news coverage, serves as the physical hub for the content featured in the audiobook.
Interfaith Focus and Educational Mission
The Topeka Center mosque website documents that Imam Hazim has addressed topics including death, sickness, suffering, social justice, the status of women in Islam, jihad, human and civil rights, and the Islamic view on life after death at venues including Stormont-Vail Hospital, The Menninger Foundation, St. Francis Hospital, Washburn University, and various churches, schools, and civic clubs in Topeka since 1975. He served on the board of directors for Interfaith of Topeka Inc. for seven years and has been associated with the organization since its inception.
The press release emphasized that the audiobook “addresses themes of faith, belonging, and cultural understanding, making it timely for listeners interested in religion, social identity, and American diversity”. AB Newswire stated the work emphasizes “that Islam in America is not a foreign concept, but an integral part of the nation’s social and cultural fabric”.
For interviews or additional information, media contacts can reach the Islamic Center of Topeka via the audiobook’s official website, islamintheheartlandofamerica.com, according to the press release.