Meet an innoFaither: Mohammed Al Samawi
Meet Mohammed Al Samawi (known as Mo), Founder and President of Abrahamic House, a multi-faith co-living and co-creating space in Washington, D.C. to learn, share, pray, celebrate, connect, and serve. Mo’s personal journey, from war-torn Yemen to the U.S., led him from harboring a deep suspicion of other faiths to becoming a devoted peace and interfaith advocate. Mo, who lives in Virginia, wrote a gripping memoir about his journey that is now being made into a movie.
What faith(s), if any, do you practice? How does your tradition and/or spiritual practice inspire or influence you as an innovator?
I am lucky to have been born to spiritual parents who truly value a relationship with God. I was born in Yemen as a Muslim, and I am proud to be one. My mom is Sunni and my dad is Shia, so I sometimes like to joke and say I am “Sushi!” Over the years, my perspective has become more celebratory of other faiths as well. I love practicing Islam, but I also love incorporating practices from other traditions, such as reading the Bible, celebrating Shabbat, or attending Baha'i firesides. Through investigating other faiths, as well as my own, my practices have changed. The most important thing for me is to develop my relationship with God. I believe this process is a personal journey unique to each person. There is a beautiful phrase in the Quran that I love: "Oh human beings, we created you from different backgrounds and nations so you can know each other." That is exactly how I like to connect with God, and it deeply impacts both my life and my work.
What are you currently working on?
When I came to the United States, I created Abrahamic House, a nonprofit focused on using interfaith engagement and dialogue to build bridges across divides through encounters with people of all faiths, or none. Honestly, I created Abrahamic House for myself because I wanted to build a community. As a refugee, when you arrive in a new country, you often don't have family or friends to support you; I wanted to find that kind of connection. In the five years since, Abrahamic House has become more than just a community for me to belong to; it has become a piece of heaven for others. Now, I am focusing on how we can expand the impact we have in Washington, D.C. to other cities. I'm lucky that this year Abrahamic House is progressing to its next stage, thanks to the hiring of Debra Feinberg as our new Executive Director. Debra knows how to effectively scale the organization. Our dream is to have Abrahamic House nationwide—and who knows, maybe one day outside the U.S. as well.
What can we find you doing when you're not working?
When I'm not working, you can find me focusing on my personal development. I'm always looking to grow as a human being. I really enjoy writing and I'm currently getting back into it after a busy season of life. I wrote a memoir called The Fox Hunt, which has been very popular and is currently being made into a movie. Additionally, I love spiritual connection and I really enjoy meeting people, experiencing their traditions, and celebrating with them. It’s a reflection of what I love to do in my work. I also enjoy watching movies, listening to music, and walking in nature.
What is piquing your curiosity these days?
When I was 13, during the Second Intifada, I saw videos of Palestinian children killed in the war. It filled me with a desire for revenge and even led to antisemitic thoughts. However, my journey through interfaith work transformed those feelings.
With the events of October 7th and the war in Gaza, I see that same hate being used to educate children and inform trauma, instead of letting them simply develop as kids. It is disheartening to see adults my age expressing those same divisive sentiments. I feel the older generation failed to protect me from these cycles of hate, and we are currently failing to protect the children of today from this new wave of animosity.
My curiosity now is focused on finding ways to help others during crises—specifically, how I can help children understand, love, and simply live their childhoods. Instead of filling them with the hate that adults often spread, we should focus on helping youth understand what love and connection with others truly mean.
What is something you’d like help on?
One area I would like help with is cooking. I have a disability on the right side of my body, specifically in my hand and leg. Back in Yemen, my mother prepared all my meals, so I was fortunate to always enjoy delicious food. Since moving to the United States, I've faced challenges cooking for myself. Simple tasks like chopping vegetables, fruit, or meat can take a lot of effort, and sometimes I struggle to do them effectively. This has led me to buy pre-chopped ingredients or takeout, which isn't a sustainable or economical solution. I would greatly appreciate any advice regarding techniques or tools that could make cooking more manageable, especially from anyone in a similar situation.
What is something you can offer others in the innoFaith network?
I believe I can offer a unique perspective and expertise in interfaith engagement, refined over 15 years. My approach comes from personal necessity and growth, moving from suspicion to deep understanding. I also possess a strong skill for fostering friendships, which I believe is a powerful tool for creating healthy co-working and co-living spaces, as we do at Abrahamic House. This foundation of safety and trust is crucial for helping people thrive.
You can connect with Mo through the Abrahamic House website or Instagram. You can stay looped in to the programming at Abrahamic House by signing up for their newsletter, following them on social media, or checking their website for upcoming events.