He is an academic, so it only makes sense that Dr. Sameh Asal, imam of the Islamic Association of West Virginia, would think the best way to combat rising anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States is with more education.
But the kind of education Asal has in mind isn't about reading and memorizing texts, although he's a supporter of that, too.
It's about establishing interfaith partnerships, serving the community and interacting with other West Virginians. Asal understands that as his connections with the community grow, greater understanding of Islam will leave no room for hatred of what some Americans don't understand.
It's also about the understanding that meaningful communication with people of other faiths requires realizing people are at different starting points.
"I'm not going to be offended by anything," he says, when he speaks to groups. "Ask any question that comes to your mind."
"This openness dispels doubts and confusion," he said.
So to Asal, growing fear of Muslims in the United States isn't a challenge to overcome. It's an opportunity.
"I think it's a chance to educate many people," he said.
Asal was passionate about education and Islam from an early age.
Part of it was where he grew up - in the city of Menofiya, where education was emphasized by most other residents and in particular his parents, in Egypt, where religion is deeply valued.
It also had a lot do with him.
Asal said he jumped at the chance when his father asked him if he wanted to transfer from public school to the prestigious Al-Azhar University - one of the oldest universities in the world - in middle school. (While it's called a university, education for younger students is also provided.)
He put his mind to excelling in school, eventually leaving his last position as an imam in North Carolina to return to Egypt to defend his doctorate of philosophy in Islamic studies and English.
Upon his return, he became the imam of West Virginia's Islamic Association in June.
Despite the onslaught of hatred Muslims have experienced, Asal said he immediately felt warmth and love from the West Virginians he's met in his new home.
"I fell in love with Charleston," he said. "People here are very hospitable and kind."
He noticed that some West Virginians, though, seemed like they wished they were somewhere else. People kept asking him why he would leave Raleigh to come to Charleston.
"People here underestimate themselves," he said. "It gave me a feeling that people are not happy about staying here."
Being imam isn't a 9-to-5 job. He is imam when he's speaking at school, responding to media inquiries or counseling other Muslims. He also has to be ready to serve when he's playing with his kids, Abdul-Rahman, Maryam, Layan and Razan, or spending time with his wife, Amira El-Shabasy.
Faith and education are intertwined in Asal's life. Being imam involves consistently studying, progressing, improving.
"Calling" isn't the right term for it, according to him. That's too easy.
"It's much deeper than that," he said. "To me, it's a mission."
In November, Asal saw fear of Muslims begin to rise after what was believed to be a fake Syrian passport was found near one of the terrorists who killed 130 people in Paris.
It kept up after another attack in San Bernardino, California in December, when a terrorist couple opened fire at a work holiday party.
West Virginia hasn't been immune to hysteria over local events, either. A post on Facebook about "foreign Muslims" at the Kanawha State Forest shooting range got more than 1,000 shares on Facebook last month.
Asal is kindly and speaks with a gentle tone, but when the subject of anti-Muslim sentiment comes up, his voice takes on new urgency. After another horrific terrorist attack occurs, he notices a double standard in the coverage and conversations that follow.
"I have no doubt that the guy who attacked the church in South Carolinia, killing nine innocent people and terrifying many others is a terrorist," he said.
"He's not a terrorist because he's not Muslim?" he questions. "The guy who attacked the Planned Parenthood abortion clinics in Colorado. This is a terrorist attack, a terrorist assault. Name it criminal, name the person a crazy person or he is like this or has psychological problems, but this is a terrorist attack against innocent people."
In the wake of the attacks, it didn't take him long to discover another reason to love West Virginia.
An estimated 250 to more than 300 people turned out for a rally in support of Syrian refugees in November.
"I would say for bigger cities we might not have that number of people," he said.
Asal was amazed, and inspired.
"We're not alone in this," he said. "Together we are fighting hate and fighting xenophobia."
In Asal's eyes, a divine creator - whether you call him Allah or God - designed the world to be perfect for education and faith to thrive together. People of different faiths are meant to learn from each other.
"We are descendants of the same family," he said.
Asal broke out in Arabic for a moment, then referred to the Quran. "If your Lord so willed he would have made the whole of humanity as one nation, but they will continue to be diverse and different," he said.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.