So I am looking at the picture in the Lodi News-Sentinel of Imam Muhammad Adil Khan, currently being held on “immigration violations” and I said to myself, “I know this guy.”

As it happened, in 2003 I was a guest at a Pakistani wedding. These are incredibly involved ceremonies that take place over three days.

The groom and his family are good friends so I agreed to go…but only to the last part when the food is served.

While we were eating, the Imam stood up directly behind me and began to address the large group in Urdu.

Immediately, he began to yell and gesticulate wildly. The longer he spoke–and he spoke for a long time–the louder he became.

One thing was clear—this was not a typical “may you live happily ever after” speech directed to the newly weds.

I asked my hosts, good people who have found the proper balance between their Islamic faith and their status as American citizens, what had put the Imam in such a foul mood.

They grimaced and said, “We try not to pay too much attention to him.”

As I look back, I can’t help but wonder if the imam wasn’t delivering his Islamic version of fire and brimstone.