Yahiya J. Emerick was born into an American Christian family and converted to Islam while in college. He has since become a nationally recognized author, educator, and lecturer. He is the vice-principal of an Islamic parochial school in Westbury, NY, and president of the Islam foundation of North American, an organization that produces textbooks and literature on Islam and Muslims. He is the author of 16 books most recently The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Islam, published to great success in October 2001.

His other books include What Islam Is All About, the standard textbook on Islamic studies and used in hundreds of parochial schools throughout the English-speaking world. He lectures widely around the United States and has been interviewed on numerous radio and television programs. His articles have been published in dozens of secular and religious magazines. He is also a regular Imam during Muslim congregational services and has served on the national boards of several Islamic organizations. His taped commentaries on Islam are widely distributed and well received.