After the question-and-answer session, Salman Ahmad, who started the popular Asia rock band Junoon, took the stage with his guitar.

He told a short story of a student in an Islamic school. The student asked his teacher why he should wash his hands and feet if his heart wasn't clean.

The teacher replied that it was important to follow religious rituals and that such questions would be answered in the next life.

The student left the school, grew his hair long and began singing poetry.

The story was captured by Punjabi and Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah. Ahmad turned them into lyrics he sang:

"Water nor dust are neither what makes me.

"I am not flame. I am not wind.

"I am not pure. I am not vile.

"I’m no Moses and I’m no Pharoah.

"But, Bulleh, who is it that I am?

"Bulleya, who am I?"

The standing-room only crowd gave Ahmad a loud ovation.

"This opportunity will continue," Esposito said, noting that On Faith will host other discussions at Georgetown.

Quinn thanked everyone for coming.

"We will on On Faith devote one week to the good imams," Quinn told Hendi.