Shadid Lewis is an American Muslim apologist and debater who participated in early Acts 17 Apologetics debates in Norfolk, Virginia in 2008. He is the founder and director of the Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI), a dawah organization focused on public debates and discussions defending Islam, active primarily in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Lewis rose to prominence in online apologetics circles through a series of debates in 2008-2009, including several against David Wood of Acts 17 Apologetics and others like Sam Shamoun on topics such as the prophethood of Muhammad, women's rights in Islam, and the crucifixion of Jesus. These events, held in venues like Norfolk State University and local mosques, were recorded and widely circulated on YouTube, establishing him as a key figure in early Muslim-Christian public debate circuits. His debating style emphasizes scriptural references, historical context, and calm rebuttals, often quoting the Quran in Arabic alongside English translations. Through MDI, he has organized and participated in numerous interfaith dialogues and street dawah efforts. While specific personal details like education or early life remain undocumented in public sources, his work highlights tensions in American Muslim-Christian apologetics, with critics accusing him of evasive responses on sensitive issues like apostasy laws, though no formal controversies, legal issues, or financial disclosures are publicly associated with him.