NEWS

 

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110430/NEWS/104300323
 

Rep. Maurice Hinchey speaks Friday at a mosque in Newburgh. Imam Salahuddin Muhammad is at left.TOM BUSHEY/Times Herald-Record

By Doyle Murphy

Times Herald-Record

Published: 2:00 AM - 04/30/11

CITY OF NEWBURGH — Rep. Maurice Hinchey told Muslims in Newburgh that the congressional hearings on radical Islam were wrong.

Hinchey, D-Hurley, spoke to a group of nearly 100 men following Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Ikhlas.

Dr. Riaz Chaudhry introduced the congressman as "a friend, a friend of this community and, above all, a friend of humanity."

Hinchey told the group he openly disagreed with Republican Rep. Peter King's decision to hold hearings in March that promised to examine the extent of radicalization of Islam in the U.S., and the Muslim community's response.

"I assume he thought that this hearing would have some political advantage," Hinchey said. King, a congressman from Long Island, has repeatedly said the hearings were an attempt to understand and deal with a very real threat.

Dr. Quasar Choudhury said Friday that the hearings were designed to tap into political fears. He said it's true that a few people have done bad things in twisted understanding of Islam, but he doubted that King really thought all Muslims were dangerous.

"I don't believe he is a bad man," Choudhury said. "I think he wants to take advantage of a political situation."

Hinchey praised the diversity of the United States' many religions, and told the men at the mosque he appreciated the contributions they had made since coming to this country.

A large portion of Muslims who attend the mosque have immigrated to the United States, but Imam Salahuddin Muhammad reminded the Hinchey that many had grown up right here, with the same dreams for their futures and their families as anyone else. "We want what everybody else wants," Muhammad said.

He led the men in a prayer for Hinchey, who recently announced he has been diagnosed with colon cancer and will undergo treatments.

"We want to just ask as we're here today that the almighty creator guides him, and heals him," Salahuddin said.

dmurphy@th-record.com

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http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/April/30/Mosque_Hinchey-30Apr11.html

Please click on the link for a small video of the event

Politicos, Newburgh Muslims, embrace cultural diversity

From left, Dr. Riaz Chaudhry, Imam Muhammad, Hinchey, Valentine     (HD. May be viewed full-screen) NEWBURGH – The emphasis was on friendship and sharing among cultures during the Friday afternoon prayers at the Masjid Al Ikhlas mosque in Newburgh.  There was the large gathering of the faithful.  There were also visitors, notably, Rep. Maurice Hinchey and Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine. “The key to Newburgh’s success is going to be in its religious institutions.  I believe in that with all my heart,” said the mayor. The quality of diversity was noted by Senior Imam Dr. Salahuddin Muhammad. “That God made us into different nations and tribes so that we can get to know each other,” he said. “That tells me that he did that on purpose.  He made us different purposely and not for a bad reason.  He made us different so that we can enlarge what we have.” During the prayer service, Imam Muhammad made a point of the importance of having cross-cultural friendships. Hinchey said this all adds up to the greatness of America. “All of these things are critically essential and deeply important for the way that our country has developed and the continuing future of this country,” he said. Even the political differences between Democrat Hinchey and Republican Valentine once again seemed to disappear.  But then, the two politicians have a long history of working closely together.

 

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Newburgh Muslims mark Eid by giving

By Doyle Murphy

Times Herald-Record

Published: 2:00 AM - 09/11/10

CITY OF NEWBURGH — Young men worked quickly among the boxes in the basement of the mosque.

More chips in this box, another bar of soap in that one. Powdered milk for the babies.

Ahmed Rehman said members of Masjid al-Ikhlas on Washington Terrace planned to put together 200 care packages for victims of disastrous floods in Pakistan.

They had returned to the mosque following a morning prayer service in Poughkeepsie to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. The holiday marks the end of the monthlong daytime fast of Ramadan, and a giant meal of curried beef and chicken with rice was being assembled two stories above the young men.

One of the purposes of Ramadan is to remind Muslims what it feels like to be hungry.

It's also a time that encourages generosity. In the basement, this has come in small gifts of cash from dozens of people to buy enough food and toiletries to sustain families as they try to survive the floods.

Rehman likes the idea of small gestures that add up to a larger good.

In Newburgh, he said, those who attend the mosque have taken that approach to tie into the community. Neighbors have been welcome to join them for evening meals, and local kids often play ball in the parking lot. It's the small gestures they hope deliver a larger message of welcome — especially now with battles raging over a proposed mosque near Ground Zero and a Florida preacher's on-again-off-again plans to burn Qurans.

Upstairs, Imam Salahuddin Muhammad called to nearly a dozen little kids.

"Children, children, we have gifts for you," Muhammad said.

The kids run over, still carrying "Happy Eid" balloons and accept presents of candy money and puzzles. Eid is about the gathering. The more the better.

Mujahid Sarsur, 21, a U.S. citizen, who said he is from Palestine, had come to Newburgh for Eid with five or six classmates from Bard College. In his small village, he said, he would go house to house with relatives to visit people. The Eid celebration in Newburgh gives him a link.

"Being here is nice to have such a community and stay connected," Sarsur said.

dmurphy@th-record.com

 

US CONGRESS PASSES RAMADAN BILL This is HISTORIC for American- Muslims and Muslims around the world. This is the first time in history that the United States Congress will commemorate and recognize the month of Ramadan as the Islamic holy month. The language from the bill text is below for your viewing.   110th CONGRESS 1st Session - H. RES. 635 Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 5, 2007 Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York , and Mr. KEITH ELLISON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith. Whereas since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, threats and incidents of violence have been directed at law-abiding, patriotic Americans of African, Arab, and South Asian descent, particularly members of the Islamic faith; Whereas, on September 14, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of the terrorist attacks; Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims worldwide; Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commences at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That-- (1) during this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and (2) in observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion. The Congress passed the resolution unanimously 376-0 on October 2, 2007

 

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EID NYC STYLE.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071010191023.zonyv389&show_article=1

New York's iconic Empire State Building is to be lit up green from Friday in honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid, the biggest festival in the Muslim calendar marking the end of Ramadan, officials said.

"This is the first time that the Empire State Building will be illuminated for Eid, and the lighting will become an annual event in the same tradition of the yearly lightings for Christmas and Hannukah," according to a statement.

Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month, is expected to be celebrated in New York from Friday, depending on when the new moon is sighted, and the city's tallest skyscraper will remain green until Sunday.

Built in the early 1930s, the 443-meter-tall (1,454-feet-tall) Empire State Building was first lit up with colored lighting in 1976, when red, white and blue lights were used to mark the American Bicentennial.

An estimated seven million Muslims live in the United States
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http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050829/NEWS01/508290317/1006

 

Monday, August 29, 2005

Mosque expanding to accommodate growth

By Nik Bonopartis
Poughkeepsie Journal

NEWBURGH — As more Muslim families have made the mid-Hudson Valley their home, the crowd at Masjid Al Ikhlas has swelled at Friday prayer services.

With almost 500 members, the tiny mosque is no longer large enough to support its growing congregation and plans have been made to double its size.

On Sunday, local Muslims celebrated their plans for a larger mosque with a groundbreaking ceremony and picnic. Mosque leaders handed their shovels to the youngest worshippers, deferring to them to break the ground.

"We want to show them the importance of the mosque and have them involved in the process," mosque Treasurer Ahmed Rehman said.

And the mosque's older members realize after they've laid the foundation for a Muslim community in the mid-Hudson Valley, it's their youngest members who will lead local Muslims a decade or two from now as the community keeps growing.

"We need to accommodate them and their needs," mosque board member Dr. Quasar Choudhry said, "because our community grew so much in the last couple of years."

Building expansion

The initial phase of construction will more than double the mosque's size to 6,750 square feet, including a large dome based on a mold made for the Masjid Al-Noor in Wappingers Falls, Rehman said.

Constructing the exterior will cost $230,000. Members hope to have that phase completed by the time the Ramadan holiday arrives in mid-October. From there, members estimate it will cost about $100,000 for electrical and mechanical work, $85,000 to finish the interior and $50,000 for final exterior work.

The costs are being covered by donations from mosque members and the community.

"The whole thing runs on donations," said Saleh Sarwar, a Newburgh cardiologist. "Whoever has more means contributes more."

The land to build the expansion was also donated.

Although they don't have a specific date for completion of the expanded mosque, members are pushing to have it done as quickly as possible to save costs, Rehman said.

Along with its religious functions, members envision its use as a meeting place and community hall, as well as a soup kitchen for the needy — both Muslim and non-Muslim — in the immediate Newburgh area.

"Our community," Zareen Altariq of Middletown said, "would like to help, too."

Nik Bonopartis can be reached at nbonopar@poughkeepsiejournal.com

How to help

 

For information on the Masjid Al Ikhlas in Newburgh, call 845-561-5610. To donate to Project TEAM (to establish a Masjid), write Project TEAM, P.O. Box 2117, Newburgh, NY, 12550.

 

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/08/29/raikhlas.htm

TIMES HERALD RECORD
August 29, 2005

Housing the faithful

   Worshippers won't have to give praise in mosque parking lot for much longer
   
   By Ramsey Al-Rikabi
   Times Herald-Record
   ral-rikabi@th-record.com
   
   Newburgh – His voice was fuzzy through the little black loudspeaker, but Imam Salahuddin Muhammad's words were clear.
   "Today is a beautiful day," he said yesterday. "A beautiful day."
   The groundbreaking for the expansion of the Al-Ikhlas Mosque was a long time coming. After 13 years, the members had outgrown the cream-colored former warehouse on Washington Terrace. They simply couldn't fit everyone inside anymore.
   This past Friday the front room overflowed with footwear – work boots, tennis shoes, loafers, leather sandals and a little pair of Spiderman sneakers. It was an Islamic holy day and about 75 men were crammed into the meeting hall. Twice the assistant Imam, Hamin Rashada, urged them, "bothers, can you move up?" as later-comers filed in.
   Outside, on the pavement of the parking lot, half-shaded from the sun, about 20 listened to the sermon through a black speaker.
   Sitting on the ground, they listened to Rashada say, "Name one thing," his voice rising for effect, "that Allah would deem an insignificant thing."
   Sitting on a blue tarp and a long blanket, they, like the ones packed inside, faced east towards Mecca, Islam's holiest site. When passages from the Quran were read and the words "Allahu Akbar" – God is great – were spoken, they knelt, foreheads to the ground, all in time with the men inside.
   All the while, silences were filled with the clacks and bangs of four laborers in baseball caps banging around the basement's fresh concrete next door, moving along the expansion the congregation knew they needed for the past three years.
   In all, the expansion will cost $450,000, about half of which has been raised, and should be done by next summer. No one will have to sit outside anymore; it will more than double the mosque's space.
   When the mosque, also known as the Islamic Learning Center of Orange County, opened in 1992, the membership was about 50 families, Muhammad estimates. Now, he says, they have about 300 to 400 members. Before they gutted and refurbished this warehouse, they met in the NAACP office in Newburgh or in a Beacon store front.
   "We really didn't have a masjid (mosque), we were just meeting here and there," he said.
   The growth in membership mirrors the expanding population of Orange County, with many people seeking an affordable house, or "a safer environment for their children," Muhammad said.
   Yesterday, for the ceremonial groundbreaking, Muhammad led a group of children, mosque leaders and city dignitaries across two narrow planks placed over a ditch. There, one by one, they scraped up some dirt in a shovel, posed for a quick photo and flung the dirt into the ditch.
   Under a yellow-and-white tent with balloons tied to the stakes, people ate burgers and hot dogs and lamb and chatted. Pakistanis and Indians. Blacks and whites. Albanians and Bangladeshis. Born here and immigrants. All here to enjoy the fact that, finally, they will all fit.