Community News (V16-I5)

Muslim student conference held at Ohio State

A conference titled “In the Words the Prophet: The Last Sermon” (s) was held at the Ohio State University recently which attracted a number of participants from Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

The conference featured three speakers from different parts of the U.S. Self-help author Yasmin Mogahed gave one of the keynote speeches, the Lantern reported.

“The Prophet Muhammad (s) was sent as the most beautiful example, and he is also described as a mercy to all of mankind and therefore, we have to study his example, and what more important way to study him than through his last advice,” Mogahed said.

The event also featured Siraj Wahhaj and Mohamed Abutaleb, a teacher at the Oak Tree Institute of Islamic education.

Staten Island event celebrates Prophet’s (s) legacy

STATEN ISLAND, NY–An interfaith event to celebrate the life and legacy of Prophet Muhammad (s) was held at the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center. It was attended by over 200 people of all faiths.

Imam Tahir Kukiqi provided biographical background on Muhammad’s (s) life and upbringing, his teachings and how throughout his life he had continuous influential reactions with non-Muslims, including Christians and Jews.

“Muhammad’s (s) mission and message was spread love to all humanity,” said Imam Ferid Bedrolli, the center’s secretary.

Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) said he was impressed with the way the center has grown with the Island community over the years, embracing everyone regardless of nationality or religion — truly living up to the words of Prophet Muhammad (s).

Nassau County Muslims donate blankets, food

The Muslim Community of Nassau County, a newly formed coalition of mosques and other Muslim organizations, donated some 300 blankets and hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items to the Long Island Council of Churches last month, the LI Herald reports.

The MCNC formed in October, and comprises several Muslim organizations across the county, including the Long Island Muslim Society on East Meadow Avenue — where the donation ceremony took place — the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury, Hamza Masjid in Valley Stream, Masjid Al-Baqi in Bethpage, Muhammadi Masjid in Elmont, the Hillside Islamic Center in New Hyde Park and Jaam’e Masjid in Bellmore.

According to Habeeb Ahmed, an Albertson resident who belongs to the Islamic Center of Long Island, him and co-founder Mohammed Saleh, a Merrick resident who belongs to the Long Island Muslim Society, asked the congregations to donate money for the blankets, as well as food. “The first initial thing we thought we’d all do is a little bit of charity,” said Ahmed,

He added that the Muslim Community has had a longstanding relationship with the LICC. “I was seeing what good things they do for the whole community, not just for Christians, but for anybody who is in need of anything.”

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