Masjids In America Tahany Azzab 

Masjids In America 

By: Tahany Azzab

Muslims in America still enjoy religious freedom, just like other American citizens of other faiths. This includes the right to establish mosques and practice their own religious rituals freely.Worth mentioning, Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity in the United States, and mosques are not new phenomena present on the American scene. Some sources indicate that the construction of some mosques may date back to the sixteenth century, with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors to America.According to statistics, there are approximately 3,000 mosques spread across all US states, particularly in major cities and densely populated urban areas such as California and New York. Washington, D.C., is home to one of the most important Islamic centers, considered the largest in the Western Hemisphere.This massive number of mosques affirms the right of the American Muslim community in practicing its faith freely, just like other religious communities within the country.It also reflects the diversity within the Muslim community. The vast majority of Muslim Americans prefer to live in the areas surrounding these mosques, due to their strong spiritual connection to them and their keen desire to preserve their Islamic identity.In the following lines, I will highlight one of these centers, the Islamic Center Of Milwaukee in Brookfield, for its distinctive characteristics.This center is one of several branches that work under the umbrella of the main ISM center located on the south side of Milwaukee. And ISM Brookfield is located on the west side of the city; it is the only center serving Muslims in the western region.It can accommodate more than 300 worshippers at once. The center is affiliated with Al-Noor Sunday School, which specializes in teaching Muslim students the fundamentals of the Islam. The school enrolls approximately 150 students, aged 5 to 15, who study three core religious subjects: Islamic studies, Seerah of Prophet Mohammed, and Quranic interpretation.The center also offers classes for Arabic language instruction, Quran memorization, recitation, and interpretation, as well as numerous other programs targeting women, children, youth, and Muslim families in general, all of which are prepared and supervised by a team of experts.The center’s activities are distinguished by their cultural diversity. This distinction is evident in Ramadan celebrations, where Muslims of all backgrounds come together to celebrate Ramadan nights, especially during Tarawih prayers.They also participate in group iftars, which are characterized by their cultural diversity, and attend religious lectures, which strengthen social bonds among them and facilitate the exchange of different cultures.What distinguishes the Muslim community in Brookfield is its progressive, evolutionary nature. This orientation is evident in its members’ high awareness of the need for American Muslims to connect with their mosques, the importance of active participation in public affairs, and their focus on the role of the participation of Muslim women in building a strong Islamic society.The organization of activities and events and the management of the center are overseen by 11 council members, elected by the Muslim community every three years. Their role is to directly supervise the religious, financial, construction, technical, outreach and other administrative functions of the center. The council is led by a president, elected by the members of the council, who holds the title of “Ameer.”One of the most important characteristics of the ISM-Brookfield is its support for women and the opportunity to work alongside men, without prejudice. A Muslim woman of Indian origin was appointed the Ameera and has been in charge of the center leadership for 4 consecutive years. During these years, she gained the admiration of members of the Muslim community and the trust of its leaders.While, men control the majority of Islamic institutions and centers in the United States, the success of a Muslim woman in running the affairs of the Muslim community strengthens the role of women in general, and Muslim women in particular.Participating in the leadership of religious institutions, proves women’s ability to lead with success. It shatters the stereotype projected by the American media onto public opinion, which depicts Muslim women as weak and oppressed.A Muslim woman’s leadership role, in turn, reinforces her right to participate in the nation’s public affairs, a right guaranteed by the Islamic faith, and absolves Muslim men of the charge of dominating and subjugating Muslim women.It is worth noting that women seeking leadership, does not necessarily mean competing with men or seizing power and imposing their opinion on them, but rather working side by side for the public matters.Leadership in Islam is based on the principles of shura, justice, and equality, which the leathe leader, whether male or female, must adhere to. The role of the Ameera is purely administrative, and does not include leading men in prayers, preaching, or issuing religious fatwas. This is the role of the Imam, who is responsible for supervising these matters within the center’s religious affairs, the ISM-Brookfield model highlights the importance of providing a healthy environment that allows Muslim women to join men in their efforts to build a civilized Muslim society that keeps pace with the progression in American society. This helps Muslims integrate and engage in public life, rather than living in a shell, fragmenting, and isolating themselves. The role of mosques in the United States extends beyond worship and prayer. As explained above, in the Al-Noor Mosque model, the mosque is part of a multi-faceted institution. It provides educational, cultural, recreational, and awareness-raising services for all ages, in addition to its advocacy role for the common good. This mission aims to preserve the Muslim identity of each individual, deepen bonds with the rest of society, and provide aid and support to members of the community to persevere in their faith and protect youth from moral diseases.