The Islamic Center of Long Island (ICLI) is an active mosque a religious and cultural organization in Westbury, Long Island, New York. It was founded in 1984 to provide a worship space and community support for Muslims in Long Island and the environs. ICLI started as a small mosque and over the decade has expanded to be a center that is well-grounded in society. This is your one-stop source to know all you need to all about this significant home of worship and togetherness.
A Brief History
The stand for the establishment of the Islamic Center of Long Island was initiated by a few Muslim families who were desirous of establishing an Islamic Center to provide prayer places and social functions. Over the years the center has also grown thus increasing the facilities to offer to more congregation and also the services being offered. Today it is not only the mosque but also the center for providing educational, social, and cultural services.
Mission and Vision
The mission of IC LI is to encourage and support the principles of Islam such as caring for other people Justice, and volunteering. The center aims to promote tolerance and absolute openness; it invites Muslims to be loyal to the religion’s code of conduct while interacting with populated society. They have focused not only on the traditional role of the church but on diversifying their work in improving the intercultural relations between people of different creeds, encouraging their learning and sharing of information and experience through public programs.
Facilities and Services
The center offers a wide range of facilities designed to meet the needs of its community members:
- Prayer Halls: ICLI men and women pray in different prayer halls. These halls are available for use from morning till evening to enable Muslims to perform their five daily prayers as well as the Friday prayers which are considered crucial each week among Muslims.
- Educational Facilities: The center offers the following educational services, children’s Qur’an classes, and Islamic, and Arabic courses. For adults, ICLI organizes and provides lectures, workshops, and discussion forums on a wide range of Islamic and social issues.
- Social Hall: This area is used for social functions, weddings, and other related functions of the Church and its congregation. That is where most of the center’s large events and fundraisers are staged as well as commercial exhibitions.
- Library and Resource Center: Apart from catering to people’s need for entertainment, Islamic books like history, Jurisprudence, Spirituality books, and many others make it definitive for people in search of material to boost their understanding.
Educational Programs
Regarding each of the age groups, ICLI places a very high priority on education. Some of the center’s prominent programs include:
- Weekend Islamic School: This school is aimed at children of tender age and the adolescents with aim of imparting to them Islamic history and the Arabic language and values. The curriculum itself has been therefore designed in a way that allows the student to have a balanced Islamic education within the development of critical thinking skills.
- Youth Programs: ICLI is aware of the need to target young Muslims, and therefore provides programs for youth which include leadership, social activities, as well as volunteering. Some of these programs are aimed at creating confidence in youngsters and developing responsibility and ubuntu in Muslims.
- Adult Classes and Lectures: For adults, ICLI provides periodic courses in the Quran, Hadith, and Islamic law. These courses help one understand the teachings of Islam and are usually keen with both Muslims and those who have intentions of embracing the religion.
Interfaith and Community Outreach
As a result, a special emphasis is placed at ICLI to initially, participate in interfaith dialogues and extramural activities. To ensure that each person respects the rights and wishes of the other and knows the inconvenience that comes through the disruption by religious institutions, the center has cultivated a good relationship with local religious facilities, where friendly inter-religious meetings are held. It means these initiatives represent peace and unity and help people of different religions to learn about Islam.
Some of ICLI’s interfaith initiatives include:
- Open Mosque Days: ICLI organizes open mosque days in which the center is open to the public and non-Muslims are allowed to come in, sit, listen, ask anything about Islam, and get answers.
- Interfaith Panels and Events: These are occasions whereby different religious leaders and scholars come together to share and harmonize on core principles and culture; and review social issues affecting the society and how they could be addressed.
- Community Service Projects: The center has occasional financial involvement in various charity initiations, food donations, and other social causes. People of this congregation contribute their time frequently and try to help needy people, hence performing the Islamic concept of waqf.
The Fast of Ramadan and Other Celebrations
Ramadan and Other Celebrations
Ramadan, the specific month of fasting in the Islamic calendar, is a very active period for ICLI. The center provides daily Iftar (breaking of fasting) where participants can sit and enjoy their meals, pray, and contemplate. For the faithful who chose to observe the fasting, ICLI is available to give the individuals a comfortable place to break their fast whilst performing the evening prayers and invocation. Further, it also has special prayers such as Taraweeh, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadhan where more than a thousand souls gather each night.
This is besides the other Islamic festivities like Eid-Fitr and Eid-Adh’a which are also honored similarly. The Eid prayer services involve a congregation of a vast number of Muslims, and the center hosts community celebrations such AS celebrations through meals and games that involve families.
Women’s Inclusion and Rights
The community women have been given a special focus by ICLI to be empowered. As an institution, it was involved in providing programs specifically in the religious, educational, and social aspects for women. Right from prayer fellowships and prayer meetings for women to management courses on leadership and volunteering, ICLI guarantees that women are heard and are in action at the center.
Health and Wellness Programs
Concerning the promotion of health, ICLI also organizes health fairs, wellness seminars, mental health, and awareness workshops. They are social activities, which can be attended by everyone; their main goal is to increase the level of awareness regarding healthy habits and to help people get the necessary products that can help improve their mental and physical state.
Challenges and Future Goals
That is why like any other religious organization, ICLI has its challenges such as funding required to support existing programs let alone extend them. Instead, the center often has fundraising events and helps raise funds by asking people for contributions. The targets also apply to the facility’s future development and growth in response to increased demand advanced outreach, and expansion of education programs and interfaith and communal organizations’ activities.
Visit to the Islamic Center of Long Island
The institute also encourages walk-ins for those who may wish to visit ICLI open to everyone regardless of nationality. Regardless of whether you are a Muslim seeking to pray, or a non-Muslim who wants to find out more about Islam; the center is always welcoming. Sited well in Westbury this center can be easily accessed and the design ensures that people interact with the community.
Conclusion
The Islamic Center of Long Island is not just a place for prayer, it is also more aptly described as an Islamic Center. ILI has turned out to be a source of hope and measures a lot on interfaith understanding and cooperation. Its welcoming and compassionate nature remains a beloved institution on the island of Long Island and is the best representation of Islam to the world through providing service to the community.
What has been achieved at ICLCI is a good testimony that a Religious and Cultural Institution can greatly transform the lives of numerous communities, and all barriers regardless of religious differences should be abolished and the future be built on the core values of tolerance, and respect for each other. Regardless of whether you are simply a member of a community or you are new here, or even if you have the intention of gaining more knowledge about Islam, ICL.I welcome you warmly.