Brief Background
The Islamic Center of Long Island, since its establishment in 1984 in Westbury, Long Island has developed into one of the most progressive and well known Islamic centers in USA.
The Islamic Center of Long Island, since its establishment in 1984 in Westbury, Long Island has developed into one of the most progressive and well known Islamic centers in USA.
Be a center of excellence for developing and sustaining a progressive, vibrant Interfaith community and a nurturing environment for the society at large.
Engage Muslims and members of other faiths by promoting values and teachings of Islam and other faiths and to advocate /promote inter-faith harmony in a multicultural environment in accordance with the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah.
-The Interfaith Institute was formally introduced to the community with Prof John Andrew Morrow as the keynote speaker. This event was well attended and received extensive coverage in print and TV media— Newsday-Oct 24th 2015 and Oct 25th 2015. Prof. Morrow is the author of a book—Covenants of Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of his time.
Interfaith Institute of Long Island
Date of Event: 02/04/2024
Loneliness has been declared an epidemic in America, but is seldom mentioned in the scripture of three major Abrahamic faiths, or directly addressed by their leaders or adherents. Three persons from three Abrahamic faith traditions will address loneliness, followed by audience participation. Dobrin
Date of Event: 11/12/2023
A fascinating conversation, moderated by Prof Arthur Dobrin
- Professor Arthur Dobrin
Date of Event: 29/10/2023
Awardee Oscar Nominated Filmmaker Joshua Seftel
Date of Event: 05/07/2023
The Interfaith Institute presents a panel of three religious leaders who will discuss real-life problems of conflicting duties and responsibilities.
Date of Event: 05/21/2023
Celebrating the Life & Achievements of Dr. Faroque Khan - Luncheon
Date of Event: 1/29/2023
Some of the religious and ethical concerns to be addressed:
1. What do you do when you see a parent harming a child?
2. Do you ignore school rules to help students in need?
3. Do you have an obligation to assist a hungry person?
These brief biographical sketches were compiled through mostly online research. We divided the editorial tasks among ourselves and found that our intergenerational team afforded a wide array of complementary skills and perspectives. Though all of us had a hand in the editing and drafting, the group owes a particular debt of gratitude to our youngest colleague, Tahnia Disa, for her expertise in digital tools and design.
In conducting our research, we relied primarily on the subjects’ personal and institutional web pages, refereed encyclopedias like Britannica, and reputable, fact-checked news publications such as regional and national newspapers. We gathered a list of persons known to us, and we recognize that no list of notables can be complete; we regret any omissions. We have strived for accuracy, and any errors of fact are ours.
Learn more
Date of Event: 09/03/2022
Speaker and Awardee: PIERRE PIRARD: In recognition of Pierre's tireless work in building pathways to peace through his global documentary "All of Us".
Date of Event: 05/15/2022
This film tells the stories of people from across the globe who dare to take steps toward the “other", despite many obstacles.
Date of Event: 03/10/2022
Dr. Benjamin Rifkin, a professor of Russian at Hofstra University and a member of the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Institute of Long Island, will share with us background on the history of relations between Russians and Ukrainians. In his talk, he will take up the explanations offered by Russian President Vladimir Putin to justify the invasion of Ukraine.
Date of Event: 2/24/2022
Death and Dying, the Faith, and the Community In Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, and Sikhism.
It was a year ago on March 8th 2020 the
Interfaith Institute had its in person program with a sizable number of attendees
followed by social interaction and some
refreshments. I recall having a chat with
supervisor Judy Bosworth about the
‘virus’ which had affected many congregants in a Synagogue in Westchester. Soon after, all of us learnt about Covid
19 which has had huge impact on all of
us, the 500,000 plus deaths in USA,
lockdowns, job losses and social isolation.
Slavery, the wicked institution rightfully known as America’s original sin, was not limited to the
South. It happened right here on Long Island. A group of journalism students at Stony Brook
University researched that history, and this program explores their work.
How Muslim and Jews can make Peace, One friendship at a time.
Interfaith Institute of the Islamic Center of Long Island and Temple Or Elohim, A Community Reform Congregation Host Impassioned Appeal for Muslim-Jewish Unity in Defense of Democracy
The Muslim and Jewish co-authors of a book promoting Muslim-Jewish friendship and trust appealed directly to members of their respective communities to “stand together to protect democracy, pluralism and religious liberty in America.”
Alex Kronemer, Executive Director of Unity Productions Foundation
Unity Productions Foundation is a non-profit film studio that works to create peace
through the media, to empower citizens with greater understanding and to nourish
pluralism in America
Brookville Multifaith Campus
2 Brookville Rd., Glen Head, NY 11545 516-626-0414
Two men of faith, one a traveling Christian preacher, the other
the ruler of a Muslim Empire, bucked a century of war, distrust,
and insidious propaganda in a search for...
Moderator: Sahar Hussain, director of the Hamza Academy in Valley Stream and member of the board of directors of the Interfaith Institute.
Speakers: Mufti Mohammad Farhan, PhD, executive director of the Islamic Center of Long Island.
Daisy Khan, founder and executive director of the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE). At a Washington conference in September,...
What you need to know about the government -Village, Town, County and State level - Speakers Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro, Nasrin Ahmed and others.
Book Discussion – Harder Right Led by Professor Arthur Dobrin
Passover Seder
Organized by IFI Board members-Dean Benjamin Rifkin and Rabbi Michael White.
Planning a program led by Dr Panna Shah and Rev Tom Goodhue.
Third annual awards event with focus on Muslim Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC) - its accomplishments
and plans ahead. Both national co-chairs Mr. Farooq Kathwari (CEO Ethan Allen) and
Mr. Stanley M Bergman (CEO of Henry Schein and immediate and past president of AJC plan to
participate).
RSVP Link :
This event attracted a large gathering, received extensive TV and print media coverage in Newsday, Long Island Press and Islamic Horizon magazine. The very favorable comments by key participants from other faiths- Hofstra Dean B. Firestone, SUNY Old Westbury president Dr. C Butts. Rev Tom Goodhue from Long Island Council of Churches and others were taped and are available to many groups and organizations on LI and beyond.
Learn moreThe presentation was very well received. We were able to share a short video from the Oct 25th launch of the interfaith institute of ICLI--a virtual tour of ICLI & its interfaith institute and brief excerpts from friends and supporters (Dr. Isma Chaudhry, Lynn Dobrin, Pless Dickerson, Justice Liotti, Richard Tibbets, Rev Calvin Butts, Steve Markowitz, Dean Bernard Firestone, Jon Overvold etc.). Several copies of the journal from the institute launch were provided to the attendees.
Learn more
More than 100 Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and members of other faiths gathered at the newly expanded Interfaith Institute of the Islamic Center of Long Island (ICLI) recently, for the first annual awards event.
People from different faiths enthusiastically came together to furthur the mission and vision of the Institute, engage Muslims and members from diverse cultures and communities by promoting the ...
"Absolutely well deserved recognition and appreciation for thr work being performed with your guidance."
"Wishing IFI more success for the future.... I still remember your continuous statement from years ago... "Act Local, think global!" And will God's blessings may these acts help with outreach global. It's working."
Member of ICLI
"I wish that the beautiful work of the Islamic Center of Long Island and its interfaith initiatives move forward as we make communities come together in respect and harmony beyond tolerance."
President of ICLI
"My familiarity with the interfaith institute has been through Dr. Khan. And i must say that the concept and every phase that i heard about the program, i have not been familiar with it myself personally, however the concept is marvellous."
Board of Education President
"I think one of the best thing that we can do to educate people. Most of the prejudices come from lack of knowledge and we have to send out the positive side of all the religious. Especially there is so much misconception about Islam and it is our duty and our privilege to send the positive messages about the good things in the Faith of Islam."
CUNY Professor
"..and thats part of the care that i have seen at the center that people take with being the part of the community and being good neighbours. I find that the Center is always receptive to ways to be involved in the community and to connect and to bring services through their members and bring things to the community from which we would all benefit. And i know we would benefit from this new Center."
Ethical Humanist Society
"We are the biggest ecumenical and interfaith organisation on Long Island and we work with people from many different faith communities and the Westbury Mosque is just been wonderful partners in interfaith dialogue, into religious education. One of the things, i really appreciated about Westbury Mosque is the way in which they are willing to tackle topics in a respectful way that can be difficult to talk about. And i am really hoping that this institute is going to do that in a whole new way of help us to have dislogue which goes beyond simply expressing our differences to really learning from one another in a whole new way."
Long Island Council of Churches
"...and the creation of this institute will only further the work in a world which is more trouble than ever that we are planning to get along here and hopefully that will have an impact of people getting along elsewhere as well."
Chairman, Holocaust Memorial And Tolerance Center Of Nassau County
"The Center here has been working very hard to enforce freedom of religion and to gain acceptance and interfaith with all of the religions in our county and in our nation."
Westbury Village Of Justice, Judge
"The work of ICLI is really been fabulous. Its such a wealth of information."
Chaplancy Services, North Shore, LIJ
"The ICLI leaders have been quick to speak out in opposition to the attacks on other victims of racial and religious intolerance."
Long Island Interfaith Alliance
"I think that the Islamic Center Of Long Island is extremely forward thinking. And under stance that in a multi-cultural, multi-ethinic, multi-religious society, its important to reach out to people of other faiths and to reach out to people who have other kinds of cultural backgrounds."
Dean, HOFSTRA
"You guys have been raising money for awhile but you been successful. And I salute and congratulate you."
President, Suny College At Old Westbury