On Friday April 21, 2017, The Interfaith Institute of ICLI had as its guest
Imam Dr. Salahuddin M. Muhammad. He is the author of the book
“Bridging the Divide Between Immigrant and African-American Muslims
by Utilizing the Concept of Tawheed As the Catalyst”. He has a Bachelor's
degree in the Social Sciences from SUNY at New Paltz. He has a Masters
degree in Theology and Counseling from New York Theological Seminary.
In addition, he received a Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy and a
Doctoral degree in Islamic Studies and Christian/Muslim relations from Hartford Seminary.
Imam Salahuddin M. Muhammad was employed as a Muslim Chaplain for the New York State Department of
Correctional Services from 1985. In 1986, he became the resident Imam of Masjid Al Ikhlas, (formally Masjid Al
Jihad Al Akbar), located in the City of Newburgh, New York, where he played an active role in battling drugs,
crime, gang violence and prostitution in the area. Imam Salahuddin Muhammad made Hajj to the Holy City of
Mecca in 1990 and again in 2000.
Imam Salahuddin Muhammad emphasized that Tawheed is the teaching of Islam;
unhindered by cultural, ethnic, national or racial considerations. He pointed out
that children are not born with biases; it is adults that put the biases in them…. He
shared his personal journey of coming away from the “racism” he was taught
when he was a member of the organization called “The Nation of Islam”. He said
he came away from racist ideas and embraced the universal teachings of Islam.
The following comments were taken from an email sent by Imam Salahuddin M.
Muhammad after returning to North Carolina: “I was very impressed with the architectural
design of the Center and got a real warm feeling from the building as
we went in. I was really impressed with the President (of ICLI) being a woman…
I asked how many board members there were and was told 23. I was then told that
the board consists of half women and half men. I really enjoyed the warmth expressed
at the luncheon by all attendees... I really appreciated your heartfelt words
Dr. Faroque (May Allah continue to bless you to be the sensitive leader that you
are). You mentioned that ICLI celebrates Black History Month and I thought that
was very good. Thank you so very much for your kindness, hospitality, and generosity. I want you to know that
I support what you are doing and if you need my help, I am just a phone call away.”
Imam Salahuddin M. Muhammad is a student of the late contemporary Islamic leader Imam Warith Deen Mohammed.
He is a member of numerous affiliations: The Mosque Cares, the Association of Muslim Chaplains, The
Mid-Atlantic Sectional Majlis, Muslims for Social Justice, the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim
Alliance of North America. He now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is the Associate Imam at the As
Salaam Islamic Center.
This event attracted a large gathering, received extensive TV and print media coverage in Newsday, Long Island Press and Islamic Horizon magazine.
Earlier this year when we heard about the visit of Pope Francis we extended an invite for him to formally launch the interfaith institute at ICLI which he was unable to accommodate.
The presentation was very well received. We were able to share a short video from the Oct 25th launch of the interfaith institute of ICLI
See full story
When some countries began to ban the hijab of Muslim women and attack the Islamic dress code, Dr Larycia Hawkin, a Christian and former associate professor...
John Andrew Morrow speaks during interfaith event at the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury on Sunday 25, 2015. (Credit : Steven Sunshine)
See full story
Dr. Farooque Ahmed Khan is shown in front of the triple arches that lead into the newly constructed building that will house the Islamic Center of Long Island...
See full story