The Islamic Society of Central Jersey: Its Historical Journey

By The ISCJ History Project Team

This book tells the story of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ)
and the pioneers who came to New Jersey from different countries of
the world for education and jobs starting in the 1950s with aspirations
for a good life for themselves and their children. And to provide religious
guidance, the Islamic Center of Central Jersey was conceived where
Muslims and Non-Muslims could go to seek true knowledge of Islam
from the resident Imams, teachers and renown scholars from around
the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984538086

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 By The ISCJ History Project Team.

Library of Congress Control Number:                  2018907715

ISBN:                  Hardcover                         978-1-9845-3806-2

                            Softcover                           978-1-9845-3807-9

                            eBook                                 978-1-9845-3808-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/25/2018

To get a link to download and access the additional historic material and interviews etc. for the complete history of the ISCJ, please send an e-mail to [e-mail], with a proof of purchase of a printed version of the book.

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

749432

ISCJ Disclaimer

The Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) and each of its officers, directors, employees, agents, committee, and the history project team members assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this book.

The ISCJ has made every effort to fact-check to the best of its knowledge and to provide a true and authentic history of the ISCJ. The information contained herein is for general information purposes only. There are no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information or related graphics in the book for any purpose. Any use of this information is at your risk.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission from the ISCJ.

The opinions expressed by the authors of the write-ups are their own; the ISCJ Board of Trustees, the Board of Overseers, or the members of the ISCJ History Project Team (Task Force) do not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed therein.

Please send your comments, suggestions, compliments, and complaints to [e-mail] or mail them to the President, Islamic Society of Central Jersey P.O. Box 628, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852.

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In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful All praise and thanks are Allah’s, the Lord of the ’aalameen (mankind, jinn, and all that exists)

The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense

You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)

Guide us to the Straight Way

The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger

ISCJ History Project Core Team

Project team in front of the mihrab

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From left to right: Br. Arif Khan, Sr. Sogra Saleem, Br. Dawud Assad, Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli,

Br. Shoukat Ali, and Br. Fakhruddin Ahmed (Sr. Dawlat Chebly was out of town.)

CONTENTS

Preamble: The ISCJ History Project

Preamble: Forty Years Of ISCJ’s Historical Journey

Preamble: Reminiscences Of The ISCJ Members Through Their Write-Ups

Preamble: Personal And Events Photos

Preamble: Islamic Art

Preamble: Constitution And Amendments

Preamble: The ISCJ Constitutional And Administrative Procedures

Preamble: The Annual Green Pages And Communicator

Preamble: Fund-Raising/ Expansion Funding Group

Preamble: Acquisition Of Land Parcels And Properties

Preamble: Imams Since The Beginning Of The ISCJ

Preamble: ISCJ-NUI Relationship

Preamble: ISCJ’s Development Plans – Past, Present, And Future

Preamble: ISCJ Newspaper Key Articles

Preamble: ISCJ’s Miscellaneous Documents

Preamble: ISCJ Personal Video Interviews

Tributes And Write-Ups

A Tribute To The Founding Member Br. Mahmoud Taher, Phd

Islamic Society Of Central Jersey – My Recollection Of Events (1977–1987)

Earliest Days Of The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey

My Days With The ISCJ And Beyond

A Tribute To Br. Riaz Iqbal, Md: ISCJ Has Lost A True Friend

The ISCJ Mosque Project – From Dream To Reality

Navigating The ISCJ Through Its Turbulent Early Years

Br. Abdel-Rehim Riad’s History With The ISCJ Community

An Overview Of The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey History

From The First Constitution Committee To The ISCJ History Project

The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)—Then And Now

The Genesis Of The ISCJ

A Tribute To Founding Member Sr. Attiyaat Elsaady

The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ): Our Spiritual Beacon

From Rutgers University In The Early 197⁰S To The Present

Our Journey Through The Good And The Bad Times

Recollection Of My Association With The ISCJ

My Contributions To The ISCJ

Why I Was Drawn To The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

A Tribute To Br. Mohammed Aziz, Md And Sr. Fatima Aziz, Phd Two Of The ISCJ’s Distinguished Members

A Tribute To ISCJ’s Founding Member Br. Mohamed Abul Bashar, Phd

Thirty-Four Years With The ISCJ And The Noor-Ul-Iman School

A Tribute To An ISCJ Stalwart, Dr. Omar Mansour (June 15, 1946–June 2, 2002)

My Association With The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

Forty Years At The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

Tribute To Sr. Zahiye Radwan (1910–1997)

A Tribute To Br. Waheed Sayed, A Former President Of The ISCJ

History Of The Noor-Ul-Iman School

Dr. Kassem Riad’s Outstanding Contributions To The ISCJ And The Noor-Ul-Iman School

Reminescences Of Abdelrahman Aly Abdelrahman - The ISCJ’s Muezzin

I Feel Blessed To Be A Part Of The ISCJ Community

From Rutgers Sunday School To The Chairperson Of The ISCJ

The Chebli Family And The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

Journey From A Youth Advisor To The President Of The ISCJ

My Decades-Long Memories With The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

My Reflections On The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

My Contributions To The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

My Journey To Islam And My Association With The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

Summary Of Activities And Achievements At The ISCJ And Nui School (2001–2012)

My History With The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey Since 1976

My Memories Of The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

Our Contributions To The ISCJ And Nui School

Our Historical Journey With The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey

My Blessed Journey With The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

The Responsibilities Of The ISCJ’s Administrator

My Personal Association With The Islamic Sociey Of Central Jersey

My Mission With The Senior Sisters’ Jamaat At The ISCJ

The ISCJ Weekend Seminars

Social Role And Academic Contributions Of The Women At The ISCJ During The Early Days (1975–1981)

Women: An Integral Part Of The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

My Services For The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey (ISCJ)

Narrative About Br. Iqbal Shariff And Sr. Farida Shariff

The Islamic Society Of Central Jersey – Its Influence On Me

A Tribute To Br. Sayed Hassan, The ISCJ’s Administrator

ISCJ Formation Timeline

The ISCJ Founding Members

ISCJ Board of Trustees and Overseers

1976 – 2015

Thanks To Everyone Who Made ISCJ What It Is Today

Our special thanks go to the Pioneers/Founding Members, who made tremendous personal and financial sacrifices to get the ISCJ project off the ground during the mid-1970s. We would like to especially thank Br. Omar Boraie for identifying the 6.41 acres lot where the ISCJ stands today. Without his foresight and guidance ISCJ might not have found and acquired this strategic location. We also want to thank those founding members who stepped in later 1970s and early 1980s and continued the work of nurturing the ISCJ.

The successive ISCJ Board of Trustees and Board of Overseers deserve our gratitude for guiding the ISCJ through good and turbulent times. We thank the members of the various ISCJ Committees and Groups who contributed their expertise, time and energy in helping shape the ISCJ into an institution that fulfills the vision of the founders. The ISCJ stands today as an organization that caters to the spiritual and educational needs of the Muslim community and provides true knowledge of Islam to Muslims and people of other faiths through interfaith gatherings and conveys the message of peace and brotherhood to our neighbors and the people of America.

We would like to thank our resident and visiting Imams, scholars, speakers and judges who enlightened us, and the political leaders who educated us about our rights and civic duties, and supported us during the dark days following the September 11, 2001 event. We would like to thank local political leaders such as the former U.S. Representative Rush Holt and others who always called us to assure us of protection during such crisis times. Special Thanks to the Police department who provided round the clock protection whenever the Islamic Center was facing hostilities and vandalism.

Our special thanks go to the South Brunswick Township Mayor’s Office, the Planning and Zoning Boards, and its several departments who guided us from our infancy through the approval process of the various stages of construction. Our special thanks to the late Mayor Frank Gambatese, Township Councilman Joe Camarota and Councilman Charlie Carley, former Senator Peter Inverso, his chief of Staff Steve Cook without their guidance the ISCJ would not have come along in a relatively short time to where it stands today. We would like to acknowledge the guidance provided by Senator Linda Greenstein and US Representative Bonnie Watson and gratefully remember the visits by the Governors and other state officials in critical times and at special occasions such as Ramadan and Eid festivals. We would also like to thank the South Brunswick

Health department for facilitating registrations of the marriages performed by Imam Hamad Chebli of the ISCJ.

Heartfelt thanks are due to the teachers who taught our children at the ISCJ Weekend School and the Noor-ul-Iman school over the years, educating our children, instilling Islamic values in them, and for being their role models. Scores of volunteers, who are our unsung heroes, deserve a special thank you for their selfless work behind the scene that usually goes unnoticed and underappreciated.

Had it not been for our perennial donors, there would be no ISCJ. Time and again the donors came through and made it possible to build the ISCJ, maintain and operate it successfully for the past forty plus years. In addition, they enabled building a permanent school building for a full-time school on the ISCJ grounds currently being operated by Noor-ul-Iman Schools Inc. under a long term lease. The ISCJ and the Noor-ul-Iman school came into being and are thriving because of the continuous care, benevolence and generosity of these donors. To these numerous donors, a big Thank you! May Allah reward you for your dedication, intellectual and financial contributions you made along the ISCJ’s historical journey.

We would also want to acknowledge the assistance and guidance provided by the current ISCJ Administration Office especially Br. Sayed Hassan in accessing and scanning thousands of the historical records that tell the story of the ISCJ since 1975 and recently, Br. Ahmed Ali Khan and Br. Mohammad Iqbal in facilitating our day to day tasks over the past few years whereas we