Integrating Long Island, the Halal Way

Previously the location of the Long Island Muslim Society, the newly built

peach Mosque with curved white trimmed windows has set up shop right next to

the Church, its there for one sole purpose, to provide services for the local

Muslim community which is scattered through out East Meadow. This is not the

only way that The town of Hempstead is integrating to provide a social and

economical habitat for the Muslim kind. Four Islamic centers, halal items at the

“American” grocery store, Quran classes, and even the library is holding Islamic

information lectures.

The Town of Hempstead which is predominantly white, 74.65% of 755,924

people according to the 2000 census is slowly being changed to feed the needs

of the growing Muslim South Asian population. Four Islamic centers which

provide prayer services for all, as well as Islamic classes for women, children

and teens. Neighbored by halal grocery stores and restaurants that cater to the

South Asian community, and now even supermarkets like Pathmark located in

East Meadow is offering Al-Safa hala frozen food.

According to the members of Jamm-e Masgid in North Bellmore, next door

to East Meadow, there are more young people attending Friday services. The

mosque also provides Sunday school for children so that they can learn about

Islam, and lessons in classical Arabic to read the Quran. More woman have

also been spotted around town sporting a hijab. Even local universities like

Hosfstra are providing classes for woman to gain knowledge and connect with

fellow sister’s, they also have hosted woman only Eid-ul fitr events and woman

only fashion shows, which is also becoming a trend itself across many colleges in

New York, like CUNY Baruch, which held theirs two weeks ago by the

Women in Islam club.

“Many woman have started wearing hijab, a lot of young girls” says Nelo

Sheikh, a local resident, her daughter Natasha also stated that there have been 7

more South Asians, especially Pakistani students now attending her high school.

There are at least 46 Muslim students in the 11^th and 12^th grade at East

Meadow high school according to Sabih, a Pakistani American senior at the

school.
Zayed another local and attendee of Friday prayer services at Jamm-e

Mosque also a student at CUNY Baruch, says “ I’ve seen more youth coming

in, I meet more people with similar culture, background as mine when I go to

pray.”

There is a new Mosque which has been built and awaiting its’ grand opening. That mosque is located in East Meadow. It was the location of the previous Long Island Muslim Society, which opened in Hicksville initially, then settled on East Meadow Avenue by Bangladeshi immigrants.

“The first priority of this newly formed executive committee was to teach the Muslim children how to read and understand the Qur’an. As a result, in June 1991, a small facility off of Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown was rented. This place was mainly used to hold Friday and Saturday Qur’anic classes. Iftar parties and Eid reunions were held here as well.” States the LIMS.org website.  Though the new Mosque is being built in East Meadow many locals are planning to still attend the one in Bellmore,
“It’s a Bengali Masjid, and I prefer my own language, and then it depends on how good his English is.” says Zayede.

The Al-Maghrib classes that were held at Hofstra University, and will be moving to New Jersey next, says Zahra a resident of Rockville Center and Baruch College junior. “I enjoyed them so much, it’s nice meeting new sisters at these type of places, you come across people with similar ways of thinking as you.” She also states “there’s been an increase of college students taking interest in the religion, starting to practice it more, it makes me happy.”

According to MSA.org, there is an MSA in almost every campus across the United States. “We had over 700 students representing nearly all 22 states across the East Zone. The east zone attendees participated in inspiring lectures delivered by some of our greatest scholars and speaker throughout North America.” Says Tauqeer Zaidi
East Zone Representative – USA MSA National.

The growing population of Muslim students at Nassau CC and Hofstra university has become a business opportunity for the Halal food industry. A Kennedy Fried Chicken fast food restaurant is a favorite amongst many local college students. “The burgers are huge, I love it!” says Zain Huda. Gigi’s is a pizzeria that has coverted to selling halal Italian food, it is also located 2 blocks from the newly built Mosque, close to Indus Spice grocery store, and near Nassau CC and Hofstra University. My personal favorite is the buffalo chicken pizza.

Muslim establishments across Long Island have been increasing. In an area that is predominantly white, there is a flow of South Asians moving in and changing the demographics as well, 8% of the population was reported to be Asian and other race in 2000. The neighborhood is changing; I myself have been part of the change, moving into East Meadow in 2003 I have seen atleast 2 other Pakistani families buy houses around my block, and viewing my brothers year book I can vouch that mine was composed of a lot less South Asian and even more less Muslims. The change is something that the town is welcoming not opposing. It’s integrated peacefully and gives the older residents a taste of South Asia in their backyard.