Nearly 200 Brooklynites joined Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for his second annual Ramadan iftar at Borough Hall last Wednesday. The evening brought together imams, community advocates and local leaders from all over the borough representing communities across the world.
“Our Muslim community unites in peace and love an incredible diversity of cultures, stories and heritage right here in our beautiful borough of Brooklyn. It was my honor to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan at our second annual iftar dinner alongside so many of our neighbors,” said Reynoso.
Following remarks from the Borough President and special guests, Imam Abdulkarim Samarkandiy and Imam Siraj Wahhaj gave the call to prayer.
Samarkandiy is a prominent Imam for the Uzbek community in Brooklyn and Wahhaj is the Imam of Masjid At-Taqwa in Bed-Stuy.
Wahhaj has played an important role in the communities he’s served, including initiating anti-drug patrol in Brooklyn in 1988 and delivering the first Muslim invocation to the United States Congress.
A sit-down dinner featuring Uzbek plov, samsa, dates and plenty more traditional foods followed. Umar Usman, Special Aide to the Borough President, represented Brooklyn’s Pakistani Muslim community as the night’s MC.
The iftar was sponsored by The Silk Road Foundation. The Council of People’s Organization provided prayer rugs for the event.
“The marks our Muslim Brooklynites have made on this borough reach far back in time. In fact, one of the oldest mosques in the United States lives right here in Brooklyn – the Powers Street Mosque, which was founded back in the 1930s – resides in my old Council District" said Reynoso.
"This legacy of light and love continues to grow with each day, reaching from Bay Ridge to Sunset Park, Coney Island, and all the neighborhoods in which our Muslim neighbors reside. Ramadan Mubarak, Brooklyn. May you all enjoy a life full of peace and blessings.”
