Welcome to the Muslim Community Association of Mohawk Valley

 

The Muslim Community Association of Mohawk Valley (MCAMV) was established in 1994 as a religious non profitable organization in the state of New York right after the arrival of Bosnian refugees to escape war in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. MCAMV was temporarily located in Lansing Street, Utica; before moving to its current location on 1631 Kemble Street, Utica - bought and renovated in 1994.

 

The local American Muslims, mainly from South Asia, Turkey and Middle East welcomed the newly arrived Muslims from Bosnia. and worked closely with Mohawk Valley Center for refugees. MCAMV started a Sunday School for children and opened the mosque for five daily prayers and Friday prayers.

 

The masjid is the only one available serving the Muslims within Oneida County, where majority are residing in Utica. Eid prayers, Eid dinners, Tarweehs in Ramadan and picnics in summer are also organized. The Muslim families prepared the meals for up to 300 people for religious events held in the Cosmopolitan Center. In 1995, MCAMV purchased a parcel of land in the New Forest Cemetery for Muslim burials.

 

MCAMV has been working since the beginning with the Inter-Faith Bridge Builders organization, local Churches, Jewish Synagogues for harmony and better understanding of religions. Peter Vogelaar, Director of Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees has recently remarked that the benefits of religious harmony in Utica may ripple beyond the town's borders. "We can say Christians and Muslims do not need to be fighting. We do not need to vilify each other."

 

During the September 11, 2001 terrorists attack, the Muslim Community raised funds and offered prayers for the victims and condolences to their families. The Muslim Medical Professionals offered to go to the scenes of attacks and offer aid and comfort to the victims. MCAMV also participated in the annual "Make A Difference Day" for the community projects and won national awards.

 

The Utica mosque of MCAMV is one of the most ethnically varied in the nation with majority of the Muslims from Bosnia and others from Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kashmir, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, former Soviet Union and USA.

 

The Right Concept of Muslim Community:

The community in Islam is not founded on race, nationality, locality, occupation, kinship, or special interests. It does not take its name after the name of a leader or a founder or an event. It transcends national borders and political boundaries. The foundation of the community in Islam is the principle which designates submission to the will of Allah, obedience to His law and commitment to His cause. In short, an Islamic community is present only when it is nourished and fostered by Islam.

The Islamic community has a historic mission far beyond mere survival, sheer power, breeding, or physiological continuity. Such a mission is described in the Holy Qur’an as follows:

Let there be a community (Ummah) among you, advocating what is good, demanding what is right, and eradicating what is wrong. These are indeed the successful (3:104). You are the best community ever raised, you enforce what is right, fight what is wrong, and believe in Allah (3:110).

From: Islam in Focus