Queens: Bosnian-Herzegovinian Islamic Center
A growing mosque ponders coming construction work while celebrating the Night of Destiny
On a Long Island City corner, surrounded by fairly new bars and shops that likely began to appear in recent years when LIC started to grow extensively, sits a simple one-story brick building. But there’s nothing simple about the building nor what is going on inside.
This is the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Islamic Center (BHIC) and over a hundred people, mainly adults, are gathering inside. There is much excitement and rushing around happening. That’s because it is Ramadan and tonight is the holiest night in Islam, Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Destiny. Muslims believe this is the night the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Laylat al-Qadr takes place during the last 10 days of Ramadan and it is said to be better than 1,000 months. Deep prayer often takes place overnight, which is going to happen at this Center later on.
But first, break the fast.
Bottles of water and plastic containers holding dates dot the carpeted floor in the prayer room of BHIC. Once the clock strikes 7:25pm, the time of sunset, all those in attendance eat a date and drink some water as they sit on the floor, shoes removed, men and women separated. The floor is crowded and many walk carefully around others. Given that it is the holiest night in Islam, it makes sense to see this mosque packed. But according to BHIC’s treasurer, Hajro Kadribeg, the mosque has been seeing many busy prayer times before.
“We have about 100 members, but we see between 200 to 250 come for prayers,” Kadribeg says. “We get a lot of taxi drivers who are in the area and they stop for prayers, and that’s why we have been seeing more coming for prayers.”
After breaking the fast, everyone gathers for prayers, shoulder to shoulder. The men and women are separated by a wall divider, though the few children in attendance are free to be with either their fathers or mothers. Afterward, it is time to have iftar, or the community meal that is the second during Ramadan.
Most of the food being served is culturally Bosnian and is homemade by BHIC’s families. Although this mosque was created by Bosniaks, or Bosnian Muslims, in the 1990s, Kadribeg says BHIC has become very diverse with the Bosniaks now the minority.
Still, the Bosniak influence is very present, from some of the board members to the aprons some women wear while giving out the food (the word “hanume” means woman in Bosnian). Some of those who attend this mosque experienced, and survived, the Balkans War during the 1990s, including one man who survived the Srebrenica massacre. In 2014, the mosque raised money for Bosnian communities impacted by massive floods in the Balkans. In addition, how this mosque conducts itself is less strict compared to others. For one, while everyone eats their Iftar, the women and men sit at different tables on opposite ends of the room, but they are still in the same room with no wall dividers.
But everyone is welcome. BHIC even helps with the newly arrived migrants in the Long Island City area by helping them with the paperwork to apply for asylum, work, and whatever else they need to settle in New York.
A woman named Nirmana points out that the Center has a very strong community atmosphere, in which the mosque feels like one big family. Indeed, there is a relaxed vibe as everyone enjoys Iftar; it appears many have known each other for many years. Everyone here is a volunteer, except for the Imam. Most of these families live in Long Island City, while others live elsewhere, such as Flushing.
But despite the strong community bonds, BHIC has limited resources and can only do so much for the people who come here for prayer and other Islamic events such as Iftar. That is why BHIC is looking to expand. But there’s only one way they can go.
“In New York, the only way is up,” Kadribeg says with a laugh. “We’re doing the best with what we have now, but it is definitely too small for our community needs.”
The building BHIC occupies was built either in the 1940s or 1950s. It used to be a church, probably for Jehovah’s Witnesses. 15 years ago, BHIC bought this building with cash. But as attendance and membership grew, the Center realized it was time to expand by adding two more stories. But it also had to approach the financial aspect carefully.
“Muslims try to avoid interest,” Kadribeg says, referring to riba, which Islam forbids. “We thought about borrowing but we wanted to raise money first.”
Nirmana says it took two years for enough money to be raised. Engineers have surveyed the location, and both Kadribeg and Damir Huremovic, the Chair of the Board, are hoping construction will begin in September. It will be a bit of a challenge for construction work to be done while some of the five daily prayers are being done during the week, but it is the only chance for BHIC to grow as a building as it has as a community.
“We don’t want to lose the moment without breaking the mosque,” Kadribeg says. “We want to keep the space open while trying to build up.”
As Iftar winds down, the attendants hurry to throw away the used plates, utensils, napkins, and remaining food. It is nearly 9pm, time for the fifth prayer of the day. More people seem to be present this time which makes for a tight squeeze on both sides of the wall divider, which has been set up again. Nirmana explains that it is important that all are shoulder-to-shoulder during the obligatory prayer, which happens in-between two voluntary prayers at this time.
Everyone moves in unison, from standing up to the prostrations to the kneeling. The Imam does the same while guiding everyone. There are four voluntary prayers, four obligatory, followed by two more voluntary prayers. Each prayer ends with each Muslim glancing at the right shoulder, and then their left. This means the Muslim is acknowledging the angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other, because when each adherent passes on and meets their judgment, both their good and bad deeds will be weighed in.
Once everyone is done, most get up and leave. They put their shoes on, say their farewells, and head out into the night. Others stay behind for the all-night prayers that are done during Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Destiny. Also known as the Night of Power or Decree.
Perhaps, with the BHIC approaching big changes to its mosque and community, these prayers are more than necessary. Perhaps the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Islamic Center has been destined to grow, and now is the time.