Islamic Cultural Center of New York

Last updated
Islamic Cultural Center of New York
Islamic Cultural Center E96 jeh.JPG
Exterior view (2008)
Religion
Affiliation Islam
Location
Location1711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10029
United States
Geographic coordinates 40°47′7″N73°56′55″W / 40.78528°N 73.94861°W / 40.78528; -73.94861 Coordinates: 40°47′7″N73°56′55″W / 40.78528°N 73.94861°W / 40.78528; -73.94861
Architecture
Architect(s) Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Type Mosque
Style post-modernism
Groundbreaking1987
Completed1991
Construction cost$14 million
Specifications
Direction of façade Mecca
CapacityMain prayer hall: 1,000
Dome height (outer)90 feet (27 m)
Minaret height130 feet (40 m)
Materials Steel, concrete, marble, glass
Website
icc-ny.us

The Islamic Cultural Center of New York is a mosque and an Islamic cultural center in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, United States. It is located at 1711 Third Avenue, between East 96th and 97th Streets. The Islamic Cultural Center was the first purpose-built mosque in New York and continues to be one of the city's largest. The mosque's older dwelling in a townhouse at 1 Riverside Drive is still in continual prayer use as a satellite location.

Contents

The Islamic Cultural Center of New York is a standing building that is 61 meters wide and 73 meters long. The mosque is located at East 96th Street and 3rd Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side. When looking at it, the mosque is rotated 29 degrees towards the streets. The architects did this to portray the Turkish mosque and complete two goals. Those two goals were to stand out from its surroundings, and the mihrab can face Mecca, where it is the direction to pray towards the Kaaba.

Design and history

Plans for a large Islamic center in New York were originally drawn up in the late 1960s. The first cultural center occupied a house at 1 Riverside Drive, at the intersection of Riverside Drive and 72nd Street. [1] The first Islamic Center started functioning on a small scale from a modest townhouse at that address. However, the board of trustees later aspired to build a new larger center in a way suiting its prestigious position in the community, and to be one of the landmarks of New York City. [1] Later, an overall project comprising a mosque, a school, a library, a museum, and a lecture hall, were planned out. After years of delays which included raising funds from Muslim countries, a prolonged process of relocating tenants, and the eventual demolition of the buildings on the site; construction of the Islamic Cultural Center began in October 1984. [2] Construction of the associated mosque began on May 28, 1987, the day which corresponded to the end of Ramadan. [3] The cornerstone of the minaret was laid on September 26, 1988. [4]

Construction was delayed during the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait and the First Gulf War. [5] The mosque opened on April 15, 1991, for the feast of Eid ul-Fitr. [6] In the end, more than 46 Muslim countries made contributions toward the $17 million construction cost of the mosque. [7]

One Riverside Drive, the site of New York's first Islamic cultural center 1 Riverside Drive 2008 jeh.jpg
One Riverside Drive, the site of New York's first Islamic cultural center

Today, like most mosques, the mosque at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York is oriented toward Mecca at a heading of 58°. [8] Consequently, the building is rotated 29° from Manhattan's north-south street grid, [9] which in turn is rotated 29° from due north-south. The precise calculation of the direction from New York to Mecca was based on the great circle that produces the shortest distance between the two cities. [8] As with many mosques, the direction of Mecca is marked inside by a niche on the wall, known as the mihrab. [10] [ failed verification ] Placed in the center of the large room, the mihrab is ornamented with a large design. Additionally, next to the mihrab is the minbar, which is a staircase from which the imam leads prayer.[ citation needed ]

Islamic Cultural Center of New York Building Design Interior and Exterior

Exterior of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan Building of Islamic Cultural Center of New York.jpg
Exterior of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan

The site has an edge length of 274 meters. Furthermore, it also includes eight columns and four trusses, where they all intersect, forming a solid framework to contain the building and balance it out. The building also consists of six infill panels containing slabs of pink granite with glass beading placed in front of welded steel tubes. The Islamic Culture Center of New York has two floors that separate the men and women. These two floors consist of each gender's washroom, meeting and administration rooms, and a prayer hall for everyone to use. [11]

The design of the Islamic Culture Center of New York is designed based on a pure cube. Three identical windows are set at a certain angle on the left and right the corner of the buildings, where light can come through it and shine the masjid. The mosque walls are cladding with stone from a quarry located in Stony Creek, Bradford, Connecticut. The central aspect of the building is the dome, where it is three stacked layers of frames and takes the shape of a hemisphere. Another essential part about the crown is that even though the masjid interior and exterior are designed very differently, the mosque's dome is made of copper, such as the Statue of Liberty located in New York. [12]

Islamic Culture Center of New York Representation

Throughout the 1900s, about 200 mosques existed in New York. None were like The Islamic Culture Center of New York. When this mosque was built, it created a huge turning point for the residing Muslim people living in New York. This turning point was when they represented a considerable aspect of the Muslim population consisting of Turkish, Lebanese, Yemeni, and Pakistani origin. Such an event with a sizable dome and a high minaret has crowned the mosque, where none other mosques were even comparable in the urban presence.

Outreach

Imam Abu-Namous engaged in a series of interfaith dialogues with prominent Muslim leaders and rabbis. [13] Abu-Namous's successor as imam, Mohammed Shamsi Ali, continued the meetings. [14] Due to political differences, Ali was fired from his post in 2011. [15] Ali was replaced with Abdul Razzaq E. Al Amiri.

Sheik Muhammad Gemeaha, a week after his resignation, stated he had received death threats in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks which partially explained his reason to return to Egypt. However, Gemeaha gave an interview to an Arabic publication in Egypt where he contradicted this by stating that most Americans agreed with him that Al-Qaeda had nothing to do with the attacks and were framed by Israel as its perpetrators, and also that Muslims in America were being murdered by government officials. The Center issued a statement disavowing Gemeaha's views and cutting all ties with him. As of 2022, Gemeaha has not returned to either the U.S. or any role with the Center.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosque</span> Place of prayer for followers of Islam

A mosque, also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers (sujud) are performed, including outdoor courtyards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic architecture</span> Architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam

Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Islamic world encompasses a wide geographic area historically ranging from western Africa and Europe to eastern Asia. Certain commonalities are shared by Islamic architectural styles across all these regions, but over time different regions developed their own styles according to local materials and techniques, local dynasties and patrons, different regional centers of artistic production, and sometimes different religious affiliations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imam Ali Shrine</span> 8th-century Abbasid-era mosque and mausoleum of Ali ibn Abi Talib in Najaf, Iraq

The Sanctuary of Imām 'Alī, also known as the Mosque of 'Alī, located in Najaf, Iraq, is a mosque which many Muslims believe contains the tomb of 'Alī ibn Abī Tālib, a cousin, son-in-law and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Shī'as consider 'Alī as their first Imām, and the Sunnis regard him as the fourth Sunni Rashid Caliph. According to Shī'ite belief, buried next to 'Alī within this mosque are the remains of Adam and Nuh (Noah). Each year, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine and pay tribute to Imām 'Alī.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mihrab</span> Niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of prayer

Mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca towards which Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a mihrab appears is thus the "qibla wall".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Masjid an-Nabawi</span> Historic mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, known in English as the Prophet's Mosque, is a mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina in the Al Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia. It was the second mosque built by Muhammad in Medina, after Quba Mosque, and is the second largest mosque and second holiest site in Islam, both titles ranking after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The mosque is located at the heart of Medina and is a major pilgrimage site that falls under the purview of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Mosque (Isfahan)</span> Mosque in Iran

The Shah Mosque is a mosque located in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the south side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square. It was built during the Safavid dynasty under the order of Shah Abbas I of Persia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiest sites in Islam</span> Sites of great importance in Islam

The holiest sites in Islam are predominantly located in Western Asia. While the significance of most places typically varies depending on the Islamic sect, there is a consensus across all mainstream branches of the religion that affirms three cities as having the highest degree of holiness, in descending order: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Mecca's al-Masjid al-Haram, Medina's al-Masjid an-Nabawi, and Jerusalem's Temple Mount are all revered by Muslims as sites of great importance.

The Masjid al-Qiblatayn, also spelt Masjid al-Qiblatain, is a mosque in Medina believed by Muslims to be the place where the final Islamic prophet, Muhammad, received the command to change the Qibla from Jerusalem to Mecca. The mosque was built by Sawad ibn Ghanam ibn Ka'ab during the year 2 AH and is one of the few mosques in the world to have contained two mihrabs in different directions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dome of the Chain</span>

Dome of the Chain is an Islamic free-standing domed building located adjacently east of the Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is one of many small buildings that can be found scattered around the Temple Mount. Its exact historical use and significance are under scholarly debate. Erected in 691-92 CE, the Dome of the Chain is one of the oldest surviving structures on the Temple Mount.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Destruction of early Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia</span>

The destruction of heritage sites associated with early Islam is an ongoing phenomenon that has occurred mainly in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, particularly around the two holiest cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina. The demolition has focused on mosques, burial sites, homes and historical locations associated with the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his companions, and many of the founding personalities of early Islamic history by the Saudi government. In Saudi Arabia, many of the demolitions have officially been part of the continued expansion of the Masjid al-Haram at Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and their auxiliary service facilities in order to accommodate the ever-increasing number of Muslims performing the pilgrimage (hajj).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiest sites in Shia Islam</span>

Both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims agree on the three holiest sites in Islam being, respectively, the Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca; the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, in Medina; and the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, in Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Mosque of Mahdiya</span> Mosque in Tunisia

The Great Mosque of Mahdiya is a mosque that was built in the tenth century in Mahdia, Tunisia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masjid al-Haram</span> Islams holiest mosque located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque that surrounds the Kaaba in Mecca, in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia. It is a site of pilgrimage in the Hajj, which every Muslim must do at least once in their lives if able, and is also the main phase for the ʿUmrah, the lesser pilgrimage that can be undertaken any time of the year. The rites of both pilgrimages include circumambulating the Kaaba within the mosque. The Great Mosque includes other important significant sites, including the Black Stone, the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, and the hills of Safa and Marwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hadum Mosque</span> Mosque in Gjakova, Kosovo

The Hadum Mosque in Gjakova, Kosovo was built in the last decade of the 16th century (1594/95) and was financed by Hadum Sylejman Efendia – Hadum Aga, which explains the name of the mosque. The mosque was built on the property of Jakë Vula and is located in the Old Bazaar. A rectangular, dome-covered structure, it belongs to the classic forms of mosque of the Islamic-Kosovar style. Around the mosque there are tombs with sculpted decorations and engraved with epithets in the old Ottoman language. The tombs belonged to the most respected families in Gjakova. There also used to be a "hamam", but it was destroyed during World War II. The entrances are covered with floral paintings, geometrical shapes, citations from the Kur'an and arabesques. In 1999, the surrounding complex was burned to the ground and only the mosque and the minaret along with some damaged arabesques survived.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shamsi Ali</span> Moderate Indonesian Muslim Scholar (born 1967)

Imam Shamsi Ali is a prominent Indonesian Muslim Scholar known for promoting interfaith dialogues among Abrahamic Religions in United States and the Chairman of the Al-Hikmah Mosque and the Director of Jamaica Muslim Center in Jamaica, Queens, New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Mosque (Tehran)</span> Historic mosque in Tehran, Iran

The Shah Mosque, also known as the Soltāni Mosque meaning "royal", renamed the Imam Mosque, after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, is a principal mosque in the northern section of the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mausoleum of Yahya Abu al-Qasim</span>

Mausoleum of Yahya Abu al-Qasim was a historic shrine and mosque located in Mosul, Iraq. In 2014 the mosque and shrine were destroyed by an explosive device claimed by soldiers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imam al-Baher Mosque</span> Historic mosque in Mosul, Iraq

The Imam al-Bahir Mosque was a historic mosque located in the city of Mosul, Iraq. The mosque was commissioned by the Zangid ruler Badr al-Din Lu'lu' in 1259 CE. The building has been restored several times, the last reconstruction in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mashhad of Sayyida Ruqayya</span> Religious building in Cairo, Egypt

The Mashhad of Sayyidah Ruqayyah, also referred to as the Mausoleum or Tomb of Sayyida Ruqayya, is a 12th-century Islamic religious shrine and mosque in Cairo, Egypt. It was erected in 1133 CE as a memorial to as-Sayyidah Ruqayyah, a member of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's family. It is also notable as one of the few and most important Fatimid-era mausoleums preserved in Cairo today. In Pakistan, it is believed that Bibi Pak Daman is the mausoleum of Ruqayyah bint Ali located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Qubba Sittna Zaynab is a mosque and mausoleum located in Sinjar, in the Ninawa Governorate. The original mausoleum building was built in 1239 CE by Badr al-Din Lu'lu' as part of a ruling strategy to promote Shia Islam by sponsoring the erection of shrines and tombs dedicated to Imams throughout the Ninawa Governorate.

References

  1. 1 2 "Islamic Cultural Center NY Background". Islamic Cultural Center of New York. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  2. ↑ Goodman, George W. (October 28, 1984). "Ground Broken for Islamic Center". The New York Times . Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  3. ↑ Williams, Winston (May 29, 1987). "Amid Rejoicing, Work Begins on Mosque". The New York Times . Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  4. ↑ Lewis, Paul (September 26, 1988). "Mosque Rising Is a First in New York". The New York Times . Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  5. ↑ Goldman, Ari L. (December 9, 1990). "Persian Gulf Crisis Slows New York Mosque Project". The New York Times . Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  6. ↑ Steinfels, Peter (April 16, 1991). "For New York Muslims, a Soaring Dome Is Ready". The New York Times . Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  7. ↑ Dunlap, David W. (April 26, 1992). "A New Mosque for Manhattan, for the 21st Century". The New York Times . Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Tyson, Neil deGrasse. "Islamic Cultural Center of New York". Natural History. American Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  9. ↑ Schneider, Daniel B. (October 5, 1997). "The Islamic Angle". The New York Times . Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  10. ↑ Jews, Christians, Muslims : a comparative introduction to monotheistic religions. Denny, Frederick Mathewson., Eire, Carlos M. N., Jaffee, Martin S., Corrigan, John, 1952- (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. 2012. ISBN   9780205018253. OCLC   695390082.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ↑ "Archnet". www.archnet.org. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  12. ↑ "Islamic Cultural Center of New York", Sacred Buildings, DE GRUYTER, pp. 216–217, 2008-12-31, doi:10.1007/978-3-7643-8276-6_66, ISBN   978-3-7643-6683-4 , retrieved 2021-12-07
  13. ↑ Perelman, Marc (November 16, 2007). "With Certain Topics Kept off Table, Rabbis and Imams Find Common Ground". The Forward . Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  14. ↑ Ruby, Walter (April 2, 2008). "Imam Seeks 'Real Connections'". The Jewish Week . Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Shamsi Ali: The rise and fall of a New York imam". BBC News . November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.