As a first-generation Muslim and Arab woman living in post-9/11 United States, some of the mainstream discourse in America has been consistently packed with Islamophobic stereotypes and rhetoric. It is not a surprise that ever since the tragedy of 9/11, hate crimes towards Muslims and Middle Easterners in the United States have risen based on… Read more »
American Islam
“A GEM FOR THE COMMUNITY”, THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF GREATER TOLEDO (ICGT)
“A GEM FOR THE COMMUNITY”, THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF GREATER TOLEDO** “A gem for the community” was how Bill Hilt, a local teacher from Perrysburg City Schools described the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo (ICGT) during a pre-pandemic visit to their annual “International Festival” that has been running for almost 2 decades now. At this… Read more »
FIRST GENERATION MOSQUE PRESIDENT?
FIRST GENERATION MOSQUE PRESIDENT? We often hear the term “first generation” used in contexts such as the first-generation college graduate, first-generation American, or first-generation immigrant, etc. However, at the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo (ICGT), this term is used to define their former young female president Dr. Nadia Ashraf-Moghal, an emergency medicine doctor at Wood… Read more »
“To live your life, you have to be a part of the community”: A Conversation with Dr. Abdel-Wahab Soliman
The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo (ICGT) is an integral part of the local northwest Ohio community. This religious institution does not want to be a space only for Muslims or only for religious worship. Instead, it sees itself as an institution that can bring together people from different backgrounds in a spirit of tolerance,… Read more »
“The mosque is not for prayer alone”: A Conversation with Dr. Fatima Al-Hayani
Step inside the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo (ICGT), and it’s clear that this is an active community space, not just a place for prayer services. This is especially true during the annual International Festival, when the mosque invites members of the public, both Muslim and non-Muslim, to come together around delicious food and carnival… Read more »
Photoessay: Finding Community at the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo
Islamophobia in the United States rests on a number of negative assumptions about Islam and Muslims. Many Americans consider Islam to be a foreign religion that is incompatible with Western values. Politicians and media commentators commonly describe American Muslims with suspicion, associating them with terrorism, violence, and isolation from the wider American community. These stereotypes… Read more »