The Pioneer Valley is noted for its diversity and religious tolerance where all people, even those that venerate the ancient Arabian moon god Allah, his sisters Al-Uzza, Allāt and Manāt., or the Flying Spagetti Monster, have the same rights as Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, or Atheists.
In America Muslims have the same rights as Pastafarians and can wear whatever they want on their head.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has a particularly large following in the Valley, and its members make many valuable contributions to our community.
Muslims however, are still relatively few in the Valley, and despite the efforts of Dr. Hazratji, Wajih, and Chaplain Abdelaal to secure support from Naz, Hafiz, Javeria, or the Awaisi or Fouz families, many of the men prefer to “guard in secret that which Allah has guarded.”
Muslims, like Pastafarians, are permitted to wear any sort of head covering their religion prescribes
RAMADAN CELEBRATIONS – AMHERST 2011
2011 - Hampshire mosque supporters offer the traditional Ramadan 'goatze' greeting to the community.
Accordingly it can be difficult to round up locals to show public support for the mosque, and less than two-dozen out-of-town students, old ladies, and abids were available to join Naz with her mother and family to hear the new full-time Hafiz read the Qur’an, offer the traditional Ramadan greeting to the community, and pose for photos.
Many representatives of the local Muslim community were regrettfully unable to attend the festivities, perhaps distancing themselves from Dr. Hazratji’s organization. Other community members who still support Dr. Hazratji’s mosque or the ISWM should join the mailing list so they can stand up and be counted. Help show Valley residents that Muslims too, like the Jews and followers of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, can be a positive influence on the Western Massachusetts community.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
August 2006 – “There are more than 300 Muslims in the Amherst area … “ – Mohammed Abdelaal – former Chaplain of Hampshire mosque.
At a 2008 Ramadan celebration at the Amherst home of Hampshire mosque supporters Dr. Muhammad Shakeel Awaisi and Abida Adnan . L-R Abida, Naz Mohamed-Ahamed, Abeda Mohamed, Elizaveta Lozovaya, Nevine Ibrahim and Parvin Niroomand.
April 2010 – Naz remarked that the Muslim population of the area has grown since 1985, when there were just two (her and Bashir Ahamed – whose son Hafiz was already memorizing the Qur’an at a madrassa in Pakistan) to “about 60.”
April 2010 – “two to five people will come for daily prayers, up to 10 people will be at the mosque for night prayers and around 50 people will attend Friday services. Wednesday evenings will have educational and prayer sessions involving 15 to 30 people, and on Sunday religious education classes will bring out up to 38 children.” – Ali Hazratji – mosque president
