The Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts (ISWM)
The society was organized in 1983 to help Muslims follow the Koran and sunna, or perfect example, of Al’lah’s Apostle. A temporary prayer space (musallah) was established in 1984 in West Springfield.
The Muslim community has since grown in the Greater Springfield area from the initial 50 families and continues to grow. In 1992, a proper masjid (mosque) to Al’lah was constructed, and further expanded at least two more times.
Dr. Mohammad Ali Hazratji was the president of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts from 1990-2007.
In 2010 he told the UMassAmherst Muslim students (MSA) that “violence, bloodshed, and warfare are required and ordained from you, whether you like it or not” and that the Shia Muslims were apostates, following a false religion started by a nefarious Jew.
Dr. Kimat Khatak practices just one office away from Bajwa in Holyoke. Khatak is a trustee of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America.
“There is no clash of civilizations. A jihad has not been fought in 500 years … I have been here 36 years, and all I do is take care of sick people in America.”
Dr. Kimat-Gul Khatak – demonstrating against the sick people in America that dared to kill Bin Laden.
Dr. Muhammad Zubair Kareem and Iman Wissam Abdul Baki ponder Islamic strategy.
Dr. Kamal Hassan Ali – Allah’s Apostle said, “You should listen to and obey your ruler even if he was an Ethiopian black slave whose head looks like a raisin.”
Dr. Kamal Hassan Ali – ISWM VP – Founding member
“Sent home” from Howard University for his Black Panther rants, Kamal Ali then moved to New York, where he hooked up with the wrong crowd and was headed for big trouble. Then he learned of the Dar-al-Islam community and quickly became a contributing member of the Movement.
He was an early proselytizer of the faith to angry young African Americans, helping to direct their hatred toward the Dar-al-Harb, or “house of war” and the eternal enemies of Al’lah and his Apostle.
From 1970 until 1977 he served on the Muslim Prison Committee, assigned to The Bronx House of Detention, Riker’s Island, and Green Haven Correctional Facility, a maximum security facility in Stormville, New York, helping to redirect the energies of dangerous criminals and sociopaths toward a constructive jihad in the way of Al’lah.
Left to right in the Mosque are Sylvia Rivera, Hanan Yacteen, Dr. Kamal Ali, guest Kaitlyn Lichstein, Nisrine Awkal, and guest Jake Earnshaw.
Dr. Ali is the Imam of the Ludlow Correctional Center and a professor at Westfield State University.
ISWM Board Members and supporters
Maher M. Awkal
Ali A. Awkal
Wissam Baki, Dr. Bajwa, Dr. Hazratji, and Dr. Khatak reward young Muslim women for learning how to observe the sunna of their Prophet
Hey, I know all these guys! They’re so awesome. Thanks for highlighting all the great work they’re doing!