Islamic Cultural Center of New York (ICCNY) — Attraction in New York

This post reflects my experiences as of Summer 2021 and my comments may no longer be relevant.

Daily Prayers: Fajr and isha iqama are typically 10 to 15 minutes after the adhan. As of Summer 2021, the only definitive way to know the Iqama times was to go everyday so you can hear the time change announcements (I had found the website prayer times and even the physically posted prayer times to be unreliable, but this may no longer be the case). Or get the number of someone who attends regularly, and text him before going. Pre-COVID, the masjid was open during the day and you could usually find someone praying inside/a jamah forming at any time. MashaAllah beautiful masjid, but I found it difficult to get updates from the administration regarding daily prayer times and Eid prayer times.

Jumuah: Jumuah khutbahs are sometimes relevant and engaging, and other times not. Pre-COVID, there was only 1 jumuah khutbah, starting at either 1:00 PM during Daylight Savings (Spring & Summer) or starting at 12:30PM after Daylight Savings ends (Fall & Winter). During COVID there are 2 Jumuah khutbahs (at 12:30 & 1:00 per the website), but I have not personally verified these timings.

Ramadan & Eid: The taraweeh recitation is beautiful MashaAllah (multiple reciters lead during the month). They pray 4 rakah, give a short talk, and then do the final 4 followed by witr. The entire prayer (Isha to witr) takes about 1 hour. The entire mushaf is not finsihed during Ramadan. The masjid does not stay open after taraweeh for the last 10 nights of Ramadan. There are typically 3 Eid prayers, but I believe only the first Eid prayer reliably has a khutbah.

Logistics: Daily prayer entrance is on 97th street between 2nd & 3rd ave. For jumuah and Ramadan, the main prayer hall is open (main entrance at the intersection of 96th & 3rd). Sometimes on the weekends, daily prayers are held upstairs in the main prayer hall or across the courtyard in the school lobby. I believe double parking is allowed on the west side of 97th street between 2nd & 3rd during daily prayers and taraweeh (but please be mindful of how long you stay, as local residents may be blocked in). On Eid, 97th street between 2nd & 3rd ave is completely closed to traffic and used as masjid parking.

Areas for improvement: It appears that the masjid is mostly frequented by those who work in NYC and live elsewhere. I believe this partly explains why there is little community programming and an overall lack of organization. The sister's prayer area is much smaller and not as well maintained as the brother's section. At times, certain individuals (members of the administration and private worshipers alike) appear to lack basic respect when interacting with the congregants (unfortunately, it seems to me that the sisters disproportionately encounter this problem). I understand it is not easy running such a large masjid. May Allah accept from all of those who help to keep this...

This is a beautiful mosque as all of the reviews have stated. I’m a revert Muslim and I took my Shahada 3months ago. This is the closest masjid to where I live, but I am very reluctant to go because of how political one of the Khutbas was. It really turned me off to this Masjid, especially as I am learning the religion for the first time.

I have had a much, much better experience at the NYU masjid at 238 Thomson St. Their Khutbas are leaps and bounds better than the Khutbas I have heard here. They also usually serve food on Fridays after the prayers, and people generally stick around to make Du’a and chat, and make friends. That community is so much more welcoming than this one, which feels very transactional, like “ok I said my prayers, gotta bounce”. There is a massive, urgent, and frantic exodus of people as soon as the prayers end, which I feel reflects on the culture of the Masjid as like “work is more important than taking time for Allah”. That’s just the vibe I got.

Nobody has ever approached me to ask if I’m new, and I generally don’t feel comfortable talking to people there. The NYU mosque is a younger crowd with many reverts, and their community is much more appealing, in my opinion, to revert Muslims from...

This mosque is beloved to me. In 1991, it opened and in 1991 I became a Muslim. I’ll always remember the kind imam back then named Osman. God forgive and bless his soul. I heard he passed away. So many memories I have for me and my two children going there night or day, for Ramadan or Eid holidays or just for regular prayers. I will never forget Namous too. Allah forgive his soul and bless him too. He helped me once when someone stole my bag and money within it. Many friends I made at this masjid. So many. I am very grateful to imam S. Jalloh who is kind, caring and wise. I will never forget Mohamed Yunnus as well. I pray for many more blessings to constantly be shed on this mosque and all the good people and Angels who go there. I’ll always remember people I met there from Magda to Mona, from Nagwa to Laila, Amirah and Mahmuda and her siblings, Shazia and Latifa. Never can I forget the years of traversing through and to my mosque. Although other mosques are now near me, the ICCNY can never compare. Too bad my kids never got to go to the school there. Also, the women in the bookstore there has always been a kindred spirit to me. God bless this blessed mosque. May it always be run by very good...