Majid al-Hikmah

Majid al-Hikmah in Long Island City is a mosque whose name — Al-Hikmah, meaning wisdom — is one of the most beautiful descriptions of the Quran and of the ideal qualities of a believer. The Quran itself is called a book of hikmah, and Allah is described in the divine names as Al-Hakim, the All-Wise. Mosques named for wisdom carry a particular emphasis on learning, reflection and the thoughtful practice of faith. The mosque serves the diverse Muslim community of this part of Queens, drawing worshippers from the Arab world, South Asia, Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, and a growing number of American-born Muslims and converts. The prayer hall is welcoming, carpeted and oriented toward Mecca, with calligraphic panels and a simple mihrab. Daily prayers draw a steady congregation, and Friday prayers fill the hall with a vivid cross-section of New York's Muslim life. The khutbah is delivered in a mix of Arabic and English, thoughtful of both newer immigrants and American-born members of the congregation, and often addresses the realities of Muslim life in a contemporary American city. The mosque runs Quran and Arabic classes for children, adult study circles in fiqh, seerah and tajweed, youth programs, and offers marriage and funeral services. Ramadan transforms the mosque into a place of remarkable activity. The nightly iftar welcomes hundreds of worshippers, with food reflecting the community's diversity, and Taraweeh prayers stretch through the long summer nights led by visiting huffaz. Laylat al-Qadr sees the mosque filled with worshippers in qiyam. Eid mornings bring families in their finest clothes — traditional attire from a dozen countries appearing alongside jeans and button-downs — and the atmosphere carries the particular joy of Eid in a city with so many Muslim communities celebrating together. The mosque also engages in interfaith and civic work. For a traveler in New York, a respectful visit offers a window into a thriving American Muslim community. Enter modestly dressed, remove your shoes, speak softly, and reflect on the meaning of the mosque's name — wisdom, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) called the lost property of the believer, which we should take wherever we find it.