Finding community in a new place can be difficult for anyone, anywhere. This can be especially difficult if the new location is remote and isolated and seasonal workers work in shifts. But Unalaska has a place where Muslims new to the city gather once a week to pray.
Hosted by Muslims of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor every Friday at approximately 2:30 pm in the conference room of the UniSea Central Building. Jumuah prayer.
Mostafa Hassan, one of the group's members, said: Khutbaor sermons, each conference.
“One of the most important things that Islam encourages is a spirit of unity rather than selfishness,” Hassan said. “You will find that some of the practices, prayers, and rituals of the religion itself can only be carried out within a group.”
Group prayer is an essential part of regular Islamic worship. In fact, when Muslims move to a new place, the first thing they have to do is find out who to pray with, Hassan said.
Hassan is originally from Cairo, but lived in East Texas before moving to town with her partner, who works as a mental health counselor at a community health agency. Before coming to Unalaska, he contacted several local residents to see if there were any active Muslim prayer groups on the island. He noticed that the only prayer group people knew was inactive. However, after some conversations, he worked with his officials to restart. Jumuah prayer.
Those who come to pray come from all over the world.
“During fishing season A or B, workers from different languages and different nationalities come to pray,” Hassan said. “It's a very enriching experience to interact with people from all over the world.”
He often writes sermons keeping in mind everyday worries and issues faced by Muslims around the world.
“We try to address issues and problems that we have in our daily lives, but we also try to get guidance and reflect on the message, revelations and values of Islam,” Hassan said.
In his December sermon, Hassan used Unalaska's history as an explanatory point.
“Walking around this island and seeing the remains of World War II is a recent example,” Hassan said. “A bunker is visible. We hear stories about soldiers and bombings. So this teaches us the value of this world, real life, and how weak humans are within themselves and how humble they are.” It gives you perspective on what it is.”
The desire to delve into larger topics extends to today's conflicts.
“There was a player who came last season, I think he was from Moldova. He explained to us his experience of the war between Russia and Ukraine and how it affected him and his family. “I was doing it,” Hassan said.
Ultimately, exploring these ideas in a communal space gives Unalaska's Muslim community an opportunity to find a shared sense of meaning in a new environment.
