“As-Salaam-Alaikum,” Arabic for “Peace be unto you,” is what Muslims say before entering the mosque, or Masjid, at 3156 Perry Ave., whose lack of space has Norwood worshipers anticipating the opening of the North Bronx Islamic Center Inc.

Located on the first floor of 261 E. 206th Street, the North Bronx Islamic Center is reserved specifically for prayer. The off-white walls are complemented by a huge portrait of the holy city of Mecca. On the left side there are multiple carpets for prayer left inside plastic wraps waiting to be spread out once the center opens. Towards the far left can be seen a small section that has marble white and blue floristic designs with openings. Usually the imam stands inside the center and leads the prayer.

The need for the new center is great. Of the Perry Avenue location, Luthfur Rahman said, “[On] Fridays there are too many people outside. There are almost 600-700 people,” he explained. “It gets extremely packed, and sometimes we have to deal with foolish people outside of the Masjid.”

A worshiper who only went by Abdullah said the center was much needed and a major benefit to Norwood’s growing Middle Eastern population. “I look forward to praying there,” Abdullah said. “We have anticipated the construction and the completion of this mosque for years now and hope that it is done soon.” A member of the Masjid, Abdullah said outside the Perry Avenue mosque that issues erecting the new center have slowly been resolved. He said, “We are all working together to donate money to construct the bigger mosque [the 206th Street Islamic Center].

The city Department of Buildings (DOB) told the Norwood News that there isn’t a current Certificate of Occupancy for the center yet. According to the Islamic Center’s assistant, Saha Jakarize, they should be opening sometime between March and April of this year. The group is expected to receive a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy.

Currently in Norwood, there are a total of three mosques: the original North Bronx Islamic Center [Perry Avenue], Masjid-e-Quba, and Masjid Hamza. Syed Jamin Ali, president of the mosque on Perry Avenue has been working on the opening of the 206th Street center for some time.

“It came to my mind that maybe I can build up our community,” Ali said. “I thought that we can probably start it with our religion, because religious people, good people will move closer.”

In the Bronx, the Muslim community is growing and with it, the need for more houses of prayer. The new center will be able to hold approximately 1,000 people and is open to the entire Muslim community, including non-practicing Muslims. Women will have their own entrance and a separate floor. The larger Islamic Center will consist of four floors of prayer rooms and libraries.

Mohammed Iqbal Hussaine, the North Bronx Islamic Center’s secretary, said they have been gathering donations for the construction of the site since 1996. Construction began on the building in 2011. Speaking to the Norwood News, Hussaine said, “We have spent around $3,000,000.” He added that the group did not rely on government assistance.

“Once you see this thing, it is not only going to help the Muslims it is going to help all of the community,” Hussaine said. “We are going to have food drives. A lot of poor people live here [in Norwood].” “We are not just going to pray in the center. Every community will receive help from us,” he said.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.