An article by Dr. Walid Ahmed Futaihy
Published in Okaz Today
Tuesday October 9th, 2007
Muslim Cultural Center in Boston

For over a decade now, the state of the Muslim colony of Boston has been one reminiscent of those burrowing in stone in order to brand the earth with labors and accomplishments evocative of their written works of yesteryear.  For over ten years now, the project of building Boston’s largest Muslim cultural center has been the preoccupation of the city’s Muslim colony.  Of concern to this colony have been the material and legal obstacles hindering the erection of such an edifice, in the heart of this noble [patrician is the Arabic word, fs] town, so that Boston’s Muslim colony might become part and parcel of that city’s social, cultural, and civilizational fabric.

For upwards of ten years I have written on this topic in local newspapers.  I have also spoken at local and international news outlets about the benefits of this project and the possibility of it becoming a unique model for emulation; a one of a kind prototype in America.  Indeed, this is a sui generis project fostered and born out of the [local?] American Muslim colony.  In fact, the project had earned the support of Mayor Menino and that of many prominent city officials in Boston; city official who are well acquainted with the Boston Muslim colony’s desire to foster contacts and bonds with their brothers and sisters in the city; city officials who are well aware of the Boston Muslim colony’s eagerness to build bridges of amity so as to fulfill the heavenly prescription of the Almighty to “get to know one another”.

Consequently, the mandate of the Cultural Center will have been intended to be that of an ecumenical mosque, a ministry, a library, a school [the Arabic madrassa is ambiguous here (fs)], multi-purpose auditoriums and venues for various colloquia, seminars, and lectures benefiting Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and an information hub aimed at revealing Islam in its true noble incarnation, correcting in the process the defaced image that has been made of it in the West.  All of this will have been at a prime location in the heart of the city of Boston, mere minutes from a number of local colleges and universities, Harvard’s Medical School, and one of Harvard’s greatest teaching hospitals.

Alas, days, months, and years have gone by, and the [Boston] Muslim colony and its trustees have been facing one challenge after the next; challenges that ran the gamut from things material and legal, to brazen disruptions, distortions, and similar steady attempts at scuttling [blocking, fs] the project—by those who do not wish for Humanity to find Peace through the building of bridges of knowledge and understanding and learning about the other…  But Allah will let his light shine through.  [bold mine; this is a Koranic citation, I’m not sure of the exact—standard—translation, fs.]

After more than a decade of time and of successful fundraising—and donations exceeding 12 million dollars—after more than a decade of standing up to all sorts of legal obstacles, negative publicity, and biased misinformation campaigns, thanks be to Allah, the Dome and the Minaret have finally been erected, and the first prayer in Boston’s ecumenical mosque has been recited (during this holy month), and the doors of this Cultural Center—for Muslims and non-Muslims alike—have been flung open so that all can hear the word of Allah, and all can come to know one another and discover the many faces of goodness in this city.

This has been a decade-long journey during which Allah has written that those who had been involved had been involved through a faithful prayer, a courageous stance for the sake of Truth, or a firm moral or material backing.  And the reward will elude those who have abandoned their duty, for Allah gives each his share based on what each has given, and Allah is all-knowing of those who have believed and done good.  [This also appears to be a Koranic citation, I’m not sure of the exact—standard—translation, fs.]

Therefore, and in my capacity as member of the council of trustees, I would like to thank all of those who have participated, in one way or another, in backing this project.  I pray Allah to reward them with compensation and recompense, for they have participated in the erection of this Muslim edifice, in the heart of the city of Boston so that Allah may reveal the true civilized image of our righteous religion through cooperation among Boston’s Muslim colony and other communities, far from religious, linguistic, or racial bigotry; so that all that which will benefit society will be propagated; so that Islam’s true spirit of forgiveness, love, and goodness, will be propagated; so that, through the correct practices of Muslims, the true essence of Islam, that wonderful divine faith, will be revealed; so that the entire world will see the goodness that Allah has descended on the Seal of the Prophets and the Apostles, our master, our beloved, Muhammad, the culmination of all the Prophets, may Allah be pleased with them and may he reward and please them all.  [again, this appears to be a Koranic citation, I’m not sure of the exact—standard—translation, fs.]

Dr. Walid Ahmed Futaihy
Consulting Physician and President of the Administrative Council
[CEO of the IMC and the Chairman of the Board of Directors]
International Medical Center Hospital
Fax: 6509659