A CONVERSATION WITH IMAM ANAS SHAIKH

“The Islamic Organization of Southern Tier (IOST) not only serves religious needs of Muslims, but it also provides them a platform for educational, social and public get together,” Imam Anas tells while introducing IOST. The director of IOST Imam Anas explains that the organization is a major resource for all Muslims in the area and offers religious classes, Quran lessons, halaqas, mentoring and various other community programs which include Youth Programs and Community Events. The social gatherings involve fun games, food, potluck dinners and holiday celebrations. IOST is also a great resource for those non-Muslims who are interested in knowing about Islam. Along with free mosque tours and presentation on Islam, IOST offers diversity training & Islam101 classes.

Imam Anas Shaikh’s parents migrated from a village Chak 45 in a city named Sialkot in Pakistan. They belonged to a well-to-do family in Pakistan. His father was a bright student and after getting early education from Pakistan he came to America to pursue an engineering degree from Virginia Tech. After graduating from Virginia Tech, he accepted a job offer by IBM and moved to Binghamton in 1984. The same year he got married and his wife joined him in Binghamton in 1985. Shaikh added that before 9/11 immigration process was much easier for Pakistanis; it didn’t take his parents long to get their green card.

Imam Anas Shaikh was born in 1986 and went to Johnson City School District till grade 3. He spent 4 years in a Madrassah in Buffalo to get religious education and then in 2004 he came back and graduated from Johnson City High School. In 2009 he went to Madrassah Dar-ul- Aloom and did his undergrad. In 2011 he got a job at a mosque in Texas. He served there from September 2011 to December 2012. In 2012, when previous Imam, who was a Turkish, moved from the area, there was a vacancy at IOST. He took the opportunity to be closer to his parents and the area where he grew up and joined IOST.

While recalling his childhood memories Shaikh added that at that time there were around 50 Pakistani families in the area. Most of them were doctors and a few were engineers. They were all here because of their jobs. In 1979 a small office was established to connect the Muslims of the area which was followed by constructing a mosque in Binghamton Downtown in 1979.

Shaikh shared that during COVID-19 pandemic, the community size had increased three folds. The number of Muslims in the area has increased from 2000 to 7000 and more are expected to come. This migration is not only to Broome County, but people have moved from New York City to Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany as well. Most of these migrants belong to working class and work as taxi drivers, cashiers/ accountants at stores, or run other small home owned businesses. Their job requires physical presence. Due to closure of business and inflation, cost of living in New York City became unaffordable for these middle-class migrants. These people are now working in Broome County at Walmart, Target, Dominos and other places, if they are not taxi drivers. According to Imam Anas Shaikh this large-scale migration not only changed lives of these re-migrants but it also changed the area. Their active contribution in community has brought more work force and business in the area; for example, there used to be just a few international (desi/Halal) grocery stores and food points in the area; now one can find these everywhere. This increase in business will lead to a healthy competition and improve quality of the products as well.

Since the role of Imam is to provide a network for the community members, people reach out to him for social, educational, and religious matters. When I asked about some common challenges/ concerns shared by most of the community members, Imam Anas responded that the major concern for most of the parents was about their teens getting away from Islamic values and practices. Shaikh also thinks that the culture of IOST is different from that of the mosques in NYC. In NYC every sect (sub-groups among Muslims) has their own separate mosque. Imam Anas told that in IOST we emphasize Islamic values rather than cultural values. It’s not about being Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Somalian, Saudi or any other national; it is a platform for all Muslims. Islam thus is a homogenizing and unifying force within the community.

While talking about the increased number of community members, Imam Anas shared that IOST had hired a second Imam also. Now both Imam split the duties to serve the community. They engage community members through events like regular prayers, Friday congregation, family dinners, community expo and carnivals, Eid Galas, and Sunday school. Women and men attend the Friday congregation in a big number. There is a huge turnout of kids and families for the family events. Children of various ages attend the Sunday school that takes place on Sundays only and children from surrounding neighborhoods also join that.

IOST has a website as well as a Facebook page. IOST also publishes a biweekly newsletter, and connects with community members via a dedicated email, and text messages system. Anybody can sign up for the regular updates and news on the website. The website also maintains an event calendar to inform the community members about the upcoming events. 

IOST also has a purpose-built library to lend books to the community members. The library is called Words of Wisdom. In addition to engaging the members in a constructive activity of book reading, the library enhances a sense of community among the people who sit in the reading area and spend their time reading and chatting with each other.

While talking about upcoming projects, Shaikh shares that IOST has purchased 21 acres of land at 996 Reynolds Road, Johnson City, New York to build a complex that will include a mosque, a gymnasium, a school, and sports and recreational facilities. This complex will meet the needs of the expanding community. Through this project IOST will provide a platform to the community across the Southern Tier, NY. 

IOST is also planning for ESL classes for adult females and males who feel disconnected because of language barrier. Immigrants and refugees from various nationalities will join the classes and learn English that will help them network and seek appropriate job for themselves. To start these classes IOST needs funding and volunteers to contribute.

Overall, Imam Anas Shaikh has made a positive contribution to the community. IOST has provided relief, support, and networking opportunities to the Muslim immigrants from South Asia and the Middle East. More importantly, IOST has supported the re-migrants from NYC to Binghamton, Johnson City, Vestal, and Endicott during the pandemic period.