Latino Muslim Reporter

By: Yusuf Rios There are two major concerns that need to be addressed in the whole of the Muslim Community and they are internal disorder and struggles for leadership. The issue is not only lack of manpower, but lack of community will; a failure to be supportive in a substantial way and to act collaboratively. The Latino community needs to determine where it stands in this regard. There are too many disturbances within the Muslim Community that stem from disunity, and, specifically in the Latino community, when we judge by the standards of collaborative effort. The least point of focus is community development, while it should be a priority, and the trend is personal advancement, while this is not characteristic of true Islamic leadership and values. The standard is the lack of adequate resources and a willingness to accept second class status for personal survival within the existing organizations targeting the Latino community. There is also the problem of split loyalties...

Fruits of Hurricane Maria: A Multi Faith Coalition for Puerto Rico By: Imam Daniel Abdullah Hernández The Three Puerto Rican Imams strive to build a multifaceted coalition based on the universal principles of solidarity, love, humanity, mercy, collaboration, and service. In unity with the beautiful people of Puerto Rico, the Three Puerto Rican Imams are joining their hands, hearts, and efforts with other individuals and organizations for the sake of providing necessary relief after the terrible hurricane, Maria. They have fully committed themselves to this task. Acknowledging the fact that the resources are scarce, we thought it would be best to work collaboratively with others who share our passion and concern. The objective is to maximize the impact and, with God's help, achieve greater results. Many of the organizations that have joined the Three Puerto Rican Imams Project represent multiple faiths. Based on the teachings of the Qur’an, we believe in respect for people...

The 3 Puerto Rican Imams Project is a long-term endeavor that seeks to provide solutions to the needs of the people of Puerto Rico. In its initial planning stages, it was meant to be an outreach-driven initiative to provide educational and social services to the Muslim community. However, after the devastating natural disasters that occurred in September, Hurricanes Irma and, more notably, María, the project became an emergency relief effort that extended not just to the Muslims of Puerto Rico, but to all Puerto Ricans. These powerful cyclones literally hit home for the directors, three Puerto Rican Muslim leaders (Imam Abdullah Daniel Hernández, Imam Jose “Yusuf” Rios, and Imam Wesley “Abu Sumayyah” Lebrón) and their supporters, who share both their pain and vision, making this a mission of love and solidarity. The project is unique in that it unites various organizations and works collaboratively with others inside and outside of the island, while still working independently in i...

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón We commenced our day by loading our van with the AgitArte crew in preparation to deliver food to “La Olla” community kitchen in Rio Piedras. Most of the food delivered was from AgitArte but we added some food donations to what they had already put together for this community, thereby providing them with a larger quantity of items. We drove out with them to Rio Piedras and upon arriving, one of the volunteers onsite asked me if the van we were driving had donations for the community kitchen. After informing him of our intentions, he went inside to gather volunteers to help unload the truck. I was immediately amazed that everyone wanted to be involved! People who were there to be served came out to carry boxes of food into the space where they were storing the items, and after we were done they resumed eating their breakfast. “La Olla” was also providing a table topped with free clothing items from which the people could take. There were ...

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón Today was a day filled with blessings and life-changing experiences. We started our day by heading to Adjuntas to see my family who lost their 17-year-old daughter just 5 days ago due to leptospirosis, a bacterial infection originating from the urine of rats and other infected animals. Due to the poor living conditions in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María, characterized by debris and garbage littering the roads and residential areas, these types of diseases are becoming more common in many areas on the island. Besides seeing my family, giving them my sincerest condolences while hugging and embracing them, the purpose of our trip was also to pay for the entire funeral costs with money donated by the Muslim community. When I had informed my cousin previously over the phone that the Muslim community would cover the funeral expenses for his daughter, he immediately broke down crying while expressing his gratitude to the Muslims and the 3 Puert...

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón The 3 Imams Project arrived in Puerto Rico today and the project was blessed immediately. We had rented a mini van and upon arriving to the car rental they informed us that they did not have a van available, but that they could give us a SUV. We told them, “We will take it even though we preferred the van.” As this process was taking place, I was speaking with the lady who was doing our paperwork and she was telling me how bad things were during and after Hurricane María. During this time, Imam Yusuf Rios was speaking to the bag concierge, who was also informing the Imam of how gas prices have taken an extreme hike. The lady with whom I spoke was shocked that we were Muslims because of the beautiful character she immediately saw and experienced (Masha'Allah). She informed me that the Muslims she had met previously always seemed to have a poor attitude, similar to her neighbor who is also a Musl...