Muslim Association of Guam

TEHRAN (IQNA) – The Muslim Association of Guam was founded in 1990 to meet the needs of the growing Muslim community on Guam, although membership has varied over the years from a high of more than 100 to the current total of about fifty.

 

The association also serves as a unified body to provide Islamic information to the general public and has a stated goal of creating understanding and harmony between the different religions on Guam.

Muslims in the association worship at Masjid Al-Noor, the only Muslim place of worship on Guam. The center is located near Ladera Towers in the central village of Mangilao. It was built over the period of three years, due to budgetary constraints, and was opened in 2000.

The center offers five daily prayer services, Friday congregation prayers and sermon, Friday night classes for children, and family gatherings on alternate Sundays. The sermons are done in English with quoted verses from the Holy Quran in Arabic.

During special times such as Ramadan, community fast breaking and nightly prayers are offered. Members often use the center to celebrate Muslim feasts (feast of Ramadan or Eid al-Fitr and feast of Al-Adha). The association provides religious guidance to Muslims on Guam and ceremonies in the case of funerals, marriages, divorce and other occasions.

The traditional leader of the Muslim community is the Imam, who is not elected but is the most knowledgeable person in the community who leads the prayers. In his absence, the next most knowledgeable member of the community takes over his duties.

Although the membership of the Muslim Association is not large; it varies largely in ethnicity and country of origin. Almost all members are US citizens but originate from such countries as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sudan, Eritrea, Morocco, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Guam and the United States. Members consider themselves mainstream Muslims and follow the universal message of Islam.

Guam is a US island territory in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific. It's distinguished by tropical beaches, Chamorro villages and ancient latte-stone pillars. Guam’s WWII significance is on view at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, whose sites include Asan Beach, a former battlefield. The island’s Spanish colonial heritage is evident in Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, atop a bluff in Umatac.

The capital city of Guam is Hagatna, and the most populous city is Dededo. In 2017, 162,742 people resided on Guam. Guamanians are American citizens by birth. Guam has an area of 210 sq. mi (544 km²) and a population density of 770/sq. mi (297/km²). Situated in Oceania, it is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands and the largest island in Micronesia.

Source: Islamic News