Interview Transcripts
Interview #1
--- Interviewee: Syed Ali Position: Imam Date: 11/1/13 Time: 2:05PM --- ANDREW PRIOR: So our first question is when was your site founded? SYED ALI: So this center is.. the community is older than the community itself. The building was recently within the last 5-10 years, I don’t know exactly what time, it was acquired because I’m a newcomer myself. But the community, the Shia Muslim community has been here for quite some time, for 20 plus years. So that community manifests itself to different centers and different places, this is one of 3 different Shia Muslim centers at least in the East Bay SARA KHAN: So your center it doesn’t cater just Pleasanton, right? ALI: Yes, so the community here comes from all over the East Bay. I myself come from Fremont, some come from Tracy, some as far as Stockton for example. So it’s whoever can drive here and make it here. KHAN: Do you know who were the founders were? ALI: I’m not sure exactly, but brother Zaheer might be able to tell you. KHAN: Could you tell me about the name of your mosque, what is the significance, of Zahra? ALI: Sure, so it’s called the Islamic Center of Zahra in Pleasanton so it’s an Islamic center. It’s not a mosque – the difference being a mosque has certain legal implications in the religion. When you make a mosque you can’t destroy it, you can’t alter it, you can only improve it. A mosque is more or less a permanent building, whereas a center is just a common word that we use that is only for common use, just something you’re using until you can buy a mosque. And Zahra of course is the name of the daughter of the holy Prophet, who has a lot of significance within the Shia tradition that is followed. So the center is named after a woman, the daughter of the holy Prophet, Zahra. Its affiliated to her, it’s like saying the Church of St Paul. It’s a similar idea. KHAN: What’s the demographic like of your community? ALI: In terms of age or in terms of ethnic background? KHAN: Both. ALI: There’s a good mix, the ethnic background mostly is South Asian, mostly from India, Pakistan. There are some Arabs, but not many Iranians. The main Shia population across the world comes from South Asia, India, Pakistan, or Iraq – Iraq and Iran are heavily Shiite but the center here is mostly South Asian – Urdu speaking. So services are.. Because since I speak English they are in English, but for other events the services are provided in Urdu as well, which is the language of South Asians. PRIOR: What is the size of your community? ALI: I don’t have exact numbers for you but I can find out – I would say about 100 families. PRIOR: And how active is it? How many events do you hold in a given week or so? ALI: How activity is measured is if they have regular service, weekly service so, Thursday nights and Friday service is usually the program with the Sunday school that happens, so it is active at a minimal level which means it has all the basic events, and then for other holier parts of the Islamic year like the month of Ramadan or the month of Muharram, which is coming up as you heard, there are speakers almost weekly so I would say it’s an average active community. The services that are regularly required are being provided. KHAN: You mentioned the classes – is that through Sunday school? ALI: Yes, Sunday school has classes and Sunday school is run by administration, and Sunday school has their own students. I think there are about 70 students for Sunday school, I’m not sure what the age groups are. PRIOR: Is this site affiliated with any other sites nearby? ALI: There is no official affiliation – there’s informal associations. There is a site that is a much bigger place in San Jose, it’s called SABA. The population is greater, the demographic is much greater there. Its informally association, there is a religious leader there as well. He is more permanent there. So yes there is no formal organization, there is no association of Churches or association of Shia centers, everyone is kind of doing their own thing. KHAN: What projects are you involved in beyond the mosque, such as charity or interfaith? ALI: I actually recently came here, I joined this community a month ago. But before myself the person in my position was actually a chaplain studying at GTU in Berkeley. He finished his program and he was involved in a lot of interfaith so they had 2-3 interfaith events with members of the Hindu community and members of the Christian community from this area. So regularly I would say now and then if there is any big religious event they invite the leaders of the community |
PRIOR: Besides Sunday school, do you offer any services to your community?
ALI: Thursday nights, Friday prayers, like today, and Sunday school. These are the three main events. PRIOR: Are there any youth programs besides Sunday school or counseling of any type? ALI: Counseling is being worked on right now there is no counseling available, community members are working on that. No counseling is available as of yet. KHAN: What happens on Thursday nights - is that a youth group of some sort? ALI: There’s prayers, the evening prayers are performed. Then some prayers are recited and a speech in English so I usually give that. I get on the pulpit and give the speech which is in English. One thing you want to realize is the way you want to look at these communities is what language is being used – if it is English that means the youth are being incorporated because the demographic is heavily run by older people who are – Urdu is the language they speak. But if English is present that means that there are a few programs that are catered to youth. PRIOR: So that sermon that I just observed, that was similar to Thursday nights? ALI: Yes, and it was in English yes, the topic might be different. PRIOR: Have you published any materials? ALI: No, not to my knowledge. Brother Zaheer might know. They interfaith events, they have some brochures or something, but I’m not aware. PRIOR: Are you aware of any significant milestones? Examples are purchase of a bigger building.. ALI: This center was an expansion itself – there was already another center and then this was founded. I’m not sure when it was bought but it was a milestone PRIOR: Are there any relevant legal cases to this center? ALI: Not that I’m aware of. KHAN: Have you experienced any discrimination, hate crimes or any trouble from neighbors? ALI: Not that I’m aware, I haven’t heard of any but brother Zaheer might know. So is the class on ethics? PRIOR: It’s called Muslims in America – it’s pretty much how Islam came to America, how it has developed through the years up to present day. ALI: The demographic history you should know is that arrival of, I came from the east coast, from New Jersey, which has a much older Muslim community. I think in California it is pretty new. So maybe within the past 20 years, within the 90s is when Muslims started coming to this area. Whereas in New Jersey they have been there since the 60s. So the culture is more – the youth haven’t formed their own voice and opinion, kind of living a more American identity. They are still kind of a mix of their parent’s culture. The speeches are in English of course, because it has to cater to everybody. But California I would say is relatively new arrival, unlike Sikhs who have been here since like the 1890s. KHAN: Is there anything else you want to share about the center that would maybe set you apart from other centers you have seen? ALI: There are some things. What you just heard about the elections – the system they have in place is very democratic. That is a feature of an absorption of a very American idea of free elections and free voting and that is very heavily pushed for in the 2-3 centers that are here in the Bay Area. So if you become a member you become eligible to vote for the Board of Trustees and so on and so forth. That process is heavily emphasized and people make sure that power is shared amongst everyone, not one family and not one ethnic group and or not one group of people. I think that is a very good feature, it makes people feel welcome and everyone has a chance as long as you are a paying member of the community to participate. It’s a good feature. PRIOR: Is that feature more unique to the West coast mosque because it is newer? ALI: It depends on where you are. Some centers are different because one family bought the land and that’s fine. But this you will not find in the East, you will not find this kind of attitude from India or Pakistan where these gentlemen come from. This is mostly a very American feature but the thinking is there and they want to make it a very professional. KHAN: Thank you so much for meeting with us. ALI: You’re welcome, good luck guys. |
Interview #2
--- Interviewee: Zaheer Sheikh Position: Trustee on Board Date: 11/1/13 Time: 2:17PM --- ANDREW PRIOR: The first question we have is who were the founders of this center? ZAHEER SHEIKH: I have no idea SARA KHAN: Do you know if it was a group of families or maybe one family in particular? SHEIKH: Um, it was an offshoot of a bigger community PRIOR: Still located in Pleasanton? SHEIKH: It’s in San Jose KHAN: Was this… SABA? SHEIKH: Yes, and this was first based in Milpitas PRIOR: So it was originally… SHEIKH: Moved here three years ago PRIOR: Ok. KHAN: Could you tell me how the board is set up? The Imam was telling us briefly about how it is a democratic system. So how many people are on board and how do you choose them? SHEIKH: There are seven trustees on board, and the elections are actually tomorrow for five of those 7 positions. The terms are actually staggered to ensure continuity so the seven don’t get empty at the same time, and they are eligible to continue for two terms, each term for two years so after 4 years their term is up. PRIOR: How big is your community? SHEIKH: I’d say the entire membership probably 300, inclusive of children. PRIOR: Is there anything unique about it in terms of ethnic background, or where they are from SHEIKH: I’d say the majority are from Pakistan. PRIOR: Have there been any relevant legal cases? SHEIKH: Not that I know of. PRIOR: Have you ever experienced any discrimination or hate crimes? SHEIKH: Not at this center PRIOR: Have you any published any material” SHEIKH: No KHAN: Or any interesting articles in the newspaper or anything like that? SHEIKH: NO KHAN: Do you guys have, I know you guys have a website, but do you guys have either a Facebook or Twitter, or any other social media? SHEIKH: No KHAN: Would it be ok if we were to just take a few pictures around the mosque? So the end project is going to be a website that we’ll present to the class just to share what I guess what the mosque looks like and where they come from SHEIKH: Yes, What class is this? KHAN: It’s called Muslims in America. It’s in the ethnic studies department at UC Berkeley. It’s taught by Dr. Hatem Bazian, if you’re familiar with him. He was also active in Zaytuna. SHEIKH: Sounds familiar it rings a bell. KHAN: So do you mind if we… SHEIKH: Yes go ahead. KHAN: Thank you again for your time and help! |