Title
Renaming the 400 block of 60th Street in honor of the life and legacy of community and religious leader Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid of Masjid Mujahideen.
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WHEREAS, Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid was born Alexander W. Thompson on October 12, 1951 in North Philadelphia. Imam Abdur-Rashid obtained his Islamic education under the teaching of Ahlus-Sunnah wa’l-Jama’ah and Shaykh Safa Hawalie; and
WHEREAS, Imam Abdur-Rashid spent the majority of his adult life in West Philadelphia. He was a trusted community ambassador and member of several community organizations, including One Click and The Moroccos, both formed to improve the quality of life for Philadelphians by working with members of the community to put an end to senseless violence in the City of Philadelphia. He also served as the head of the Islamic chaplaincy department for the Philadelphia Prison System; and
WHEREAS, In addition to being a community leader, Imam Abdur-Rashid was a steadfast public servant devoted to the advancement of Islam, serving as the leader and Imam of Masjid Mujahideen since 1984, the Amir of the Majlis Ash-Shura of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley since 2010, the Amir of the Al-Ummah National Community, and a representative of Imam Jamil Al-Amin since 2000; and
WHEREAS, Imam Abdur-Rashid was an avid outdoorsman, who was passionate about archery, hunting, camping, fishing, and caring for dogs and horses. He was also one of the city’s leading horse farriers, operating a horse stable in North Philadelphia for many years; and
WHEREAS, Imam Abdur-Rashid leaves behind to continue his legacy his wife of forty-one years, Jamilah Abdur-Rashid, twenty children, fifty-five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two sisters, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will continue to represent his outstanding legacy of unwavering worship and service to the community. He will forever be remembered for how much he cared for the welfare of West Philadelphia, and for his creativity in making it a safer, more prosperous and equitable place; and
WHEREAS, The lifelong dedication of Imam Abdur-Rashid to the West Philadelphia and Philadelphia religious communities should be memorialized; now therefore be it,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby renames the 400 block of 60th Street in honor of the life and legacy of community and religious leader Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid of Masjid Mujahideen.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid as a sign of the sincere respect, admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.
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