UNITED NATIONS, Sept 15 (KUNA) -- On the occasion of the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, Kuwait's Ambassador to the UN Abdullah Al-Murad on Friday visited the Islamic Cultural Center of New York to congratulate the Imams and the staff there and to hold the Friday prayer.
Al-Murad, Chairman of the Center's Board of Trustees, also inspected the facility, built largely with Kuwaiti contributions, and the programme called "Mawaid Al-Rahman" (Tables of God) by which Iftar (the meal Muslims eat when breaking their day-long fast) is offered free every night during the holy month.
This programme has catered over the past ten years to hundreds of New Yorkers, mostly from the Islamic community.
Al-Murad was accompanied by Salah Alsaif, First Secretary at the Kuwait Mission, and the Center's Director Ziad Munair.
Traweeh prayers (evening prayers performed in Ramadan) are also held every evening at the Center and Lectures are given by scholars.
Three scholars were invited this month from Egypt and Syria to give lectures and Koranic Readings (Tarteel). The theme is always Islamic teachings, the spread of the message of Islam and rejection of violence and terrorism. No political discussions are allowed.
Guests from local religious institutions are also invited to offer interfaith lectures to Muslims and non Muslims.
According to Munair, the number of converts to Islam is continuously increasing -- 20 to 25 per month -- mainly youths, 60 percent African Americans, 40 percent whites.
