| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, One year after the rebuilding of its mosque in |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | Hudson Bend, the Islamic Center of Lake Travis has welcomed its |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | first full-time imam and is hosting its second Ramadan observance; |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | and |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, A fire destroyed the first mosque on the site in |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | Hudson Bend in 2017, when it was still under construction; members |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | of all faiths came together in solidarity to support the Islamic |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | Center, and it began the rebuilding process; the new two-story |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | structure opened in May 2018 for its first Ramadan services; and |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, The center serves as a social hub for the Muslim |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | community in the Lake Travis area, with upstairs and downstairs |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | prayer rooms, a nursery, space for children's religious |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | instruction, and an outdoor deck for celebrations; it has also |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | hosted a lecture series, food donations, and events of the |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | Interfaith Ambassadors of Lake Travis, a community group that it |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | helped form in the wake of the fire; and |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Mufti Mohamed-Umer Esmail began serving as imam of |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | the mosque in April 2019; born in Canada, he first earned teaching |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | certifications at the Institute for Islamic Studies in Dewsbury in |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | the United Kingdom and went on to secure further credentials |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | through studies with world-renowned scholars in Karachi, Pakistan; |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | he has served as the imam of the North Austin Muslim Community |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | Center, as spiritual advisor for the Austin Chapter of the Muslim |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | Youth of North America, and as imam of the Nueces Mosque serving The |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | University of Texas community; and |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, The Islamic Center of Lake Travis provides |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | fellowship, guidance, and inspiration to all who gather there, and |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | it is indeed fitting to honor this notable house of worship as it |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | marks these significant milestones; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | Legislature hereby honor the Islamic Center of Lake Travis on the |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | occasion of the first anniversary of its rebuilding and its second |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | Ramadan observance and extend sincere best wishes to Mufti |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | Mohamed-Umer Esmail as he begins his tenure as imam; and, be it |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | further |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | prepared for the center as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | House of Representatives. |
|---|