| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 688 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | recognize the Islamic Center of Lake Travis on the occasion of |
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| 4 | 4 | | the one-year anniversary of its opening following its rebuilding |
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| 5 | 5 | | and the center's second Ramadan celebration; and |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Islamic Center of Lake Travis underwent a |
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| 7 | 7 | | devastating fire in January of 2017 during its construction; |
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| 8 | 8 | | after more than a year of rebuilding efforts, and with the strong |
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| 9 | 9 | | support of the interfaith community, the mosque opened its doors |
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| 10 | 10 | | in May of 2018 in time for its first Ramadan celebration, which |
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| 11 | 11 | | included nightly prayers and community iftars, the traditional |
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| 12 | 12 | | meal that breaks the daily fast; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, The mosque offers a range of convenient features |
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| 14 | 14 | | to its congregation, including upstairs and downstairs prayer |
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| 15 | 15 | | rooms, a nursery, washrooms, and a small basketball court; in |
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| 16 | 16 | | addition to regular worship services, the center offers Sunday |
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| 17 | 17 | | school classes for children and hosts a monthly lecture series, |
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| 18 | 18 | | and its members participate in the Mobile Loaves and Fishes |
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| 19 | 19 | | program; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, The Islamic Center of Lake Travis recently |
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| 21 | 21 | | engaged its first Imam, Sheikh Mohamed-Umer Esmail; he is a |
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| 22 | 22 | | traditionally trained scholar who has studied the Sciences of |
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| 23 | 23 | | Shari'ah and received Ijazahs and studied under the tutelage of |
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| 24 | 24 | | some of the world's leading Islamic scholars; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, The Islamic Center of Lake Travis has been an |
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| 26 | 26 | | invaluable addition to the faith community in Central Texas, and |
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| 27 | 27 | | it is truly fitting that it receive special recognition on this |
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| 28 | 28 | | significant anniversary; now, therefore, be it |
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| 29 | 29 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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| 30 | 30 | | Legislature, hereby commend the members of the Islamic Center of |
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| 31 | 31 | | Lake Travis on their commitment and their determination in the |
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| 32 | 32 | | face of adversity and extend to them best wishes for a memorable |
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| 33 | 33 | | one-year anniversary celebration; and, be it further |
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| 34 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 35 | 35 | | the mosque as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 36 | 36 | | Watson |
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| 37 | 37 | | ________________________________ |
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| 38 | 38 | | President of the Senate |
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| 39 | 39 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 40 | 40 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 41 | 41 | | the Senate on May 3, 2019. |
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| 42 | 42 | | ________________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 44 | 44 | | ________________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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