sylwia kapuscinski

Muslims In America: Latino Muslims

In recent years, Hispanic-Americans have been the fastest growing ethnic group who has converted to Islam. They have been abandoning the Catholic Church for the Muslim faith because they say that is where they find spirituality, fulfillment and meaning of life. They are usually drawn to this religion through their Muslim employer, friends or a spouse.

According to the American Muslim Council, there are nearly 200,000 Latino Muslims living in the United States. The largest communities are found in New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Florida. Majority of converts are women who accept Islam before they get married. Many mosques have set up “Latino Muslim” groups or informal mentoring programs. The Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey, offers Spanish-language education on Islam, provides free Qurans translated into Spanish and hosts an annual Hispanic Muslim Day.

Spanish-American convert to Islam Diana Mariam Santos Garcia, 27, plays with her daughter Zeyneb Tasnim Cardak Santos, 1, at her home in Clifton, New Jersey. Garcia converted to Islam over 10 years ago in her native Spain, but only started to practice Islam after she moved to the United States.
  
Javier Azhar Graviz of North Bergen, New Jersey, 24, right, native of Uruguay, waits for his friends outside of the Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey, during the Fourth Annual Hispanic Muslim Day. The annual event is organized to introduce Hispanics to Islam. Graviz, who was brought up Catholic, converted to Islam seven years ago.
  
Perspective convert is welcomed by Latino Muslim women to the Fourth Annual Hispanic Muslim Day at the Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey. The purpose of the annual event is to introduce Hispanics to Islam. Hispanic Muslim converts are very involved in Dawah work or an invitation of others to Islam.
     
  
Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey, is home to one of the largest Hispanic Muslim communities in the United States.
  
New convert Gaby Gonzalez, 20, puts on her hijab or head scarf and niqab or veil at Medina Group, an advertising company, where she works in Clifton, New Jersey. Gonzalez, native of Honduras, grew up Catholic and converted to Islam in December 2005. When Gabi converted to Islam her parents asked her to move out of their home. She found temporary shelter with a Muslim family.
   
Just before declaring her Islamic faith, Ramona Graviz, 56, third from left, native of Uruguay, listens to teachings on Islam during the Fourth Annual Hispanic Muslim Day at the Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey, Sep. 10, 2006. Graviz learned about Islam from her son who converted seven years ago. Graviz said her husband doesn't know she is going to convert to Islam.
     
  
Imam Mohammed Al-Hayek, native of Jordan, left, asks Ramona Graviz, 56, right, native of Uruguay, to repeat after him in Arabic the shahada or profession of Islamic faith by saying "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is his messenger" in front of the Hispanic community at the Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey. Graviz became Muslim when she officially pronounced her pledge of conviction of faith in front of at least two adult Muslim witnesses. Graviz was introduced to Islam through her son, Javier Azhar Graviz, 24, center, who converted to Islam seven years ago.
  
Wearing a hijab or a head scarf for the first time as a Muslim woman, Ramona Graviz, 56, right, native of Uruguay, is congratulated by other Hispanic converts just after she converted to Islam during the Fourth Annual Hispanic Muslim Day. Shinoa Matos of Brooklyn, 31, left, who converted to Islam five years ago, waits to congratulate Graviz. Majority of converts to Islam are women.
  
A Catholic woman, native of El Salvador, prays at the Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey, during the Fourth Annual Hispanic Muslim Day. The woman came to the mosque after attending a morning mass at a Roman Catholic church. The woman said she didn't tell her family she was coming to the mosque. "God is the same everywhere," she said as she prayed next to Muslim women.
     
  
Abdullah Daniel Hernandez, 28, native of Puerto Rico, left, speaks in Spanish to perspective converts during a class at the Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson. Hernandez used to be a gang leader and while in jail he decided to turn his life around. In September 1999 he converted to Islam and now is studying to be an Imam or spiritual leader at the Institute of Azhar University in Egypt. Hernandez comes back home to the United States for the summer during which he teaches other Hispanics about Islam in Spanish. Nancy Sassine, native of Argentina, right, stands near by.
  
Hispanic Muslim convert Gaby Gonzalez, 20, right, speaks with a co-worker at Medina Group, an Islamic advertising company, in Clifton, New Jersey, Sep. 21, 2006. Gonzalez, native of Honduras, grew up Catholic and converted to Islam in December 2005.
   
Imran Ali Shah of West Paterson, right, shows new convert Chris Rivera of Union City, left, how to pray for the first time after Rivera made his Shahada or declaration of faith at the Islamic Educational Center of North Hudson in Union City, New Jersey, Sep. 19, 2006. Rivera works for Shah's parents and was introduced to Islam while working for them.
     
  
Delfino Ramon, 30, native of Mexico, prays during his lunch break at Make It A Combo at Mall at Mill Creek in Secaucus, New Jersey, where he works as a cook. Ramon became curious about Islam when he saw his boss praying at work and fasting during Ramadan. His employer said before Ramon converted to Islam he used to be late for work, got drank, and was usually unhappy, but after he converted, Ramon is the best employee he can hope for.
   
Groom Javier Azhar Graviz, 24, third from right, listens with other Hispanic men to the spiritual leader Imam Mohammed Al-Hayek speak about marriage just before Graviz's Islamic marriage ceremony at Bergen County Islamic Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, Nov. 18, 2006. Graviz met his future wife on Islamic chat room. Graviz, who was born in Uruguay and attended Roman Catholic school, converted to Islam seven years ago.
  
Kristina Nadira Hernandez, 23, and her husband Javier Azhar Graviz, 24, look at each other just after their Islamic wedding at Bergen County Islamic Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. Graviz met his future wife on Islamic chat room and asked her to marry him on-line. Graviz and Hernandez attended Catholic school when they were growing up. Graviz was born in Uruguay and Hernandez's background is Puerto Rican and Spanish. Spiritual leader Imam Mohammed Al-Hayek, center, who performed the Islamic wedding, gives the couple marital advice. Graviz converted to Islam seven years ago and Hernandez converted in March 2006.
     
  
Gaby Gonzalez, 20, vacuums her apartment in Paterson, New Jersey. Gonzalez, native of Honduras, grew up Catholic and converted to Islam in December 2005. Gonzalez's husband installed green carpet in their living room to make it a prayer room. Green color is used in many mosques. Gonzalez said it was the favorite color of Prophet Muhammad. Gonzalez and her husband try to live a simple life, free of worldly possessions.
  
Muhammad Abdullah Martins, 25, a former Marine, prays as his wife Gaby Gonzalez, 20, sits near by in their home in Paterson, New Jersey. Gonzalez, native of Honduras, converted to Islam in December 2005, and her husband, native of Brazil, converted to Islam in November 2004. Gonzalez and her husband say they are servants of Allah and therefore try to live a simple and modest life.