About HIC Orlando
The history of the Husseini Islamic Center of Orlando, Florida
By: Sr. Mumtaz Ladak - September 2000
The evolution of a community can only be observed in its history. When I undertook the task of writing the history of the Husseini Islamic Center, all I could report or record was a ten-year period. However, this decade is perhaps the most fundamental period in this young community's debut into the mainstream.
Geographically flanked by very large Jamaats like Allentown, New York, and Toronto the HIC of Orlando is relatively a small piece in the big picture. The difference, however, is in the type of immigrants that found their way here.
Founded in early 1991 by a handful of pioneer families that had migrated from England, New Jersey and the U.A.E the new HIC community set up 'camp' in a small 1500 square foot office, rented in Altamonte Spring. Prior to this, Br. Gulamali Dewji and Br. John Marshall at their residences were carrying out most of the Muharram, Ramadhan and other religious activities in 1989 and 1990 and a part of 1991, with help from the other pioneer families. Br. John Marshall also set up Madressah at their residence in 1990, which moved to Altamonte Spring in 1991.
The diverse ethnic backgrounds of the initial members were a very big factor in the determination of the infrastructure of this new community. The timeline from 1991 thru 1997 showed an addition of 25 families to the original 10, but most notable was the 'melting pot' syndrome, which interestingly enough is also the basis of a lot of the first generation American history.
The year 1997 can perhaps be recorded as a major milestone, since the summer of that year brought about the greatest percentage increase in the population of the HIC. A New York entrepreneur, Br. Jaffer Abdulhussein decided to relocate his business and employees to Sanford, a suburb of Orlando, hence bringing the membership up to approximately 65 families. This major emigration from a large jamaat in North America of course prompted others to take a second look at Orlando, and within a few months another 10 families joined this now dynamic community.
In the meantime, the past president, also a founding member, Br. Gulamali Dewji, took another bold step. He initiated the purchase of a property in Sanford, Florida, which is now the current home of the HIC. Of course, as with every other evolution, history cannot be completed without the acknowledgement of change and the related problems. The HIC was now facing a growth of over 500%, and the infrastructure in place now had to be adjusted to accommodate this new growth.
The summer of 1998 heralded the amendment to the constitution, and hence the HIC entered into another era. This change was formulated under the leadership of another prominent businessman, Br. Mehbub Manji, who became president of the community in 1999.
The period between 1998 and 1999 can also be recorded as the time when another community emerged from within the community. Some families of Indo-Pakistani background purchased a property in the Kissimmee area, which is approximately 30 miles from Sanford. By this time, the membership at the HIC had already increased to almost 120 families. Some 30 families broke away to form the new center in Kissimmee. The year 2000 saw the membership reduced to approximately 95 families with a growing rate of 30% per year.
Keeping in mind the current situation and the potential influx of many more emigrants, the current administration has launched a property search to accommodate this growth. Perhaps the most dynamic factor in the emergence of this vibrant community is the vast experience that is now pouring in via members, coming from various jamaats worldwide, like Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa, Nairobi, London, Toronto, Allentown, New York and Dubai.
It will be fascinating to witness and record the evolution of this community even 10 years from now, with its mixture of first and second time emigrants.
