Join us on Thursday in Lawrence

Earlier this month, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul officially recognized January as Muslim American Heritage Month, saying that more than a dozen landmarks — including One World Trade Center, Grand Central Terminal, and Niagara Falls — will be illuminated green in observance.

Hochul’s announcement came a day after New York City inaugurated its first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who recognized her leadership in recognizing Muslim contributions to the state and said, “Muslim New Yorkers can see ourselves reflected and recognized in a city and state that is also our home.”

That’s all great for New York, but guess who recognized the month three years before that? That’s right: New Jersey.

At the end of Ramadan in 2023, Gov. Phil Murphy officially designated January as Muslim Heritage Month in an effort to promote appreciation and awareness of the Muslim community in New Jersey. The state has the largest percentage of Muslims, with nearly 300,000 residing in the Garden State.

“In recent years, the Muslim community has been the target of an increasing number of bias incidents,” Sen. Brian Stack, a sponsor of the legislation that made the designation official, noted at the time. “This designation will allow the state and its residents to respectfully acknowledge and promote awareness while appreciating and recognizing the many contributions of the state’s Muslim community.”

Sen. Vin Gopal, who serves as chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus, said that the designation “is a positive step that can only lead to greater understanding among our people and make our diverse state ever stronger.”

Only a handful of states recognize a heritage month for Muslims, making New Jersey a leader in the nation. Throughout the month, events and festivals welcome the state’s residents to learn more about their Muslim neighbors and demystify a faith that is often maligned and misunderstood in the United States.

Join us for one of those events this Thursday at the Lawrence Township Library, where I will be speaking alongside Ifrah Akhtar, Central Desi’s associate editor and founder of MODEST Magazine, and Mariyum Rizwan, a former Central Desi fellow and an assignment editor at MSNOW. The discussion from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. will focus on how Muslim American creators are using art to share their identity with others, celebrate their cultures, and challenge stereotypes.

We hope to see our Central Desi community there! Also, check out the full list of Muslim Heritage Month events in New Jersey.

Upcoming events this week

January 15 – Muslim Voices: Creativity in Arts, Film, and Literature
6:30-7:30 PM
Mercer County Library: Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
Explore how contemporary Muslim creators use art to share identity, celebrate culture, and challenge stereotypes. Journalist Ambreen Ali, founder of Central Desi, and writer Ifrah Akhtar, editor-in-chief of MODEST, bring unique perspectives on storytelling and community. Guided by moderator Mariyum Rizwan, Assignment Editor at MSNOW, the program highlights creativity across media and features The Art of Faith: Beauty, Geometry, and Meaning in Islamic Art. Advanced registration is appreciated.

January – Dates Vary
View a plethora of Muslim Heritage Month events here.

January 17 – Twelve Gates Arts (12G) 2026 Fundraiser: Qawwali Night
5:00-8:00 PM
The Neighborhood House
20 N American St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
12G is hosting a special Qawwali night with a performance by the Saami Brothers, hailing from Karachi, Pakistan. The Saami family are living custodians of one of the world’s oldest and most powerful musical legacies. A Sufi dynasty with an unbroken lineage spanning nearly 800 years, the family– led by Ustad Naseeruddin Saami– are master practitioners of two deeply spiritual and technically demanding traditions: Khayal and Qawwali. There will be food and music. This is a ticketed event. Proceeds support 12G artists and programs. RSVP here.

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