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Denomination: Sunni (Traditional)
Demographics: Predominantly Indonesian
Prayers: Unknown
Language of services: English
Imam: Unknown
Director/President: Unknown
Phone: (718) 721-8881

Masjid Al Hikmah, The Wisdom Mosque, refers to the passage of the Qur’an 16:125, which is translated as: Call thou (mankind) unto thy Sustainer’s path with wisdom (hikmah) and goodly exhortation.

Masjid Al-Hikmah is located on 48-01 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103.

History:

In the early 1980s some Indonesians began having what in Indonesia is called the pengajian, a gathering at which Islam is discussed. A pengajian usually begins with the recitation of the Qur’an, followed by a talk on Islam, and continues to the question and answer session. This monthly islamic discussion was held in apartments or houses; however, when the number of participants increased, the need for space became an important issue. The people asked permission to use on of the rooms in the Indonesian Consulate office in New York City where then they had their monthly pengajian until the community had its own mosque.

After spending US$ 125,000 for the initial renovation, a warehouse was used as a mosque for the first one and a half months after the purchase. President Suharto, then the Chairman of Yayasan Amalbakti Muslim Pancasila, a foundation that had been building hundreds of mosques around Indonesia, donated US$ 150,000 on behalf of the organization. On August 17, 1995, coincided with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day, Masjid Al Hikmah was established.

Services:

From the beginning, Masjid Al-Hikmah has been engaged in community services, although in general the social services are aimed at Muslims, particularly, of course, Indonesian Muslims in New York. Masjid Al-Hikmah is also a home for several pengajians.

Masjid Al-Hikmah offers Saturday School, where elementary and middle school children can learn about Islam. Currently, with more than one hundred students, of which some are non-Indonesians, Saturday School can be regarded as Masjid Al-Hikmah’s spearhead of community services. Masjid Al Hikmah is also engaged in social services such as serving as a place for wedding ceremonies, interfaith dialogues, bazaars, as well as a place where the jamaah can perform ghaib prayer – prayers for those who have died in distant places.

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