By Nicole Cosentino, Special Writer
The Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) marked a momentous occasion Saturdayas it celebrated the grand opening of its new school building on Route 1 in Monmouth Junction with a gathering of more than 1,000 people.
”This has been a dream in the making since 1995,” expansion funding group chairperson Zohail Pirzada said. “This (was envisioned) by our (organization’s) founding fathers. We are realizing it. It’s the best day so far in the history of the ISCJ.”
According to the society’s official website, ISCJ was created by Muslim students from Rutgers University in the 1970’s and became a functioning center in the early 1980’s. The Route 1 Mosque offers five daily Muslim prayers, matrimonial, and burial services.
Since its conception, the ISCJ has been educating about 500 Muslim children a year about the Islamic faith.
According to the website, the Muslim American community has seen so much growth over the last 20 years that the existing ISCJ facilities were “woefully inadequate.” The expansion project is working to solve that problem.
Mr. Pirzada said that the new school building’s 18 classrooms will replace the three modular trailers that students have been using. The school will include curriculums for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
According to Mr. Pirzada, this phase of the expansion project cost around $9 million.
”Each and every dollar came from right here in the community at large,” Mr. Pirzada said. “We are exceeding our expectations. Now, people are seeing the results and coming forward to donate more.”
The organization used interpersonal relationships, social media, email, and advertisement in order to collect funds, according to Mr. Pirzada.
Ridwana Lloyd-Bey, a Princeton resident, is the volunteer in charge of advertising and marketing for the expansion project.
”It’s going wonderfully it’s been a great turnout,” Mrs. Lloyd-Bey said of the event. “It’s a momentous occasion in that this is a dream come true and the funds came from the community. It’s a celebratory mood.”
Behind Mrs. Lloyd-Bey, a group of schoolchildren sang in Arabic to praise Muhammad and thank God for the new building.
Calligraphers, clothing vendors, and various food vendors including Edison’s Beechwood Café and Grill and New Brunswick’s Douglas Pizza lined the perimeter under a large white tent to protect patrons from the sun. Rows of folding chairs were set up facing a stage garnished with balloons on which guest speakers took turns making speeches.
”We’re really happy that people contribute out of their hard-earned money for this occasion,” Mrs. Lloyd-Bey said.
According to Mrs. Lloyd-Bey, the children attending school at ISCJ have 30 percent higher SAT scores than neighboring schools. In addition to traditional Monday-Friday schooling, ISCJ offers a weekend schooling program that is centered on the teachings of the Koran.
Students were stationed outside to greet guests, and 16-year-old Aminae Pad from Lawrenceville stood with two of her friends offering directions.
”There’s a big community aspect,” Ms. Pad said of the new school. “There are about 500 kids in total. It’s like a family.”

