Full Transcript: Abdul Motlib on Leading Al-Islah Islamic Center
Interviewer: What do you think in your life has led to you to be such a great leader that your the president of the Islamic Center?
Abdul: That is choose by Allah. I cannot be a leader. In our religion say if you are ten people together, there was a one leader, but choose by Allah. If you are together forty people, there’s another leader choose by Allah. But who will be a leader? That is chosen by Allah.
Interviewer: Do you think that in your life you’ve always been chosen to lead? Or just now is the part of the community?
Abdul: That is on community, community and people. Every two years our time is finished, mosque president, secretary and treasurer. And every two years our community people will decide, you know we have board member, we have general member, they decide who should run for this position another two years. So every two years it is supposed to be changed But I can move from the responsibility. So when my position will be done, people know and Allah know.
Interviewer: How did you become the president?
Abdul: That I don’t want--I don’t know how. When we get together, sit together, meeting together, they decide you have to get this position. So, from 2000, I run this position six years. Then I choose one of my brother, board member, to run my position. He did two years, after that he tired. He said, no I cannot give you this time, you know also, so you have to go to your position again. So almost another six years is passed. Now, I am unable to do this because of my age, because of my work, and people don’t want to move me from this position. Their demand is finish this building work done, then maybe you can quit your position. So I am expecting to [?]. Gave me ability to have done this job. It’s a big issue, big amount also. More than one million dollar we need, so very hard to collect and take care of, but everything will be provide by Allah.
Interviewer: And what is the work that you do in Rochester?
Abdul: Autoparts, you know, car parts. We make all kind of rubber parts. My company name is Flexible Production, Airboss Flexible Production and we make auto parts, rubber parts. Because I am working very hard, sometimes I work 12 hours, 2 to 4am. And, in other words, work six days. Last night I came from work 12 o’clock, then 12:30 I came to mosque. 2:30 I go from there, go home. Our last eating time was 4am. So before 4am I eat, then around 4:15 is our prayer time, first prayer is fajr, so 4:30 I finish the fajr, then go to bed now wake up. Today I have to go to work again 2 o’clock, I’m back at 12. It is— it is running.
Abdul: That is choose by Allah. I cannot be a leader. In our religion say if you are ten people together, there was a one leader, but choose by Allah. If you are together forty people, there’s another leader choose by Allah. But who will be a leader? That is chosen by Allah.
Interviewer: Do you think that in your life you’ve always been chosen to lead? Or just now is the part of the community?
Abdul: That is on community, community and people. Every two years our time is finished, mosque president, secretary and treasurer. And every two years our community people will decide, you know we have board member, we have general member, they decide who should run for this position another two years. So every two years it is supposed to be changed But I can move from the responsibility. So when my position will be done, people know and Allah know.
Interviewer: How did you become the president?
Abdul: That I don’t want--I don’t know how. When we get together, sit together, meeting together, they decide you have to get this position. So, from 2000, I run this position six years. Then I choose one of my brother, board member, to run my position. He did two years, after that he tired. He said, no I cannot give you this time, you know also, so you have to go to your position again. So almost another six years is passed. Now, I am unable to do this because of my age, because of my work, and people don’t want to move me from this position. Their demand is finish this building work done, then maybe you can quit your position. So I am expecting to [?]. Gave me ability to have done this job. It’s a big issue, big amount also. More than one million dollar we need, so very hard to collect and take care of, but everything will be provide by Allah.
Interviewer: And what is the work that you do in Rochester?
Abdul: Autoparts, you know, car parts. We make all kind of rubber parts. My company name is Flexible Production, Airboss Flexible Production and we make auto parts, rubber parts. Because I am working very hard, sometimes I work 12 hours, 2 to 4am. And, in other words, work six days. Last night I came from work 12 o’clock, then 12:30 I came to mosque. 2:30 I go from there, go home. Our last eating time was 4am. So before 4am I eat, then around 4:15 is our prayer time, first prayer is fajr, so 4:30 I finish the fajr, then go to bed now wake up. Today I have to go to work again 2 o’clock, I’m back at 12. It is— it is running.