[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ABDULLAH EL-AMIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RASHIDA TLAIB

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 14, 2020

  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Imam Abdullah El-
Amin's commitment to community service.
  Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Abdullah El-Amin moved to Detroit, 
Michigan at the age of 7. His interest in the sciences led him to Shaw 
College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and 
Chemistry and worked for twenty years as a medical technologist at 
various laboratories.
  Abdullah El-Amin was called to pursue a more spiritual path. In 1983, 
Imam Abdullah, along with other members of the community, founded the 
Muslim Center of Detroit. It was incorporated in 1985. The mosque was 
formed primarily as a place for worship and as an outreach center to 
bring people from different religious backgrounds together. Imam 
Abdullah has always been passionate in his belief that interfaith 
dialogue creates stronger and more meaningful relationships across 
cultures.
  Imam El-Amin is known for his ability to create connections across 
communities, and he has served as a delegate for projects 
internationally. Imam El-Amin also co-founded and served as the 
Executive Director of the Michigan Muslim Community Council (formerly, 
the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan). His work there 
allowed him to forge many relationships and friendships with the 
broader Muslim community. In addition, he founded Crescent Janazah 
Services after seeing the need for quality end-of-life-care in the 
Metro-Detroit area, where he fostered the assistance of hundreds, if 
not thousands of families in their time of need. In addition to his 
spiritual and charitable work, Imam El-Amin is passionate about civic 
engagement. He served former mayor Dennis Archer as manager of the 
Neighborhood City Hall.
  Imam El-Amin is foremost a family man. He was married to the love of 
his life, Dr. Cheryl El-Amin who he misses terribly. They are the 
parents of three children, Maurice, a high school principal; Zarinah, 
anthropologist and cultural entrepreneur; and Idris, Doctor of 
Veterinary Medicine.
  Please join me in saluting Imam El-Amin, as we recognize his many 
contributions to the spiritual and civic life of Detroit.

                          ____________________