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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, One year after the rebuilding of its mosque in |
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Hudson Bend, the Islamic Center of Lake Travis has welcomed its |
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first full-time imam and is hosting its second Ramadan observance; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A fire destroyed the first mosque on the site in |
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Hudson Bend in 2017, when it was still under construction; members |
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of all faiths came together in solidarity to support the Islamic |
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Center, and it began the rebuilding process; the new two-story |
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structure opened in May 2018 for its first Ramadan services; and |
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WHEREAS, The center serves as a social hub for the Muslim |
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community in the Lake Travis area, with upstairs and downstairs |
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prayer rooms, a nursery, space for children's religious |
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instruction, and an outdoor deck for celebrations; it has also |
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hosted a lecture series, food donations, and events of the |
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Interfaith Ambassadors of Lake Travis, a community group that it |
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helped form in the wake of the fire; and |
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WHEREAS, Mufti Mohamed-Umer Esmail began serving as imam of |
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the mosque in April 2019; born in Canada, he first earned teaching |
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certifications at the Institute for Islamic Studies in Dewsbury in |
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the United Kingdom and went on to secure further credentials |
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through studies with world-renowned scholars in Karachi, Pakistan; |
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he has served as the imam of the North Austin Muslim Community |
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Center, as spiritual advisor for the Austin Chapter of the Muslim |
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Youth of North America, and as imam of the Nueces Mosque serving The |
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University of Texas community; and |
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WHEREAS, The Islamic Center of Lake Travis provides |
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fellowship, guidance, and inspiration to all who gather there, and |
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it is indeed fitting to honor this notable house of worship as it |
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marks these significant milestones; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Islamic Center of Lake Travis on the |
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occasion of the first anniversary of its rebuilding and its second |
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Ramadan observance and extend sincere best wishes to Mufti |
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Mohamed-Umer Esmail as he begins his tenure as imam; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the center as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Goodwin |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1293 was adopted by the House on May |
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2, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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