Bill Text: NY K00785 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 785

Introduced

Bill Title: Honoring Shaykh Safraz Bacchus upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Lincoln-King Visionary Award for his commitment and service to his community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-01-23 - adopted [K00785 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-K00785-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 785

BY: M. of A. Cook

        HONORING  Shaykh  Safraz Bacchus upon the occasion
        of his designation as recipient  of  a  Lincoln-King
        Visionary  Award  for  his commitment and service to
        his community

  WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies  and  serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

  WHEREAS,  Shaykh  Safraz  Bacchus has given not only of his time and
energies but also of his competence, intelligence, and  leadership,  and
consequently has been designated for special honor; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud to honor Shaykh
Safraz Bacchus upon the occasion of his designation as  recipient  of  a
Lincoln-King  Visionary  Award  for  his  commitment  and service to his
community, to be celebrated at the Lincoln-King Visionary  Awards  Gala,
"From  Dream  to Greatness," on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Sand
Castle in Franklin Square, New York; and

  WHEREAS, This auspicious community gala is held  annually  to  unite
the  international  community  and to celebrate unity in diversity while
recognizing community leaders for their services; and

  WHEREAS, Shaykh Safraz Bacchus has been called  upon  to  contribute
his time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has
always given of himself unstintingly; and

  WHEREAS,  In 1993, because of his outstanding performance in several
Imams Training Programs,  Shaykh  Safraz  Bacchus  was  awarded  a  full
scholarship  sponsored  by the Government of Egypt in collaboration with
the Government of Guyana to pursue studies in Islamic  Jurisprudence  at
the famous Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt; and

  WHEREAS,  Shaykh  Safraz  Bacchus  completed  his studies in Islamic
Jurisprudence & Arabic Language with  training  also  on  Islamic  Dawah
Methodology  and  Islamic Economics from Al Azhar University in 2004; he
completed his master's degree in Islamic Theology in 2015;  he  had  the
esteemed  privilege  of sitting and studying with famed scholars such as
the Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr. Ali Gomah, Shaykh Habeeb  Ali  Jiffri,  and
Dr.  Omar Hashim, former Chancellor of Al Azhar; and

  WHEREAS,  Upon  his  return  to  Guyana, Shaykh Safraz spearheaded a
surge in Islamic knowledge sharing, training and  Dawah  and  held  many
roles within the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) including
Orphan,  Zakaah  and  Halaal  Committees  and  Director of Education and
Dawah; and

  WHEREAS, Shaykh Safraz also hosted several TV Programs  for  Islamic
Dawah, and his work allowed him to travel extensively internationally to
Kuwait,  Saudi  Arabia, Bosnia, United States, Jamaica, Chile, Trinidad,
and Suriname, adding to the depth of cultural experience  and  knowledge
he retains and demonstrates for the benefit of others today; and


  WHEREAS,  Shaykh  Safraz Bacchus migrated to New York in February of
2013 with his wife to take on the role  of  Lead  Imam  of  the  Central
Mosque  of  New  York  (Masjid  Al  Abidin), and has been serving as the
leading Imam of Masjid- AL Abidin for the past five years; and

  WHEREAS, In true care for his community, Shaykh Safraz  Bacchus  has
developed  a  passion  for  Chaplaincy in the health care system and has
completed four units of clinical pastoral  education  at  the  Northwell
Health University Hospital; and

  WHEREAS, Shaykh Safraz Bacchus has acquired the unique and important
skills  to  deliver counseling to individuals and to groups through acts
of  worship  and  rituals;  he  grew  up  in  Guyana,  a   multi-ethnic,
multi-faith,  and  multicultural  society;  his  upbringing in a diverse
social and cultural space makes him committed to a spiritual ethos  that
is inclusive and plural; and

  WHEREAS,  For  the  past  five  years Shaykh Safraz Bacchus has been
serving a dynamic and diverse community of Muslims in  the  position  of
Imam at Masjid Al Abidin in Queens, New York; as an Imam, he has had the
wonderful  opportunity  of  collaborating  with  faith  leaders  and law
enforcement officials to help realize a lived environment that is  based
on goodness for all citizens of his remarkable city; and

  WHEREAS,  Throughout  the  entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement,  Shaykh  Safraz  Bacchus  has  stood
constant in dignity, good grace, and humor; and

  WHEREAS,  Rare  indeed  is  the  impressive  dedication  shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which  Shaykh  Safraz  Bacchus  has
displayed throughout his life; and

  WHEREAS,  It  has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to  honor  and  support  those  individuals  who  have  displayed  their
commitment  to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this  tribute  to
Shaykh  Safraz  Bacchus, that future generations may know and appreciate
his admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect  and
esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Shaykh Safraz Bacchus upon the  occasion  of  his  designation  as
recipient  of  a  Lincoln-King  Visionary  Award  for his commitment and
service to his community; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Shaykh Safraz Bacchus.