CAIR, CAIR-NY Offer Condolences on Passing of Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid
(NEW YORK, NY, 11/15/25) — The national office and the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR/CAIR-NY) today offered condolences on the passing of Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid.
Imam Abdur-Rashid was the religious and spiritual leader of The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in New York, which was founded by the El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) in 1964.
He was also Ameer (President) Emeritus of the Majlis Ash-Shura (Islamic Leadership Council) of Metropolitan New York and served as the Deputy Ameer (Vice President) of the Muslim Alliance in North America.
In 2019, Imam Abdur-Rashid joined the advisory board of CAIR and George Mason University’s Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies “After Malcolm Digital Archive,” a university-based, community driven repository for archival materials and oral histories that document and tell the story of African-American Muslim contributions to the Black Freedom Struggle.
In a statement, Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, said:
“To our Creator we belong and return and hopefully be reunited with those like Imam Dr. Talib Abdul-Rashid. Imam Talib served the community for about six decades. He led a congregation at the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood and led protests in the streets against injustice with a commitment toward righteousness.
“For many like myself, he was a teacher not just through spoken lessons, but by observing his actions. Many hearts are sad to hear of our loss of Imam Talib's presence, but we take some solace in what we learn from his legacy of community service. We pray his loved ones are granted enduring patience as they grieve, and we pray that our respected Imam Dr. Talib Abdul-Rashid is welcomed with love and compassion by the All Mighty and our Prophet (may God's peace and blessings be upon him). Ameen.”
CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We mourn the loss of Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid, a visionary leader and community builder who for decades guided New York’s Muslims with humility and strength. As President Emeritus of the Majlis Ash-Shura of New York, his wisdom, compassion, and dedication to justice shaped not only our spiritual lives, but the very fabric of our city. I am deeply grateful to have known him for so long, and his legacy will continue to inspire us.”
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, foster a deeper understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com