Muslim Heritage Month 2026

By Jennifer Ersalesi

Since January 2023, when Governor Murphy passed a resolution declaring January as Muslim Heritage Month, communities throughout New Jersey have been celebrating the Muslim community and the core values of respect, unity, and peace that define Islam. The Rutherford Public Library has been hosting special events for the past three years to recognize our local Muslim community. This is Rutherford interviewed Usman Khan, one of the organizers of this year's event, "One Mission, One Vision".

TIR: This is the third year that Muslim Heritage Month will be recognized and celebrated at the Rutherford Public Library.  Can you tell us more about the upcoming event, “One Mission, One Vision” that will take place on Saturday, January 10th?

Usman Khan: The upcoming event is a celebration of Muslim heritage and culture across history and their lasting impacts into today. The goal remains to bring people together from different backgrounds and all sorts of walks of life to connect through storytelling and education, as well as much needed and shared community dialogue. The event's purpose is to create a welcoming space highlighting the diversity within all our communities and discuss values like service and compassion.

TIR: Why is this event so important to you?

UK: It holds a lot of importance simply due to the fact that it gives us a chance to be represented and understood in a more community-focused way. It allows us to take an opportunity and turn it into a way to raise awareness and honor overlooked stories and celebrate our identities, while clearing up misconceptions and showing others that we are alike, not different. Learning about one another’s histories and similarities helps to foster respect and build a robust and inclusive community, something we need more than ever now.

TIR: What can people expect to hear and see at “One Mission, One Vision”?  

UK: People can expect to hear speeches and stories while seeing presentations and book readings, as well as being able to take a gander at all our displays, diatoms, and informational boards around the room, detailing our heritage, while listening to people and hearing their stories helps to understand how we truly do have one mission with a shared vision, that different people come together with a common purpose and direction, to build unity and collaborate for a better future.

To register for this event, please use the following link.