Next to the northbound New Jersey Turnpike rest area in East Brunswick, there’s a Dawoodi Bohra masjid. Carol and I looked at it over the fence separating it from the rest area access road. It looked quite impressive. Behind the masjid is a parking lot, and on the far side we saw two men wearing the characteristic white clothing of the Dawoodi Bohra.
If you’ve never heard of them before, the website of the Dawoodi Bohra community in the United States says:
“Following Islamic principles, our faith is expressed through service and kindness to others. We believe in the value of society, equal education, women’s empowerment, interfaith engagement, physical health and wellbeing, and a responsibility to care for the environment.”
Carol and I both wanted to see the inside of the building. But we were on a tight schedule. Plus, given the increased security necessary for many religious communities these days, we thought unexpected visitors might not be welcome. So we admired the outside of the building from afar.
