Imam Rafiq S. Hassan, 67, retired after devoting more than 20 years of service to the San Quentin Muslim Community.
“I will miss him, as well as his leadership skills,” said Protestant Chaplain, Pastor Morris Curry.
Imam Hassan is a diligent practitioner of the Islamic faith and was instrumental in facilitating many of the Islamic programs for prisoners.
“He was the only prison Imam who facilitated the ‘Night of Power’ (Al-Qudr) and was here in the prison during Iftar (break-fast) the entire 30 days of Ramadan,” says Islamic Clerk, Shahid Rouse.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, celebrated each year by Muslims world wide who read the entire Koran while fasting from sun-up to sun-down. Iman Hassan made sure that all of the Muslim prisoners at San Quentin were able to participate and sacrificed being with his family during the holy month to pray with prisoners.
“We will miss his dedication to helping the Muslim community grow,” said Islamic community volunteer Abrahim Nana.
The Islamic Chaplain job position has yet to be filled, but applicants are being interviewed, according to prison officials.