More than one hundred people gathered Saturday for an unveiling of the Imam A. El-Amin Way, honoring the late Imam Abdullah Bey El-Amin of the Muslim Center on Woodrow Wilson Street.

At the ceremony, Imam Tauheed A. Rashad of Masjid Wali Muhammad shared that El-Amin’s legacy was building community. 

“This is a special day not only because we are placing the name of Imam Abdullah Beyelahmin on the street, but because we are placing his name permanently, brothers and sisters, into the public memory of the city of Detroit,” he says. 

The late imam was known for his interfaith work helping Muslims bury their loved ones with dignity.

His daughter Zarinah El-Amin says she’s blown away by the reception. 

“I would have never even imagined that my father would have a street named after him in a big city like Detroit, but for his community members, right, that came together and saw fit that he had this honor, they did this,” she shares.

She says the intersection is significant due to its historical space in Detroit’s Muslim community.

“This intersection right here has a lot of history, a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, tears that went into creating something that families could come to enjoy, practice their faith, but also do good work in the community,” she says.

Zarinah shares that her father served in many capacities but, “he was a lot of things to a lot of people. But to me, he was just my father,” she says, one who attended her recitals, advocated for her education, and got things done.

“I’m thankful as the daughter that that was the example I had. Somebody who lived really for do for yourself, not whining, but you see something, get up and make it happen,” she explains.

Work for the city

Abdullah El-Amin served as the Neighborhood City Hall Manager between 1994-2001 under Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer. 

Detroit City Councilman Coleman Young Junior says El-Amin’s work outlasted him. 

“If you were homeless, he would help you get a house. If you were drug addicted, he’d help you get treatment. If you were jobless, he’d help you get a job. And let me say this too: when the government couldn’t provide, the Muslim community did,” he told the crowd.

The honorary street name is at the corner of Woodrow Wilson and Davison Street.  

The event was put together by the neighborhood revitalization group Dream of Detroit and other community members.