Madina Mosque, 1954.

The Madina Mosque was founded in 1976 primarily by Bengali immigrants. Dubbed the "Muslim cab drivers’ spiritual pit stop," in an article by the Villager, it is the third oldest active mosque in New York City, daily bringing in hundreds of followers for prayer and worship from all over the five boroughs. It's a truly diverse community of people who come together in this convenient location to pray together.

The nondescript brick exterior resembles a typical East Village building, except for the lighted signs in English and Arabic that wrap around it, reading, “There is none worthy of worship but Allah. Mohammed is the messenger of Allah.” Above the building’s back corner, away from the street, a demure minaret peeks up. Unlike traditional minarets, which are large enough for a person to stand inside and call the faithful to prayer, this one is only about 8 feet tall. The call to prayer is sung out from the front door, without a microphone, its only amplification provided by the wind.