Imam Abdul Jalil, a member of Local 299, has been counseling and comforting workers who identify remains of Sept. 11 victims at the city morgue.

By DONNA SILBERBERG

IMAM ABDUL JALIL, a Muslim Chaplain with the Dept. of Corrections, wears a kufi, a head covering similar to a Jewish yarmulke. Both show respect for God.

But when he needs a pay increase, he calls on the union.
"Rabbis, reverends, imams - all have families," he said, "and as professional Chaplains, it's important for us to be represented within the workforce and to be actively involved in our union." He is a proud member of Local 299.

The term "imam" means leader. Since Sept. 11, Imam Jalil has been a leader for religious tolerance by comforting those from all faiths.

Within days after the attack, he began organizing clergy from all religions who came from across the country to the morgue at the Medical Examiner's Office to offer solace to those involved in the grim task of dealing with the bodies and remains from Ground Zero.

The imam is the acting director of ministerial services at the city jail on Rikers Island. After work, he volunteered from 5:00 until 10 or 11 p.m., counseling the law enforcement community working at the morgue. Initially 300-400 people worked there in shifts around the clock - personnel from the FBI, State Police and the city Fire and Corrections departments.

"This was really stressful work," said Imam Jalil. "After the shock, spiritual centeredness was important so everyone could do the work they needed to do. I helped set up a makeshift ecumenical worship center in a van where we held nondenominational services twice a day. One of the beautiful things that has come out of this terrible tragedy is that it has brought together so many from so many different faiths."

Imam Jalil has participated in interfaith memorial services with priests and rabbis at synagogues, cathedrals and churches all over the city. He is also working with the families of the kitchen workers - 40% of them Muslim - who died at the Windows on the World restaurant atop the World Trade Center.

"Most people know that Islam is anti-terrorism," he said.

"We believe in one God and in law and order. We denounce terrorism. The people who attacked the World Trade Center are criminals. They hide behind a cloak of religious self-righteousness and do the devil's work."

The imam has been working with Rikers Island staff and inmates for nine years, counseling prisoners who could go home tomorrow or stay behind bars for life, some on suicide watch.

"Men have come up to me on the street and said, 'You're the one who helped me reconnect with my family. You saved my life.' Once in North Carolina, a man in a gas station said, 'I was in Rikers and you helped me get my parole in order.' It's all part of doing God's work."

Imam Jalil lives in Harlem with this wife of 16 years, Vermelle, and has three children and four grandchildren. He plans to continue his work of teaching tolerance for all religions. "In God's house there are many mansions," he says.