Ever so often a wave of change comes to a community and brings with it upliftment and activity. Right now Masjid ul Haqq, the oldest masjid in Baltimore—the Jamia masjid of the city with over 700 people who attend Jumu'ah salah—is going through a renewal with a new board and Amir.
The community —after several years of internal conflict— has had five years of calm, which has given them the ability to plan for the next decade’s education, logistics and financial needs, says the Amir Abdul Hakeem. Approximately 50 Muslim families live in the vicinity of the masjid which incubated several other Islamic center projects over the years.
First on the agenda is the establishment of the Quran and Arabic Institute. Currently the masjid is holding a registration drive for the free program, aimed at congregants to learn Quran and gain a proper understanding of the deen. Sh Muhammad ar Raee of the Noorani Learning Center in Virginia has volunteered to train the teachers, provide the materials and the books. His course is designed to train individuals to be able to teach Quranic recitation beginning with basic letter recognition and pronunciation to tajweed rules and finally to Quranic recitation. Ustadh Abbass who has an ijazah from Syria in Qiraat will also be involved with the institute.
Imam Aqueel Ingram, formerly of the 18th Street masjid in Washington DC, will operate the Islamic Creed Academy Adult classes, for ages 12 and up, held on Sundays at Masjid ul Haqq.
Bringing on two IT professionals, Habeeb Rushdan and Renny Aboo Baker Bass—at no initial cost—the masjid hopes to provide essential skills training to attendees so they can find employment and then pay the programmers back on a personal basis. The self-paced course will also help unemployed members of the community ‘get jobs and support the masjid’ says Abdul-Hakeem, otherwise known as Hakeem Lucky, a veteran Islamic teacher and resident of the area. The classes will take place at Masjid Al Haqq in the new computer lab. This lab has 15 computers donated by the Downtown Cultural Art Center in Baltimore.
Independent of weekly donations, the community is planning to attain financial sustainability. One ways of achieving this is the Supplies Project. The masjid will carry cleaning and office supplies for local businesses, matching and beating Jethro’s and Sam’s Club prices. This terrifically thrifty idea is a sure way to provide income for the masjid. Another source of steady income are the weekly dinners held on Friday evenings—advance purchase vouchers are available as the hearty dinners are very popular.
After renovating the masjid, which includes plans to make a separate entrance for the women, new signage, remodeled classrooms, and bathrooms (with sit-down wudu stations), rehabbing the kitchen, demolition of the cafeteria, the administration also intends to build a recreation center behind the masjid. The interior renovation will cost $225,000, shares Abdul Hakeem.
The janazah project is another enterprise that the administration is tackling. According to Abdul Hakeem, they plan to build a ghusl area onsite and been talking to the Director of Finance at the Parks and Recreations department to see how they can facilitate and develop the property. Negotiations are in the works with city government to purchase a small parcel of land adjacent to the masjid, says Abdul Hakeem in an interview with the Muslim Link.
The Rec Center —much needed in the inner city—would be ‘run independently’ of the masjid, so future admin changes will not affect the running of the facility. Hosting an indoor gym (modeled after the Masjid Al Rahmah gymnasium), three classrooms, and daycare facilities. The proposal includes an Arabic immersion daycare center, spinning off from the Quran and Arabic Institute, open to all area residents.
The masjid plans to solicit donations from institutions, as well as individuals. There is a lot of interest from outside donors who are interested in reviving the legacy of Masjid ul Haqq.
If you are interested in being part of the project please contact: Abdul Hakeem Lucky at Masjid ul Haqq 514 Islamic Way, Baltimore, Maryland 21217
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