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The evening’s fundraiser at the PGMA event, Abdul Malik, gathers his young fundraisers in-training before sending them out to collect cash and checks from the crowd. Photo by the author.

On August 21^st, the Prince George’s Muslim Association (PGMA) held its annual Ramadan iftar fundraising event at Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD. Speakers included Ahmed Kobeisy, Abd Al-Baasit Khan and Abdul Malik from the organization Islam on Capitol Hill. Donations from the fundraiser would be used to fund projects such as the ghusl facility, new building construction and basic masjid operations.

The attitude of organizers and attendees at the dinner was one of hope and vigor. PGMA board member Mujib Haque stated at the beginning of the event that, “this is your center. If you want it to grow, we need you. You know what to do.” Even the children got involved. Abdul Malik used them as his ‘emissaries’ and sent them throughout the crowd to get donations; though, their energy may have more to do with Malik’s 100-dollar prize for the youth who brought in the most donations.

Abdul Malik’s powerful language and unique techniques helped garner in almost 70,000 dollars in donations Muslim Link learned in an interview with Mujib Haque. His rhetoric broke the sedentary attitude common in fundraising events. Statements such as, “Muslims have deep pockets, but short arms,” and, “Money ain’t nothing but paper with ink on it” helped attendees to tear down any barriers they had to donating for the sake of Allah.

Dedicated community member Abd Al-Baasit Khan spoke to the importance of having a full-time Islamic school for children. Khan explained that if parents spend countless hours and thousands of dollars taking care of their children’s worldly affairs, how much more important is it to take care of their affairs for the hereafter. And by sending children to Islamic schools, it will not only prepare them for their working life but also for their responsibilities to Allah and his religion.

Imam of PGMA, Ahmed Kobeisy, also spoke at the event and extrapolated on the many benefits the masjid provides to its community members. Kobeisy stated that Islamic centers in the United States are functioning and providing, “everything an Islamic state provides,” from education to social welfare to interfaith dialogue. And Kobeisy was very clear that, in some situations, Islamic centers in America have more freedoms than Islamic organizations in other countries, including some Muslim nations.

Muslim Link was able to speak with Mujib Haque after the event in order to garner more information about any funds received. With 300 to 350 people in attendance, PGMA received 70,000 dollars split evenly between pledges and cash donations. Haque explained that the first priority in distributing funds will be towards the full-time school and hifdh program. After that, the next priority will be the new masjid construction and gymnasium. After asking Haque if he had anything else he wanted to add, he simply said, “This was not just a fundraiser, but a chance for the community to get together.”

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