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Shell Complete, Gwynn Oak Needs Masjid Built Before Ramadan

Community News - Community News

Written by Muslim Link Staff

Thursday, 26 January 2012 14:12

From Right, Dr.Muhammad Adam El-Sheikh said “Allah is the light of the heavens and earth, and on earth this light comes from the masajid. In any area if there is no masjid – if you are a believer – you will feel the darkness.”,

Presley Cason - President of the Islamic Society of Gwynn Oak said "“When we moved to the [Gwynn Oak neighborhood], we knew we had to establish the salah, so we purchased a home for that purpose. The city later said the house was condemned, so the masjid building plan started.”,

Maqbool Patel - President of Islamic Society of Baltimore said "“Before ISB was built, we used to go to Masjid Al-Haq for Friday prayers. Now its our turn to support [the brothers in Baltimore City].” Photos by Muslim Link.

On January 21, 2012, the small Muslim community in Baltimore City’s Gwynn Oak neighborhood took one more step towards making history by building the first masjid in the city from the ground up.

But this time, they had some strong support from surrounding communities like the Islamic Society of Baltimore.

The ISB provided their gymnasium free of charge for the event, and ISB President Maqbool Patel personally urged regular donors to ISB to give generously to the Gwynn Oak masjid project. The masjid structure has been erected, but all the inside work remains to be completed.

Islamic Society of Gwynn Oak President Presely Cason said the original $1 million estimate became $2 million after working with city officials to get plans approved.

Guest speaker Imam Safi Khan emphasized the need for a dedicated masjid building to serve the spiritual and social needs of the Muslim community as opposed to a general purpose hall where prayers are one of many activities that take place.

“These days there is a thought going around that you can have a large hall and just use it as a masjid … but from my experience I don’t think that is true. There is a certain barakah [blessing] in a masjid that brings Muslims together … it’s not to bring bodies together but to bring the hearts together,” said Khan, the Imam of the Dar-us-Salaam community in College Park, Maryland which is engaged in its own search for a dedicated masjid facility.

Mikaeel Abdul-Matin conducted the fundraising with a goal of $200,000 for the night. After a slow start where the sisters section outdid the brothers section in making the first donations, the evening ended with about $80,000 in donations and pledges.