Whoever builds a mosque is given Paradise

Uthman ibn Affan reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house like it in Paradise.”

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 439, Sahih Muslim 533

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ


Transliternation: Innama ya ‘muru masajida-llahi man amana billahi wal-yawmil-akhiri wa-aqamas-salata wa-ataz-zakata walam yakhsah illal-lah
Translation: Only those shall maintain Allah’s mosques who believe in Allah and the Last Day and maintain the prayer and give the zakat and fear no one except Allah.
(Surat al-Tawbah, No 9, Ayat 18)

 

MASJID BUILDING PROJECT

BRIEF HISTORY

  • Alhamdu-lillah we continue to make progress despite the many setbacks in the last year. It was a very trying time during the past 12 months.

  • The weeks leading up to Ramadan 2020 we were making rapid progress and just as we were about to go full steam ahead the COVID-19 crisis struck. The NY State officials put all construction on hold across the STATE for safety of everyone.

  • But let us go back:

  1. March 10th 2019 a decision was made to replace the Architect and Engineer on the job

  2. April 29th 2019 - Dept of Building issued a complete STOP WORK ORDER

  3. FULL FORENSIC AUDIT was mandated by the Department of Buildings

  4. New Architect, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineer was hired

  5. May 16th 2020 - 1st of many meetings with Department of Buildings

  6. November 25th - Partial STOP WORK ORDER was lifted

  7. December 23rd - Total STOP WORK ORDER was lifted

  8. January 11th 2020 - Construction commenced

ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE COMMENCEMENT on January 11th 2020

1.    Roof 85% completed - rubberize to be completed

2.    Parapet wall around the perimeter of the 3rd was erected

3.    Reinforcements to support the 3rd Floor was completed

4.    Preparations for the 3rd floor installation was completed

5.    Framing (sheetrock studs) for the entire building is 75% completed

6.    HVAC - duct work in swift progress

March 13th - Gov. Cuomo issued a STATE-WIDE cease of all construction work

NEXT TASKS IN THE TIMELINE OT BE COMPLETED

  • Electrical

  • Sprinkler

  • Fire Alarms

  • Plumbing

  • Audio / Visual

  • Kitchen Fire Suppression

  • Windows

SADQATUL FITR FUND: Annual payout approx: $25,000

OBJECTIVES OF THE SADQATUL FUND (Only payable to Muslims)

  • Sadaqat-ul-fitr is obligated on each adult male or female separately, and the relevant adult person himself is responsible to pay it.

  • Head of the household can pay on behalf of the family with the authorization from family members

WHY PAY YOUR SADQATUL-FITR  TO MASJID AL-ABIDIN

  • Our Sadqatul-Fitr fund is flushed every year MINUS 5% for walk-in emergencies.

  • This is paid out monthly with a double payment in Ramadan

  • Masjid Al-Abidin pays in advance the extra RAMADAN payment with the assurance our community will step up and fund this extra payment.

  • Why the extra payment? This payment is sent out before the Eid day so that our Zakaat recipients and vulnerable members of our community can have a gift for Ramadan. This is our way of showing that you are thinking of them.

ZAKAAT FUND: Annual payout approx: $65,000

OBJECTIVES OF THE ZAKAAT FUND (Only payable to Muslims)

  • The objective of Zakat, as emphasised in the Qur’an, is a glorious objective of purification and upliftment (Surah Al-Taubah 9:103). In that sense, Zakat washes away sins and impurities in the same way that Salaah washes away sins and impurities. This is why it is mentioned in the sayings that Zakat carries the “dirt” (awsakh) of people.

  • The Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) enunciates this concept very beautifully: “When a slave of Allah pays Zakat, the Angels of Allah pray for him in these words: “O Allah! Grant abundance to him who spends (in Your cause) and destroy him who does not spend and restricts to himself his wealth.”” (Bukhari)

Current recipients: 65 recipients X (quarterly payments) X (approximately $250.00 each) = $65k

  • WHY PAY YOUR ZAKAAT TO MASJID AL-ABIDIN

  • Zakaat recipients are kept in touch by Imam Safraz

  • Recipients are reviewed to acknowledge any new life altering conditions

  • Our Zakaat fund is flushed every year - meaning the Zakaat that is collected from last Ramadan is paid out in full before this Ramada.

  • Zakaat monies is not kept piling up in a fund at Masjid al-Abidin

  • Flushing the fund annually is determined by a simple formula:

(Total Monies collected) divided by 4 (for Quarterly payments) / divided by the # of Zakaat recipients

  • The advantage of this method is: all monies are accounted for and easily disbursed in a predictable manner.

  • The disadvantage: Only monies collected for the year will be distributed - therefore, year over year the quarterly amounts Zakaat recipients receive  may vary.

BURIAL FUND

PROBLEM  STATEMENT

  • Due to the ravaging effects of COVID-19 on families Masjid Al-Abidin launched a new fund in 2020 to supplement families with full or partial funeral expenses.

  • Additionally, burial of loved ones are being delayed more than 10 days at various cemeteries due to number of deaths per day

SOLUTION

  • With the help of Allah swt, Masjid Al-Abidin was able to assist in getting burial done in 24 to 48 hours once contacted. Many burials were done in less than 24 hours, even as quick as 16 hours.

  • 25 years ago we procured over 1500 graves in Jersey Memorial Cemetery (Makbaratus Salaam). This community investment allowed us in this critical time to provide expedited burial service in this critical time without the exorbitant pricing of after hour burials. With Allah swt help, we are able to provide end-to-end burial services for $3,750. This is compare to ~$6k otherwise.