Ramadan Kareem

All praise is due to Allah.

The one who said in a clear verse in His book:

"Whatever you spend in the way of Allah, He will surely replace it” 34:39

May the prayers and peace of His be upon His Prophet, the one who said in an authentic hadith:

"A charity giving in Ramadan is far superior than one giving in other months of the year”

Therefore I’m personally sending you this email to thank you. And to encourage you to seize the opportunity of this blessed month to draw yourself near to Allah, by giving to those who are in need of your Charity.

I pray May Allah increase your wealth, forgive your sins, save us from the punishment of the hell, and grant you, your family and all the rest of the believers his paradise-Ameen.

With your generous charity and donation towards Masjid Al Farooq, you have currently established the following programs.

1. Prayer Hall - Open For Five Daily Prayers
2. Week-End School Program For Children & Adults
3. Janazah Program - Burial Services For All Muslims In Need
4. Muslim Sisters Association - Programs Designed For Women
5. Hot Food - Distribution Service
6. Counseling Services - For A Variety Of Community Needs
7. Zakat Collection & Distribution - Services For The Community

Please help your fellow needy Muslims, Allah will help you in return, said by Prophet peace be on him.
All donations are tax-exempt to the extent allowed by the law.ID # 56-2437817 you may donate online right now or Mail your check or money order to Masjid Al Farooq, 8950 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60617.

Appreciation

As for those who strive hard in our cause, we will surely guide them to our paths, and verily, Allah is with good doers. (Q30:69)

The Brothers and Sisters of Masjid Al Farooq gives the utmost thanks of praises and glory to Allah (swt) and we sincerely thank each and every person for their outwards generosity in helping us realize the establishment of a House of Allah on the southeast side of Chicago. While we do not know every person by name, Allah (swt) is fully aware of your good deed of sadaqa Jariah and may He forgive you your sins, grant you good health, increase your weath, protect you from satan and the hell fire, and grant you and your family a house in Janah. (Ameen)

Once again, Thank you.

Future Campaigns for MAF

As salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

Our beloved brothers and sisters in Islam, our future campaigns are very attainable projects that can be realized within five years if not less. It may appear that we are depending your financial support for every situation pertaining to the development of MAF.

Yes, you are only human and you have your personal issues; however, as we alto frequently remind ourselves as Muslims:

And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.(Q51:56)" and His messenger (PBUH) said: "The right of Allah upon the slaves is that they worship Him and do not associate any partners with Him." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and furthermore, His Messenger (PBUH) said: "Allah, Most High says: "My slave does not come nearer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than that which I have enjoined upon Him."(Al-Bukhari)

So dear Muslim, MAF is a House of Allah and when you are called upon for support please fear Allah and only see our needs as an additional means or opportunity for you to worship Him.

As we remind ourselves and you, Hadrat Abu Huraira (PBUH) reported:

Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "The generous man is near Allah, near paradise, near men and far from hell, but the miserly man is far from Allah, far from paradise, far from men and near hell. Indeed, an ignorant man who is generous is dearer to Allah than a worshipper who is miserly." (Tirmidhi)

The following are our future campaigns:

1. Acquiring Rental Property to Support the Masjid: The rental property can be a 3 or more story apartment building, retail shops, mini mall, and or service station that will be utilized and manage by Muslims. While profits will be used for MAF operation cost.
2. Acquiring Additional Land parcel for parking: Currently, we have a five years lease contract at $3,600 per year with a neighboring Church. The lot holds 44 cars legally and we all have 9 parking stall legally on our premises. Parking problems are likely to get worse due to the growth of our Friday Jum'ah salah. Fortunately, we are seeing the growth in abandon buildings been torn down and are now for sale with price ranging from $250,000.00 to $1 million. This lots can be developed into 3 story parking structure with retail shops on the first level that will serve MAF needs.
3. Full Time Islamic School for Children: Currently, we have 133 students enrolled in our weekend school and we waiting list due to the size of our classrooms. The waiting list was created in order avoid overcrowding of the 4 classrooms that we are currently using. Aquiring the Church across the from MAF, tentative asking price $5,000,000.00
4. Acquiring and Converting and existing to a Islamic Funeral Home: There is no funeral home on the southeast side dedicated to Muslim, every funeral home is own and operated by Christians and our beloved dead ones are not accommodated timely due the lack of knowledge by the funeral homes, amenities for Al Ghusul, place of washing, Al Kafan (shrouding the dead Muslim), and family accommodation room with Christian artifacts are just a few hindrance for proper Muslim burial. There nice commercial buildings in the area that can be easily converted to a funeral home. In addition, such a facility will be staffed by Muslims and serve solely Muslim. The asking price for commercial building in the neighborhood is $750,000.00
5. Acquiring A Multi-unit apartment building for use as a Muslim Halfway housing: It is our understanding that there are some government assistance grant for operating a halfway house for abuse women, parolees, and juvenile workshop. We know that it will be beneficial for new Muslims with a trouble past and we hope that MAF can serve their needs by owning and operating such a facility. But first we have to buy the building before applying for the government grant. There numerous abandon multi-unit apartment building in MAF neighborhood that can be purchase for descent price due that the present economic situation. The asking price for 6 unit, 2 and 3 bedroom apartment is $185,000.00
6. Roof Replacement: Upon acquiring the building, our budget did not account for a totally roof replacement so we patch and repaired the roof as needed. Unfortunately those repair are not everlasting solution. The existing roof is well over 50 years old and it should be totally removed and replaced with new roofing materials. The cost for new roof is $55,000.00



Sadaqah Jariyah




Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said:

Among the actions and good deeds for which a believer will continue to receive reward after his death are knowledge which he taught and spread, a good son whom he left behind, or a copy of the Qur'an which he left as a legacy, or a mosque he built, or a house which he built for the traveler, or a stream which he caused to flow, or a sadaqah which he gave from his property when he was alive and well, for which he will continue to receive reward after his death." (Ibn Majah and Baihaqi)



To Allah do we seek help and forgiveness. Without Allah’s guidance and help nothing can be achieved. Behind every endeavor there are some individuals who make it possible by the will of Allah hence we call upon you for help.

Wa alaikum salam wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

The Act of Charity