Support MAR: "a Mosque for the People"

Masjid Al-Rasul- Chicago (MAR Chicago) calls on our fellow believers of the ummah of Muhammad (sawa), to help purchase a masjid facility in the south side of Chicago, an area whose inhabitants are squeezed by economic injustice, poverty, and violence.

In this blessed month of Ramadan you have the power to empower an oppressed community. Muslims must be at the forefront of confronting economic, moral, and social injustices of all kinds. Together, with the help of your generous contribution, MAR Chicago seeks to bridge this gap, insha'allah.

Violence on the Rise in South Side Chicago

“More than 760 people were murdered in this city last year, and the pace of bloodshed in 2017 has barely relented. Children in large portions of Chicago grow up afraid to venture outside. Teenagers are buried with numbing regularity.“ – New York Times

“A recent Northwestern Medicine study that examined the South Side neighborhood of Oakland found that 29 percent of the 72 African-American study participants have the disorder and an additional 7 percent exhibited a large number of signs that are part of a PTSD diagnosis.” – Chicago Tribune

CNN Exclusive on rise in violence in Chicago neighborhoods. Click on Image.

Masjid Al-Rasul Foundation: a History of Peace and Gang Intervention

Our first of two current masjid locations, Masjid Al-Rasul of Watts, CA was the site of the first ceasefire truce between the two largest rival gangs in the nation, called “Crips” and “Bloods”. A treaty was signed at the masjid by dozens of influential members of the mob from across Los Angeles.This historical truce not only successfully reduced the murder rate in Los Angeles, alhamdulillah (thanks to Allah), but it was also a much-needed catalyst to similar ceasefire truces among other gangs across America, thereby significantly reducing violence throughout the country.

In the aftermath of the “Rodney King Incident”, a violent period in American history when riots were rampant across the country, Masjid Al-Rasul was instrumental in helping reduce violence and bringing peace to America by pioneering such peace initiatives between gangs throughout the U.S.

Funds

All funds donated will go exclusively to the purchasing of the three buildings on the property that amount to 46,000 sqft building space.

• 3 story K-12 school building 
•  Church building that will be converted to a Mosque facility
• Full court basketball gym (with electronic score board)
• 5 Bd residential building
• Approx. 25 car capacity gated parking lot and playground area for children

Resources:

Translatable Goals for MAR Chicago 

• To promote Islamic awareness in the local communities and the society-at-large by propagation of the teachings the Holy Qur’aan, of the Holy Prophet (SAWS) and the Ahlul Bayt (AS).
• To develop strong and unbreakable bonds of respect, trust, and collaboration between the masjid and the local community
• To develop initiatives that help to eliminate crime and support the social, economic & political development of the local community
•  To become an integral part of the local community by providing social services such as:

• food banks / pantries

• community health centers

• after-school programs

• Sunday school

• tutoring, mentoring and job training programs

• community cleanup and security-watch associations

• business & agricultural enterprises

The Mosque Project