(AhlulBayt News Agency) - After more than a decade of worshipping in a tiny home on Cedar Grove Lane, about 150 Shi’a Muslims can finally spread out in their brand new 30,000-square-foot mosque in Franklin Township.
The Mas Jid-E-Ali, Muslim Foundation Inc., was built behind the brick-front house on 3.3 acres of land, cresent moons and stars jutting from golden minarets sitting atop its three-story frame.
Officially opened last week, the mosque is equipped with a large community events hall, warmly decorated prayer rooms for men and women, a full industrial kitchen and 11 classrooms that will eventually be used for K-3 students.
The $7 million building is a source of accomplishment for the Muslim community, said the mosque’s vice chairman Aftab Husain, 55, of Edison.
“Everybody is very happy and proud of their new mosque and that’s what one of our goals was, to make sure the children were proud of their place of worship,” he said. “It’s very beautiful and has everything that the community needs in terms of the school, community halls and dining facility.”
About $3.5 million was raised for the mosque, said Asghar Kharazi, director of fundraising committee since 2005.
“Our vision is that this center will serve as a center to bring the community together through different interfaith groups,” he said, noting that members have offered the building for shelter during emergencies and for interfaith dialogue. “We’ve made it very clear that we want to serve the community.”
Hina Razak said the mosque’s design was inspired by others around the world and constructed with families, especially the youth, in mind.
The Basking Ridge resident said aside from the extra space and elegant architecture, the best part of the new building, is the feeling members get when they worship there.
“The peace that you feel when you pray here is just amazing,” she said. “So many people here have said we haven’t felt that in the smaller place because the kids were running around or other distractions, but here when you pray you really feel it, so that’s one of the biggest accomplishments.”
Mustafa Jafri, 20, of Edison, agreed, saying the new space created an “atmosphere of worship.”
“It’s definitely different because we live in houses or apartments or townhouses and whatnot and that’s similar to this, so that doesn’t really change your spiritual feeling,” he said, standing near the old building. “Rather when you’re in halls like that (the new mosque) with the calligraphy and the openness and everyone coming together and worshipping, it’s definitely much more serene and peaceful.”
The tiny home will serve as the residence of the imam.
Husain hopes that in the next few years the mosque’s membership will grow, but for now says he is grateful to have the new building up and running.
“We’ll be able to pray, have celebrations, educate men, women and children here,” he said. “We are exhilarated that we now have a place, not only to do religious activities, but where we can interact socially.”
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