Mosque for Praising Allah

About

Mosque for the Praising of Allah is the oldest continuously operating Mosque in Boston.

Story

The Society for Islamic Brotherhood (S.I.B.), the organization that sponsors the Mosque for the Praising of Allah, was formed in the 1950s. In 1970 the S.I.B. rented 724 Shawmut Avenue and later purchased the building. The Masjidun Li Hamdi Allah is the oldest continuously operating mosque in Boston. From 1980-1983 the mosque supported a full-time Islamic primary school (Al-Azhar).
Description
The masjid (mosque) undergone major renovations to make the building compliant with government safety standards. The following description is accurate as of August 2007. On the first floor of the mosque there is a small store which sells Islamic books and prayer robes. To the left of the store, leading to the men's prayer space, is the newly constructed men's wudu station, which is a cleansing area where men perform their required partial ablution prior to beginning prayer. Upon entering the mosque one immediately ascends the stairs to the second floor where the women's prayer space and the office are located. In the women's prayer room there is a shoe rack, bathroom and the office for the Islamic Multi-Service Organization (IMSO). On the third floor is the men's prayer space. The men's space is not large enough to accommodate the 150-200 men who attend Friday prayer services so there is a platform in the parking lot adjacent to the building for overflow.

Activities and Schedule
The mosque holds Jum'ah prayers on Fridays at 1:15 PM. The mosque hosts weekly Sisters and Brothers Islamic Studies Classes with themes that change each season. Class topics have included purification and developing good Muslim character as well as lessons in Arabic and the fundamentals of the Muslim faith. In 1995 the Masjid started the Islamic Multi-Service Organization to address the social service needs of the Muslim community. IMSO supports a food pantry that provides over 200 individuals and families with food each month., provides counseling and employment referrals, and sponsors a youth mentoring program. IMSO is beginning an Elder Social Day Program to reach underserved members of the Muslim community. The program will offer recreational and social activities for persons ages 60 and over. Every year the mosque holds an annual fundraising dinner with a guest speaker. In 2007, for instance, the theme of the event was: "The Shape of Things to Come: Islamic Vision for Tomorrow's America," and included keynote speaker Imam Siraj Wahhaj of Masjid Taqwa in New York.

Mission

The purposes of the Organization shall be:

1) To help Muslims in Massachusetts and other parts of the United States to
carry out Islamic activities in pursuance of Islam as a complete way of life.

(2) To carry on religious, social, civic, charitable, literary, athletic, scientific, research and other Islamic activities,

(3) To strengthen fraternal bonds and brotherly relations among Muslims.

(4) To promote friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.

(5) To present Islam to peoples of other faiths.

(6) To encourage Muslim students and alumni to give sincere commitment to assist communities to form local chapters and carry out Islamic activities

7) To further cooperation with the existing Muslim organizations.

8) To perform Islamic marriages and funerals under the Islamic tradition.

(9) To acquire property upon which to build the Headquarters of the Organization to include a Mosque for religious observance, school v/hereby to teach religion and the Arabic language, school for Islamic Law and Quranic recitation, and a library to maintain books on Islam, and other world religions.

Products

Islamic Books and Gift Shop:
Provides Islamic Books, Religious Clothing, Fragrant Oils and other Islamic Items