The Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam Caps 65 Years Celebration with $5 Million Fundraiser
By Qu’ran Shakir
ATLANTA, Ga. – On the November night that the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam celebrated its 65th anniversary was a “cool with light rains night in Georgia” and yet a night of revelry, honor, and great joy.
More than 600 people gathered on Nov. 11, 2023, at Atlanta’s Georgia International Convention Center dressed in African garb, suits, ties, jewels, marvelously wrapped Geles and qimars, sparkling dresses, high heels, and ear-to-ear grins and greetings.
Thousands more revealed and celebrated this 65-year great achievement through marvelous social media pictures, stories, and likes.
On that bountiful night, the community in celebration raised more than $5 million for their vision to build a new state-of-the-art masjid, school, housing, and business facilities.
The Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, once called Temple #15, holds the distinction of being the first Islamic house of worship in metropolitan Atlanta, a city that now boasts nearly 100 masajid or Islamic houses of worship.
The Masjid began in 1956 and received its “temple charter” as Muhammad’s Temple #15 in 1958. This history makes Atlanta and the Muslim community proud.
“I am honored to be here,” said Mayor Andre’ Dickens, noting that Atlanta’s Muslims, especially the Muslims of the Atlanta Masjid, have been deeply engaged in community life and the international image of the city of Atlanta.
“The Muslims have worked with and for city government and interfaith relations and that helps to make Atlanta an attractive city for millions,” he said.
The Mayor continued, “Your work in the areas of housing, health, youth engagement and workforce development demonstrates how faith-based action can help uplift and strengthen communities. Thank you for your partnership and for helping us move Atlanta forward.”
Notable Muslims from the Atlanta Masjid have made tremendous contributions to the Atlanta City government. Included among them are:
Mohammed Balla, a 1996 graduate of Atlanta’s W.D. Mohammed High School who serves as the city’s finance director;
Lonnie Saboor who spent 44 years developing the business loan program and giving millions to those who needed funding for their businesses;
Nassar Madyun, a Muslim Journal photojournalist who also worked for the city of Atlanta in transportation;
Sabir Muhammad, another Muslim Journal correspondent who worked for the city in business licensing; and
E. Zakiyyah Nu’Man who managed the funds for Atlanta’s housing.
With the theme, “Bridging Generations, Embracing Our Future,” the planning team under the leadership of Imam Mansoor Sabree, a 41-year-old graduate of the 1999 W.D. Mohammed High School class, began meeting in July 2023.
The team of more than a dozen men and women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s met weekly, working out the logistics and details to make for a night that many called “the best event” they’ve ever seen.
The parade of the child of the ceremony was a grand finale. The Youth Gala boasted grandness of its own and was an excellent model of including the young as this is a community “embracing future generations.”
“We wanted the program to clearly represent what nearly seven decades of community life truly looks like,” said Imam Sabree.
“We are honored that we are a community of workers who have families with four and five generations of commitment to this work of Islamic life, where we are committed to developing our Muslim town where we live, work, play and pray together, ” he added.
The program met that goal as the hosts were couples and individuals of various ages, including 15 – 21-year-olds hosting a separate Gala for nearly 75 children in a room down the hall.
Guests were welcomed into the ballroom with drumming and African dance by Giwayen Mata, a female dancer, percussion, and vocals group.
The official program opened with Qur’anic recitation by Hafith of Qur’an Ashir Kirk with translation by W.D. Mohammed senior Ayyub Sabree. They recited from Surah Ar-Rahman, “… Which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?”
Among Atlanta’s favors is the fact that the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam is a diverse, vibrant community of four generations of mostly African-American Muslims that adhere to the Qur’an and the life traditions of Prophet Muhammed (Peace and Blessing Be Upon Him).
The Atlanta Masjid community is one of at least 1,000 Islamic communities in the USA in association with the leadership and vision of Imam W. Deen Mohammed (1933 – 2008), may Allah be pleased with him.
“I am a second-generation Muslim in a family with four generations of Muslims,” said Qur’an Shakir (yours truly). My message was about the intentionality of my parents, which probably mirrors hundreds of other families across the USA that chose the Islamic way of life and pioneered a way forward.
I explained how the decision to change our family was made 65 years ago as my parents chose the Islamic way of life at that little mosque on Auburn Avenue.
Our family has intentionally evolved from a family in the moribund of the Black tradition of “flim-flam” artists, fatherless homes, and addictions, to a Muslim family of business owners, homeowners, and married, community workers.
It is that same intentionality that we need now as we plan for generations to come.
Imam Sulaimaan Hamed, the Atlanta Masjid Imam, an alum of the Mohammed Schools of Atlanta and Oakland, Calif., said:
“Being able to uplift our story and those who have sacrificed and dedicated their lives to building institutions that have shaped our faith, education, and community engagement and embrace our future was truly a blessing, humble honor and privilege.”
Today, there are more than 3,000 supporters and 500 families that call The Atlanta Masjid their home masjid where they build community life through daily salah, Friday salatul-Jumuah gatherings, owning and operating its own full-time pre-K-12th grade accredited school, being a community of entrepreneurs, being civically involved in their neighborhoods, interfaith works, and hosting community activities like social events, Qur’an and Islamic development classes, weddings, aqiqas (and janazahs), iftars, community celebrations, Eid, and national events.
The welcome address by W.D. Mohammed High School couple married 23 years Dr. Sulieman Wazeerud-Din and wife Samaiyah Wazeerud-Din spoke of their family’s four generations of committed community development life.
They are the descendants of Hajj Murshiddun leader Yusuf Wazeerud-Din, Mohammed Schools’ uniform seamstress Amatullah Muhammad, contractor Bilal Muhammad, University of Islam graduate and contractor Lorenzo Beyah, University of Islam graduate and community worker Edwina Wazeerud-Din, community worker Rasheedah Ziyad and pioneering grandparents of Sis. Edwina.
The couple that now boasts three W.D. Mohammed High School alumni said they couldn’t help but be workers in The Atlanta Masjid community and to be excited to celebrate the 65th anniversary.
The keynote address was by Dr. Sherman Jackson, a Muslim professor from the University of Michigan. His message reminded of community development’s place in sustainability for Islamic life in America and around the globe.
He reminded the listeners that the war in Palestine is “not really a war.., it is genocide plain and simple.” He said as we work for the future, we must be mindful of our brothers and sisters who are suffering.
Ambassador Waleed Shamsid-Deen and his wife Dr. Quiana shared an impactful poem that celebrated the valiant work of pioneers like businessmen Lawrence Shamsid-Deen, Lonnie Saboor, A.K. Sabir, and Nazeeh Rasheed.
Other Muslims celebrated and recognized included educators Sondra Saleem with 43 years of service to the Mohammed Schools, Samaiyah Id-Deen with four decades of service to Mohammed Schools and Safiyyah Shahidah with more than 50 years of service to the Atlanta Muslim community.
The community remembered Della Shabazz, the Masjid’s secretary for decades, Jesse Ali Ahmed, the muezzin, and others. It was a notable night.
“And now the real work begins,” said Ihsan Saleem, a businessman and philanthropist who donated $2 million to the future development of the community. “We want to match the million,” said Imam Sabree with support from Omar Karim of Washington, D.C. Muslim community, an alum of the Mohammed Schools of Detroit, Mich.
Bro. Karim facilitated the fundraising that helped the community to raise an additional $3 million in one night.
The goal now is to raise the money ourselves for the construction of our future, state-of-the-art masjid and school community, explained Saleem. No amount is too little to give. “We can do this on our own.”
Imam Hamed has issued a call for at least 3,000 to donate monthly for the next three years in an effort to raise the millions needed for the new construction.
The Atlanta Masjid Imam Emeritus Plemon El-Amin issued the following statement: “Dear Brothers and Sisters, our appeal to you is to join our ‘3,000 Believers Campaign’ by committing to $100 per month. We seek your support, not just financially but as partners in a movement – 3,000 believers consistently giving, unlocking our community’s long-dormant fundraising power.
“This is an invitation to turn our national community’s dreams into a local reality, creating a model that we can eventually expand nationally! Our timeline is five years, and we invite you now to see what we can collectively accomplish by the 70th anniversary of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam.”
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Writer Qur’an Shakir has been certified as a Jegna, master educator, guide and distinguished leader. Having served as an educator for more than 25 years, she has served as principal of the Mohammed Schools of Atlanta, as a teacher at the Mohammed Schools of Atlanta, and as an educational consultant to local public and private school educators.
(This article was initial published in Muslim Journal Volume 48, No. 24, December 2 – 8, 2023 issue.)
An excellent testimony to the leadership of Imam WD Mohammed and to the exceptional followership of the believers of the Atlanta Masjid and surrounding townships.
What a beautiful commentary, I’m so grateful to Allah to live to see this day and to be able to contribute to bringing this beautiful vision into fruition .