Overview & Mission
Mission
THE MOSQUE FOUNDATION serves the spiritual, religious and communal needs of area Muslims by means of nurturing their faith, upholding their values, and fostering the wellbeing of the community around it through worship, charity, education, outreach, and civic engagement.
Yesterday & Today
In 1954 a handful of Palestinian émigrés on Chicago’s famous Southside formed the Mosque Foundation of Chicago with the dream of one day building a structure to house the religious and cultural activities of their growing young families. Today, that dream has become one of the busiest mosques in America, serving a community of more than 50,000 Muslims.
Built in 1981 on a few acres of swampy land in the middle of mostly abandoned prairie in Bridgeview, with a prayer hall capacity of 300 worshippers. No one could foresee that the mosque’s establishment would inspire a Muslim neighborhood of hundreds of beautiful new homes around the mosque, two full-time Islamic schools at its edges, a Community Center down the road, and dozens of thriving businesses.
The community has steadily diversified to include Muslims of many languages and experiences—all praying side-by-side, with their children, in a brimming mosque that cannot contain them.
Imams are active in counseling, education, spiritual guidance, and arbitration. Community members work with local and national Islamic, interfaith, and civic organizations on numerous initiatives. These include protecting American civil liberties, empowering Muslims locally and nationally, improving the quality of urban life across America, and helping the poor, immigrants, and the oppressed by advocating for justice and peace.
Programs & Overview
THE MOSQUE FOUNDATION provides a welcoming, worshipful environment where both men and women may pray with peace of mind and a sense of home. In its sacred space, hundreds of young people learn the morals and ethics of Islam, the needful come to tangible refuge, and the troubled find human help. Allah has bestowed the Mosque Foundation with many blessings.
Organizational Structure
- BOARD: 21 Elected Members, Ex-Officio, and Imam (Governance, Policy, Strategic Planning)
- BOARD COMMITTEES: 7 TEAMS (Strategic Plan Implementation and Resource Management)
- IMAM & DIRECTOR: Supervises staff and daily operation of Mosque
- FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEES: 13 Teams (Manage activities and programs, including Zakat Distribution, Social Services, Educational Programs, Interfaith Support, Parking and Logistics, Maintenance, and Information Technology)
- MOSQUE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CENTER (FORMERLY YOUTH CENTER): Reports to The Mosque Foundation, with its own Board, staff and facilities.
Did You Know that the Mosque Foundation
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Prayer services is attended by over 5,000 worshippers
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Is open for worship up to 20 hours a day.
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Offers daily and weekly study circles on various subjects for men and women of different age groups in Arabic, English, and Spanish.
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Educates nearly 650 students in its weekend school.
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Distributes Zakat (Charity) to about 300 local needy families.
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Supplies free groceries to about 150 needy families weekly.
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Gives more than 200 boys and girls the opportunity to separately blend sports, spiritual development, and emotional support in its Community Center.
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Has free family and marital counseling
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Makes imam-services available at hospitals and for funeral services in the mosque and at graveside.
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Its members are active in important interfaith initiatives and organizations that promote social justice, equality and peace.
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Its members participate on its behalf in regular dialogues with other religious groups.
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Hosts a noted Interfaith Community Dinner during Ramadan for local teachers and administrators, police and firefighters, religious and community leaders, and elected officials and judges to foster local understanding and unity.