Assalamualaykum,
My name is Dr Jafar Ahmed. I am one of the trustees from the Hillsborough Masjid. I am following up on the update my colleague and Chair of our Board, Haamid, sent earlier this week. The response has been very heartening. May Allah reward you all for your help.
The responses from many of you have helped build momentum to save our masjid from a mortgagee sale, but the masjid remains in jeopardy.
Tomorrow night is one of the historically most consequential nights in the history of Islam and Muslims. The Prophet ﴿صلى الله عليه وسلم﴾, looking at the horizon and seeing the enormity of the task, raised his hands to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and said to Him that if You do not give me victory today, then You will not be worshipped on the earth.
The Prophet ﴿صلى الله عليه وسلم﴾, with a few men — 313 — turned, without any regard for the material discrepancy between them and the task ahead, to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. They placed their trust in Him and moved forward, and they were given a victory so spectacular that through it, they were given a legacy not given to any others before them.
The Prophet ﴿صلى الله عليه وسلم﴾ remarked about their remarkable status:
لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلىٰ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ هٰذَا الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ
This is the Sunnah of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala in His creation: that often He brings about His decree through a few. He chooses a few and brings about His decree through their hands, making them a means of His guidance, a means of spreading justice, and a means of bringing good in the world. Where He could have said “Be”, and it becomes, He rather chooses men and women to bring about these realities and then uses these opportunities to raise them above all others.
We are asking for 313 people from this ummah to stand up and be the Hillsborough 313 — in their ummah’s moment of need, as those men did for each of us on that day.
Three years ago, when the Hillsborough Masjid’s initiatives were about to end, we reached out to the community. One of our community members put their hand up. They were about to build their house, but they heard about the masjid and the importance of that moment, so they put their home on hold and donated all their funds to the masjid for a year to help them get through that difficult situation.
Every subsequent year, seeing the efforts, they delayed their own life plans and were understanding of the masjid’s situation. But their situation has become more desperate, and they have urgently notified us that they cannot provide any further extensions. That notice expires in a few days, on Monday, 9 February.
This is the first of our loan payments due in the next two months.
Last week, my colleague wrote to you and explained the desperation of the situation.
We are asking each family for a contribution of $2,400, of which almost $800 will be returned to you in April as part of your tax refund.
All we need is 313 people from amongst the ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ﴿صلى الله عليه وسلم﴾ to come forward.
We know the generosity of this community in these blessed days. If you can give your charity on these blessed nights of Ramadan to save the Hillsborough Masjid, it will be an investment for your eternity, continuing to return you a reward even in your grave until Allah inherits the earth and all that is upon it.
Alhamdulillah, 48 people have come forward over the last week. We require 35 more by Sunday to honour our commitment to this special person who stepped up three years ago and made the Hillsborough Masjid possible at their own expense.
Only 35 people are required by Monday. Will you be one of them? Can you be one of those few who step up in your community’s time of need, in these blessed days when your actions are multiplied, and your rewards are multiplied?
Elect to be one of the Hillsborough 313:
Donate through our website: www.hillsboroughmasjid.com/donate-now
Donate through our LaunchGood campaign: After last week’s email, they reached out and said they would match every donation at 10% if the donation is made through their website.
Donate directly through internet banking
New Zealand Donation details
Lote Tree Trust
38-9016-0861578-01
Australian Donation details
Lote Tree Australia Limited
Branch Number (BSB)
013-265
Account Number
6628-15452
If you want to make your donation later this month or at any time before May, please let us know here so we can keep the community updated on our progress toward our goal.
Fill out this form to let us know if you plan to donate before the 2nd of May.
Have a blessed Jummah.
Dr Jafar Ahmed
