Assalamu alaikum,

My name is Sharifah Mussa, and I serve as Hillsborough Masjid’s treasurer — a role I have held for the past ten years, since we first began as a small startup community. My responsibility is to keep the accounts in order, ensure we spend wisely and within our means, and support the organisation in growing and serving more people.

Our masjid serves a large number of new Muslims, single mothers, and families who deserve the very best we can offer, even when they cannot afford it themselves. These appeals and your generosity make that possible.

My grandfather, Mahumad Mussa, was the first known Muslim born in New Zealand after the Chinese gold miners. His father arrived in the early 1900s from India by ship and settled on Matakana Island in the Bay of Plenty among the local iwi, where he opened a small grocer’s shop.

Living somewhere without a Muslim community meant he could have lost his deen entirely. The arrival of his wife, my grandmother Amna, changed that. She was an educated woman and a teacher, and through her determination, strength, and unwavering commitment, she held her entire family firmly to the deen.

Later, in the 1950s, they moved to Ponsonby, Auckland, where they met other Muslim families and, through the Prophetic example of visiting and maintaining ties, gradually built the community that gave rise to New Zealand’s first masjid, the Ponsonby Masjid.

If it were not for her and for the efforts of those early Muslims, who knows where we would be today?

My motivation to be part of the 313 — the companions who stood with the Prophet ﷺ at Badr, and a name we use for the few who step forward to carry a legacy and take on this work, in the hope that Allah accepts it — comes from her example.

To maintain our deen and our connection to our heritage, we must continue to build on the foundations our parents and grandparents left for us: educating children and families, establishing and maintaining ties, building communities and institutions that will last well beyond us.

I no longer live in New Zealand, but I know that what is happening at Hillsborough Masjid is something truly special. Over my ten years of involvement, I have witnessed the leadership and community understand the importance of nurturing and investing in women and women’s programming, recognising the role women play as the backbone of this community.

It makes sense for me, even living halfway across the world, to play whatever role I can in supporting the next generation of women as they hold firmly to the rope of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), as He says:

“Wa’tasimu bihablillahi jamee’an wa la tafarraqu.” Hold firmly to the rope of Allah altogether, and do not become divided.

Last week, we asked for 83 people to step forward. Alhamdulillah, 90 did, and we were able to make our first instalment on our loans.

But the masjid still carries risk, and we are not yet safe. To remove that risk entirely, we need 100 more people to join us and help reach our next payment of $250,000.

In these last ten nights of Ramadan, from the thousands among us, this is your opportunity to make an investment in your eternity by taking up one of these 100 Badr spots. If you cannot do it alone, perhaps you can do it together as a family.

May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) reward you abundantly. Please keep us and the masjid in your du’as. I look forward to meeting you at the masjid soon on a trip back home, insha’Allah.

Wassalamu alaikum,

Sharifah Mussa,

Treasurer,

Hillsborough Masjid

To give, here is how:

Donate through our website, through our LaunchGood campaign, or directly by internet banking using the details below.

New Zealand Lote Tree Trust 38-9016-0861578-01

Australia Lote Tree Australia Limited BSB: 013-265 Account: 6628-15452

If you plan to donate before the 2nd of May, please fill out this form so we can keep the community updated on our progress.