The Prophet ﷺ stated, “Whoever builds a Masjid for Allah, Allah will build a home for them in paradise.” -Sahih al-Bukhārī 450, Sahih Muslim 533

Masjid As Salamah, established in 2018, is situated in the heart of North Jakarta City, Indonesia, offering not only a space for prayer but also free Islamic and Quranic education for people of all ages. The masjid serves as a place of worship for 25 Muslim families, with approximately 60 men using the front of the space and 30 women utilizing the back. It also operates with one full-time imam, one full-time teacher, and two part-time teachers who volunteer their time. The full-time teacher takes care of the masjid and maintains its cleanliness, while all their drinking water and snacks are sourced from donations. Due to the rapid and continuous growth of their beautiful and active Muslim community, space limitations have arisen, as the masjid measures approximately 150 m^2 or 1600 sq. ft. Since its construction five years ago, the surrounding area of the masjid has flourished with significantly more houses, highlighting the increasing need for expansion to accommodate the growing Muslim community.

The prayer area has become exceedingly tight, leaving little room for prayer and additional activities, exacerbated during Friday prayers due to overcrowding. Furthermore, the prayer space is used as a multi-functional space for essential educational activities, such as Islamic and Quranic classes, as there isn’t a dedicated space. We ask for your generosity and help in raising the necessary funds to allow for a larger space for this masjid, aiding to accommodate more worshippers and providing separate spaces for various activities. This challenge weighs heavily on their Muslim community as the population is predominantly low-income. Despite this, a small number of individuals contribute monthly. Moreover, the masjid struggles to amass substantial funds, mainly due to the limited financial resources available for significant contributions. Although the masjid generates approximately $800, utilities use up $760, leaving only a $40 surplus. The surplus is only left over if the masjid doesn’t host any events.

Activities of Masjid As Salamah include:

These educational classes are provided free of charge, which is a vital service benefiting the Muslim community. With 30 children and 19 youths enrolled in these educational classes, they help to facilitate a deeper understanding of Islamic and Quranic teachings, contributing to cultivating a knowledgeable and righteous community. Masjid As Salamah serves as a beautiful place for prayer and has many resources for the Muslim community to further their knowledge.

With the funds raised, Masjid As Salamah plans to expand by adding a second floor, providing ample space for more worshippers, particularly during Jummah prayers. Furthermore, they hope to move the men’s bathroom to the outside giving the women’s area extra space. This expansion will also accommodate additional events and activities and includes a guest room for visiting teachers who generously dedicate their time to the mosque but lack living accommodations.

We invite you to contribute to our expansion efforts, ensuring a brighter future for all who gather at Masjid As Salamah. Your generous donations during this holy month of Ramadan will be beneficial to our brothers and sisters in Islam.

Some pictures: