Sadaqa Jariya Solar Well for Imam Mohamed Sillah

UPDATE: All praise is due to the Most High! We want to thank Allah first and foremost for his mercy and generosity in allowing this to happen by His will and want to thank every single person who has donated and/or shared this link. We ask that Allah makes it heavy on all your scales Ameen. We are in the process of sending the funds over to the organization inshaa'Allah and will prodvide updates on its construction/completion bi'ithnillah. Make Allah make it easy Ameen.

As salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

On Thursday September 14th, shortly after dhur, our beloved father/stepfather, Imam Mohamed Sillah, returned to Allah SWT, peacefully in his home in The Gambia while visiting family. As Death doesn’t wait to knock on one’s door, to seek permission from them and their loved ones, the news of his death was sudden to his family and community back home in the Bronx, New York. Not only was he an amazing father to us, but he was also a religious leader for our community here in the Bronx. He loved deeply and cared for his family and community.

خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِهِ وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِي

The Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said, “The best of you are those that are best to their family and I am the best towards my family” (Sahih Tirmidhi). Imam Sillah fulfilled this hadith and he led by example. You’d never know Imam Sillah was upset unless he told you. He fasted Mondays and Thursdays, motivating his entire family to join him. He would encourage us to pray in congregation and then sit with us for a few minutes after to teach us about Islam.

Imam Sillah could be spotted a mile away by his large, bright smile. If one were to greet him, he would greet them with a joyful radiance, as if he was meeting them for the first time over and over. He gave you his full, undivided attention. He was constantly in the masjid and was invested in the community. He constantly encouraged youth who knew the Quran to lead prayers and taught them the adab (manners) of doing so. He led Ramadan fundraisers and khatiras in the masjid, breaking his fasts with the community each night. Whenever a local masjid needed him, he was there to do a khutbah or assist with a program. This was our dear and beloved father, imam, husband, friend and everything else in between.

On behalf of Imam Mohamed Sillah, we wish to establish a Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity). We sincerely pray that this will be added to his good deeds and allow him to enter Jannatul Fardaus (highest level of paradise).

We would like to build solar water wells in his name to benefit the people in his home country, The Gambia. The funds will be sent to Africa Relief organization who will undertake the work of building solar water wells for communities in The Gambia who lack the basic necessity of clean water. Each solar water well costs $5,500 to build and can benefit 800+ individuals. If we are able to raise double, we will build a second well and any remaining funds will go towards Masjid Omar of the Bronx, the masjid he was an imam of. We are in direct contact with the organization and trust wholeheartedly that the funds will go to the wells insha’Allah.

Please support us in helping create a water well in his name and continue to help him be rewarded. We kindly ask that you donate generously and no donation is too little. “Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status”(Sahih Muslim 2588).

Please also consider taking the time to watch one of his khutbahs available on Masjid Omar facebook page

He did his very best with his families and community. The Prophet SAW said, “The best of what a man leaves behind are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, ongoing charity the reward of which reaches him, and knowledge that is acted upon after him.” (Sahih Al-Albani). As Imam Sillah has left this world, we ask that Allah has mercy on him and forgives him, that he is in the gardens of Al Jannah, that his grave is expanded and filled with noor and that his good deeds and Quran is his companion. With the wealth of knowledge he had, we ask Al Alaa that any knowledge one practices because of what he taught them and dua or ongoing charity is a means of elevating his ranks to the highest ranks in jannah, Al firdowse. May Allah allow us to reunite with him and you all. May Allah SWT bless you all for your donations and intentions. Ameen.

Please share this as much as possible. JazakAllahu Khairun.