Welcome to the MASJID Al-WASATIYAH WA AL-ITIDAL
The name of the organization is: MASJID Al-WASATIYAH WA AL-ITIDAL
(Hereinafter referred to as “Al-WASATIYAH”), a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, located a 5727 Hoffman Avenue, Philadelphia PA, 19143.
Al-Wasatiyah was registered as a not-for-profit entity in the year 2010 as a 501 (c) (3) body under the Federal government and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania guidelines of the United States. The core congregation is comprised of families from all over Philadelphia and surrounding neighborhoods.
The main mosque/masjid is located at 5727 Hoffman Avenue and was officially opened on August 1, 2011. This location was formerly housed by abandoned and rarely opened auto body shop that was adjacent to the following three properties:
- Old Cadillac repair garage
- An abandoned trash filled and bushy 27,000 square foot lot
- Unlicensed night club
By the grace of Allah, within four years after its official opening, Masjid Al-Wasatiyah was able to acquire the above three properties enabling the organization to gain a complete site control in the area. Plans and activities are underway transforming and enhancing these locations to provide additional religious and community services.
Masjid Al-Wasatiyah is governed by the Board of Trustees established under the requirements of the 501C (3). The board members are all non-paying individual members of the community who were all part of the initial ideas to create the masjid. These members volunteered their time, efforts and supported the organization in many ways for the community.
The board is responsible for hiring Imam and his assistants (spiritual leaders) for the masjid who are responsible for leading, prayer services, counselling, and education. The Imam is considered the spiritual leader for the organization. His daily responsibilities center on providing several spiritual services, and he is the leader in facilitating the community-based activities. These include marriages, counseling, mediations, giving sermons, lectures, and running seminars that are aimed at bringing the community together.
The board also supports the Imams in financial management and hiring teachers who support the educational activities of the organization. These activities include teaching young boys and girls in the community in learning various skills including, learning to read and write Arabic, recitations of the Quran, homework completion and various after school programs.
MEMBERS & MEMBERSHIP
The congregation of Al Wasatiyah is comprised of Muslim families from all over the United States, and the globe with a concentration of members residing within west and southwest Philadelphia. In addition to the local American Muslims, there are also many immigrant families from all around the world, including:
- Bangladesh
- Burkina Faso
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Liberia
- Mali
- Morocco
- Niger
- Pakistan
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uzbekistan
Al-Wasatiyah began with around 50 to 100 members who frequented the prayer services and participated in the masjid activities. Today, the Friday prayers at Al-Wasatiyah ranges from about 400 to more than 700 participating members during weekly Jumu’ah and Ramadan services. During the Eid celebrations, more than 2,000 people from all around the area participate in the services.