Forty years seems a very long period to achieve a dream. That might be the reason for the jubilant atmosphere filling the New Jersey Muslim community as they put the final touches on their long-awaited mosque. As workers finalize the mosque dome and fencing, Muslims are celebrating a moment that took 40 years in the making to finish a house of worship that would soon host thousands of worshippers.

For years, the thriving Muslim community has prayed in a converted Chinese restaurant and bar. Today, they have a three-storey mosque with a green dome glinting in the sun on that very site. The mosque construction will be finalized in October, and the large prayer room will fit more than 2,000 people.

Saad Admani, 28, believes the new building will motivate younger Muslims to join youth programming. “When you reflect on how much our elders have contributed, it’s sort of amazing because they’re immigrants,” Admani said. “They came here. They established a mosque in very trying times and have mobilized the community to build a purpose mosque. It’s sort of remarkable.”

Mosques are the beating heart of Muslim communities and stand as a physical example of the Islamic faith. They serve for prayers, and events during Ramadan, and as centers for education and information. They also serve as places for social welfare.

Source: AboutIslam.net