FI'SABIL'ILLAH UK (at the time known as FI'SABIL'ILLAH NOTTINGHAM) worked alongside a long standing and well respected charitable partner, in Muslim Hands, on Project Noor.  FI'SABIL'ILLAH UK and Muslim Hands identified numerous locations where a Masjid was required.  This included locations in Gambia, Kenya, Senegal and Mali.

 

FI'SABIL'ILLAH UK analysed all the different options available and a decision was taken to build an easily accessible Masjid for the brothers and sisters of the Ulu Village - a town in Machakos, Kenya.

 

There was no Masjid in the area despite there being over 40 Muslim families in the village with prayers being offered at home.  Children also lacked a facility where they could learn about Islam.  The local Muslim community were anxious to have a Masjid but lacked the finances to build one and requested assistance in doing this. 

 

The initial estimated cost of the Masjid was £5,600 and the total number of beneficiaries would be in excess of 175 people Insha'Allah.

 

Alhamdulillah, the fundraising began in late November 2014 and within 1 month, the Masjid construction had been fully funded.  In fact, in excess of £6,000 was raised and part of this was returned to donors who had donated after the funds had already been raised.  May Allah (swt) bless those people that donated to the Masjid construction and to those that had the intention to do so but were unable to.  May Allah (swt) build you all something like this in paradise.

 

The actual Masjid construction commenced in February 2015.  The builders had to deal with the notorious rainy season in Kenya in the first few months of the construction.  The roads to the Ulu Village are in poor condition.  The final 12 miles or so of travel to the Ulu Village needs to be undertaken on a dirt track.  This dirt track has large pot holes and small trenches.  As such, the road is easily flooded.

 

The builders made good progress on the Masjid construction with local labour and locally sourced materials used.  By the month of Ramadan (July 2015), although not complete, the Masjid was in a condition whereby it could be used by the locals for Salah and Taraweeh prayers.  The Masjid was given the name 'Masjid Ibrahim'. 

 

FI'SABIL'ILLAH UK founder and Trustee, Kaleem Mohammed, visited the Ulu Village in early September 2015.  Further progress had been made to Masjid Ibrahim to this date from Ramadan.  The outstanding works that remained in September 2015 included the installation of the minarets (which were on order), the fitting of the carpets (which were on order), the installation of the speaker system and the installation of window grills.

 

Alhamdulillah, the construction of Masjid Ibrahim was completed in December 2015.  The final cost of the Masjid Ibrahim construction was just under £8,000.

 

Further information on the planning of Masjid Ibrahim can be found here.