Large Turnout on Brick
Donation Day in Chicago
Chicago,
IL: It was a memorable event which brought a lot of enthusiasm
to the community on July 16, 2006. Tents were still being
set up at 11:45 pm the night before and a core group of
volunteers was scrambling to ensure that last minute details
were attended to. The weather is still memorable: On Sunday,
July 16th, the thermometer reading was a blistering 100
degrees in the shade. Despite this, by the grace of Allah
(SWT), it was a resounding success.
The set-up was simple. As people arrived, they were directed
to the Brick Donation Center, where they registered and
paid for their bricks. Wall bricks were offered at $100
each and Qibla-side bricks were offered at $1,000. Community
members signed their names to the bricks they had purchased.
Bricks were signed by young and old alike, some on behalf
of deceased loved ones. It was heart-warming to see donors
pulling out lists of names from their pockets and getting
out their cell phones to consult with family members as
to exactly whose names should go on the bricks. One student
had marked the Brick Donation date in her calendar. The
physical act of signing a brick made it real and tangible
for a lot of people, and it dawned on many that they were
helping to build a House of Allah (SWT).
Despite the heat and humidity, community members enjoyed
the day. Sweet watermelon and plenty of cold water and soft
drinks helped slake the thirst until the barbeque lunch
was ready. There was enough whole roasted lamb and chicken
to feed a small army, and the Bosnian brothers who did the
grilling volunteered their time and effort for the event;
a definite sacrifice, considering the heat of the day. May
Allah (SWT) reward them! Peak attendance seemed to be between
the hours of 1-6pm, and an estimated 600- 700 people from
different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities came throughout
the day until sundown. For some, it was a family reunion
and for others, an opportunity to see their friends after
a long time. One family came just after the Maghrib prayers
were over, donating 21 wall bricks. One can only wonder
what the numbers would have been if the weather been more
clement.
True generosity, amicability and community spirit marked
the occasion. Salaat-ul-Dhuhr, Asr and Maghrib were prayed
outdoors. At the end of the Maghrib prayer, MCC president
Dr. Sattar made a du’a for the well being of the community
and success for the tremendous task at hand.
Alhamdulillah, about $118,000 was raised at the end of the
day through 26 Qibla-side bricks and 717 wall bricks. For
those who missed the occasion, the opportunity to give still
exists. The month of July has been declared “Brick
Donation Month”, and those who wish to donate and
sign their bricks, can do so at the MEC location between
the hours of 2:00-3:00 PM and 7:00-8:00 PM. Also, a similar
event is planned for 20th August which will be specifically
geared towards the younger generation of professionals and
students, while at the same time keeping it open for those
who missed the July16th event. Details will be coming out
soon.
In closing, a special thanks to all those who donated bricks
and to the volunteers who devoted their time and effort
for making this event a huge success. We would also like
to thank Indo-Pak food for donating meat and the brothers
who donated the cost of rentals, water and soft drinks,
watermelon and printing 10,000 flyers. There are too many
names to list and Allah (SWT) knows best who they are.
We still need an additional $800,000 to complete the outer
shell by Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) help us to achieve this
goal, forgive our shortcomings and reward our efforts! Ameen.
MUSLIM COMMUNITY CENTER, 4380 N. Elston Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois 60641 Telephone: (773) 725-9047, Fax: (773) 725-1616
MUSLIM EDUCATION CENTER, 8601 N. Menard St., Morton Grove,
Illinois 60053. Telephone: (847) 470-8801 Fax: (847) 470-8873
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