Imported post: Facebook Note: 2019-10-18T21:13:37

Lets go back in time. It was in the early 80s, around 83, or maybe 84. The was someone sick at the hospital, I didnt remember whether he/she was a visitor or resident Muslim. A local Muslim sister visited that sick person at the hospital wearing hijab. Not many Muslim ladies wearing hijab in those days. A student doctor at the hospital asked her, “Are you a Muslim?” “Yes. Alhamdulillah” she said. That doctor was Dr Saleh Al Samahi from Saudi Arabia and he was introduced to the Christchurch Muslim community by the end of that week, joining Friday prayer and weekend community gathering. Someone did explained to Dr Saleh Al Samahi about the plan of building a masjid and how we needed more funds to continue building. One winter day, we set up a tent on the site of the masjid to receive visitors from Saudi Arabia, and we received a grant of $460,000 from Saudi Arabian Government. Beside that there were few other large donations came in. We had a breaking ground ceremony that year. During this ceremony, there was a protest gathering by some group. Some people didnt like us building a masjid. (Dr Saleh is in the picture above, 2nd from right. 1st from right was Dr Razzaq Khan, MAC president 1986-88) So the masjid building continue in earnest in 1985. Our architect was Rashid Wallen who worked for architectural firm Endel Lust. Sometime in August 85, the masjid was completed. We invited Dr Jamal Badawi from USA to deliver speech on Islam and Christianity and explained the difference and similarity between Islam and Christianity. At the end of the speech, during question time, one man got up and objected to Dr Jamal Badawi saying that to say that “there is only ONE GOD and not THREE” is a blasphemy. “I am only explaining the difference between Christian belief and Muslim belief, you have the freedom to believe.” Dr Jamal Badawi said. The prayer hall was full. Everyone was invited that night, and there were no chairs, everyone had to sit on the carpet. As I remember, the carpet was green with cream lines, New Zealand made carpet. The architect also explained to us that the artwork on the glass windows were also done locally. That woodwork near the imam alcove is made of local totara wood, so is the mimbar. If you look up where the wall meet the ceiling you would see the word “La ilaha illallah” written in arabic script. the picture above was probably taken one afternoon after Friday prayer.

Imported post: Facebook Note: 2019-10-16T08:49:54

It was in April 1982. A property on Deans Avenue, Riccarton, Christchurch was for sale. The land area was roughly 3600 sqm. It was a piece of land housing a horse stable smack bang in the middle of the property. The second photo was the stable building. The land was not even, with small hillocks, consistent with the previous use as a horse training ground. There were not many Muslims in Christchurch back then, most of us were students from as far away as Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia. One Muslim brother turn up at the real estate office that day when the property was for sale. No one else. A large piece of land, so close to the city a very suitable site for masjid. No one else turn up, cant blame them, because they are young students at the university. They wouldnt know what to do. The real estate agent told this Muslim man, that there is also an interest from a church group. "I cant make decision, the other guys hasnt turn up yet." Time was ticking. The real estate agent said, "You have to sign on these dotted line by 12 noon, then I can say that the property is sold. There is also another church group interested in this property, they are willing to pay $110,000." " Can I ring my lawyer first?" He hurriedly walked to the phone booth at the end of the street. In those days, there was a red phone booth near the corner of Brockworth Pl and Deans Ave. His lawyer told him that settlement date is in 3 months time, and it shouldnt be a problem. "Just in case you cant pay, we can always resell the property at a profit." "I am buying this property to build a masjid, not to make profit!" So he came back to meet the real estate agent and signed on the dotted line. All in, it cost $100,000. We didnt have much money back then. Our account only had a few hundreds. So we save money among ourselves, fundraise by organizing ethnic food fetes, participating in ethnic food market, selling our food to raise funds. Slowly the money start to come in. The first thing we built was the fence. Yes the cinder block wall. We built them on our side of property, so the neighbours has no right to paint or attach anything to it. That fence is our property. "Yes we are being kind to our neighbours by letting them attach postboxes to our wall." Right next door to us, at number 107, at the back, there was a veterinary clinic. When we were building the wall, this vet couldnt use his garage because the entrance was too narrow now that we build the wall. So we gave away that sliver of land to him for free. Love thy neighbour. "If your neighbour is hungry, you shouldnt eat either, feed your neighbour first." He was happy. "You can do whatever with your land, I wouldnt raise any objection." We couldnt do anything for 4 years while we were raising the funds. In the weekends we organised working bees to level the land ready for building the masjid. And when there was enough money to lay the foundation, we got it done, and then wait some more for more funds to continue building.