The Inauguration of Masjid Bilal will Take Place December 1, 2, & 3
Construction of New Community Center Next in the Plans
Despite the challenging times impacting us all, Masjid Bilal Islamic Center has continued its monumental effort to construct a new masjid and community center in the heart of Los Angeles. The project has attracted international attention, with visitors and media worldwide visiting the construction site.
After nearly 5 years the masjid structure , located at Central Avenue and Martin Luther King Blvd, is now complete. Its beautiful minaret is the tallest in California and on December 1, 2023, Masjid Bilal will host its official grand-opening ceremony.
Strong community support has fueled the building process with contributions coming from across the nation. However, with an overall project shortfall still exceeding $1 million, the path to completion has been long and arduous .
"We pay as we go," says Imam Abdul Karim Hasan, the community's long-time religious leader. "Allah has blessed us with some very hard-working and sincere people who have been very diligent in helping us raise funds to continue building."
Construction project manager Hesham Sitita and fundraising committee chairman Ahmed Radwan have dedicated their time and efforts to seeing this historic project through completion.
"This is one of the oldest (Muslim community) in California," said Radwan. "We have built a masjid from the ground up—with a minaret, you can see from a long distance. If we put our hands together, Insha Allah, we can now complete the community center."
Masjid Bilal's new community center will become a hub for social activities in Los Angeles. The multi-million dollar structure will feature a banquet hall, classrooms, library, technology/communication center, commercial kitchen and cafeteria.
"Our next step is to demolish the remaining old structure and begin construction of this wonderful multi-level community center, which will sit between the masjid and school," stated Sitita. "We're in the heart of Los Angeles, just blocks from downtown. We have a landmark here. Stop by and visit us. We need your support to complete this magnificent center for Islam."
Masjid Bilal Islamic Center is the first Masjid built in true Los Angeles, for more than two decades and of the new millennium.
"This will be a place where people can come and be orientated into the knowledge of the universality of Al-Islam and the faith of revelation — Where we can have classes to teach the people what they need to know," added Imam Hasan. "Language, ethics, etiquette, and those things that matter to us as a society. We are a society living within a society, and it's important that we get along."
Building a Masjid and Community Center is phase two of a three-phase plan the Bilal community has been implementing since 1999. Phase one was a school building completed in 2007, which now provides education to more than 300 kids from the surrounding community.
"We know what an important role this Mosque has played in our community—right here on Central Avenue," stated Councilman Curren Price from the ninth district of Los Angeles.
"This is a facility not just for Muslims, but for others as well. We appreciate the unique role the Mosque is playing, not just in the development of resources for our kids, but for the contribution you're making up and down this corridor and in our city."
The Masjid Bilal community is hoping to complete construction of the new community center by January of 2025.
"Please, please, we need your help and support," emphasized Ahmed Radwan, Chairman of the Masjid Bilal Fundraising Committee.
"Brothers and sisters, this is your opportunity for eternal and reoccurring blessings. Do not fool yourself, saying I still have my life ahead of myself. We do not know if we're going to make it tomorrow. Please, we ask each one of you to help us and help yourself and share this opportunity with everyone you know."
Donations can be made securely, directly through the Masjid Bilal website.
For mail, send your checks payable to: Masjid Bilal Islamic Center 4016 S. Central Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90011
Donations can also be made by electronic transfer utilizing: Bank of America - Acct# 325110240655 / Routing# 121000358