+ Our mission and values
Who we are?
Nigerian Muslim Community of Staten Island (NMC) also know as Masjid Rahmatillah is a religious organization founded on July 4, 1993. The primary aim is to promote and propagate Islam in accordance with the Holy Quran and the Hadith among Muslims and non-Muslims in the United States of America. The formation of this organization was necessitated by our observation that many Muslims were finding it very difficult to practice Islam and carry out their religious and social obligations under the prevailing societal circumstances. Largely, due to lack of ideal Islamic knowledge and place of worship (Masjid), many Muslim brothers and sisters were not practicing Islam and abandoned their faith to convert to other religions. Consequently, our children are also growing up without basic Islamic knowledge.
Certainly, the situation is not ideal to be left to continue. “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are the ones to attain felicity.” Quran 3:104. On the basis of this, we founded Islamic Da’waah with a view to inviting people to worship Allah, and to promote the Quran, Hadith, and Islamic knowledge to humanity.
Since inception of the Masjid Rahmatillah, we have been actively engaged in the following Islamic teaching and activities in the existing place of prayer:
Daily prayer and weekly Jumat prayer services
Weekly Friday Islamic events
Taraweeh prayer and other prayers
Weekend Quranic/Islamic School for the youth – Train Them Young Concept
Yearly programs such as: Ramadan Lectures, congregation for breaking of fasting, Lailatul Qadr and Hajj lectures
Organizing and coordinating conferences, dialogues, symposia, lectures, and town hall meetings to discuss various issues about Islam and Muslims in their communities
+ Our journey
History
To help facilitate this humble endeavor, one of our brothers volunteered his apartment for our regular Sunday Islamic activities for the services to Allah. “I have only created Jinns and men that they may serve Me.” Quran 51:56.
On August 3, 1998, NMCSI was incorporated at the Staten Island Borough Hall and at the state level, on February 23, 1999. The IRS granted NMC 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt status.
On April 1999, NMCSI established Masjid Rahmatillah at a storefront located on 669 Bay Street and Broad Street, Staten Island, New York, as part of our effort to spread Islam in our community. The masjid was officially opened to the public with a Jumat prayer on Friday, May 28, 1999.
Challenges
In the past five years and beyond, our Islamic community is growing in population. This was occasioned by the arrival of new Muslim immigrants and residents relocating to this part of the country. The quality and quantity of our membership has experienced a sharp increase over the years. This development in addition to our goals of bringing less knowledgeable brothers and sisters back into fold of Islam, and education of public about the ways of Islam became challenges to our community. All these could only be accomplished through the establishment of a Masjid and Quranic/Islamic school that will accommodate the growing populations.
In addition to the above, the masjid building will meet growing community needs in the area of recreation; youth care; an after-school program to keep our youngsters off the street and out of trouble; and a counseling program to prevent immoral/criminal behavior.
Financial Sources: The Masjid is being maintained by members’ contribution, personal donations and occasional fund raising.