Fort McMurray New Islamic Center Project Presentation

Slide 1:Markaz-Ul-IslamPhase-2New Islamic Center Project

Slide 2:Presentation Topics Issues and Challenges Objective How can we do it? History Review Moral of the Story? Project Progress Project Responsibilities Land Overview Project phases and milestones Accomplishments Financial Update Project Funding Status & Needs How can we accomplish

Slide 3:New Islamic Center Initiative Issues and Challenges Our current Masjid no longer can accommodate Friday prayers and other religious festivals. Our Islamic school space is not able to accommodate further grades. Our community has grown in leaps and bounds and expectation is that it will double in next 5-8 years. We do not have our own recreation center where we can allow our children (girls and boys) to have their own activities. We don�t have our own community center where community gathering could be accommodated.

Slide 4:Objective Find a piece of land big enough to build our own Islamic Center, and where we can offer the following: Masjid big enough for all occasions Islamic School for our children big enough to accommodate today�s and future needs Our community recreation center New Islamic Center Initiative���.Cont�d

Slide 5:How can we do it? ��..Markaz-Ul-Islam Story 1987/1988: Markaz-Ul-Islam Congregation of Ft. McMurray was established. Total Muslim Families were around 20-25 Congregational Salat (prayers) were being offered in volunteers� basements that eventually lead to renting community school. 1989: Community grew to 30-35 families A need for our own place was realized A piece of land where an old trailer was sitting was purchased for $85K, it was a stretch to the small community but future needs dictated that we tighten our belt and initiate a challenging project. 1990: Plan was devised to get rid of the old trailer and build a Masjid Money was the biggest challenge especially with the small community who just went through the significant effort of buying the land. Community realized that delaying the initiative will make it even more difficult due to rising costs and availability of land at the right spot.

Slide 6:1991: Uphill battle started as we undertook the challenge with Allah�s blessing and generous commitment of local brothers and sisters as well as external help we were able to collect $150K dollars. Community worked hard to cop with continuous funding challenges. 1992: The Masjid you see today was built by these few brothers and sisters. With Allah�s blessing financial assistance received from within and outside of Ft. McMurray. People thought it is impossible; there is no way we could accomplish this; why do we need such a big Masjid? There were more arguments and negative comments than positive support, often it used to get frustrating and disheartening but at the end we made it. It was Allah�s blessing and support from generous brother and sisters who made that dream come true. Many brothers and sisters enjoying this blessing for years may be not truly appreciating the bounty of Allah and dedication and commitment of those brother and sister many of whom are not reaping the reward as they have moved on to other endeavors in their lives. How can we do it? ��..Markaz-Ul-Islam Story��Cont.

Slide 7:Those who built our existing Masjid left their Sadaqa Jariah (continuous Charity) for us to be benefited. It is now this community�s turn to take this step forward and build a place that can offer a Masjid, an Islamic School and a Muslim Community Center for those who are here and for those yet to come. We should commit and dedicate ourselves to this initiative thinking that we may not be the one who would enjoy this bounty but it will be our Sadaqa Jariah, our reward is with Allah Almighty. Would there be any better business transaction than this one, if we think with mind and heart full of Emman. It may seems a long uphill battle but believe me proportionally it is not as big as it was in 1987. We are a lot more in numbers now and can make this dream come true. All we need is Allah�s blessing and everyone else�s whole hearted commitment. How can we do it? ��..Moral of the story Story��Cont.

Slide 8:Project Planning and Land Development Committee Responsible for land logistics, purchase, development and servicing of the land Leader: Brother Hamid Butt (780-791-5363) Project Fund Raising Committee Responsible for fund raising Leader: Brother Tauqir Hasan (780-748-7545) Markaz-ul-Islam Executive Committee Responsible for the total affairs of Muslim Community at large. Leader: Brother Mohammed Aboushhadi (780-799-5050) Project Progress���.Project Responsibilities

Slide 10:Phase-1 Secure a piece of land for our project By seeking government's approval Completed Phase-2 Purchase the land, transfer the title In Progress and service the land Expected Completion Sept 2009 Phase-3 Develop design, acquire all required approvals and execute construction Not yet Started

Slide 11:We have joined a non profitable consortium that consists of the following five organizations: Name of the organization Piece of Land Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo 20 Acers McMurray Gospel Assembly 15 Acers St. John the Baptist Parish 9.75 Acers Northern Lights Regional Hospital 8 Acers Markaz-Ul-Islam 8 Acers Crown has approved purchase of land in the area of Dickensfield that can accommodate the need of the above mentioned parties. City council has approved the proposal. Name of the land has been chosen �Abram�s Land� First payment has been made by each member

Slide 12:Total funding target $ 4.0M Total Units Required 1600 Promised Pledges $ 2.6M Units Pledged 1041 Funds Collected $ 1.1M Units Collected 444 Weekly Target 40 units/week Progress on Average 10-12 units/week Funds Required per month $ 200K Funds Raised per month $ varies from 55K to 165K Funds Submitted to the project $ 141K Balance on hand $ 223K Project Timelines December 2007 to Sept 2009

Slide 13:Members Monthly 2 Years Target of Pledge Donation $4.0M 800 $250.00 $6,000.00 $4.8M 400 $500.00 $12,000.00 $4.8M 200 $1,000.00 $24,000.00 $4.8M 100 $2,000.00 $48,000.00 $4.8M If we all contribute with our best ability, Allah Almighty will make it easy � Inshallah.