Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 153
153 Hence it is not nec essary for me to say too much. My feeling is that the Lajna Ima’illah office , which stand s before us in its splendor and in its grandeur , combined with the image that ‘ T he men sit quietly, [while] we [the Lajna ] have constructed our office before them , ’ will give women more incentive than an y sermon to get the job done. I am sure that as soon as they get back [to their homes], they will start collecting money with great enthusiasm and will pay off any outstanding amount in a few days. The Scheme to Collect Funds f or t he Holland Mosque I am more concerned about [the collection of funds for] the Holland M osque , which h as been assigned to women. Much remai ns to be done in this area. As I have stated earlier , the women have raised more money for the Holland M osque than the men. The men were assigned the Washington M osque and the [total] cost of building that m osque is between two hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy - five rupees. The work women wer e responsible fo r, the Holland Mosque , i ts expenses including land etc. co me to about ei ghty to a hundred thousand rupees. Of this eighty thousand , the women have already p aid forty - six thousand rupees, i. e. , more than fifty percent. Of the two hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy - five thousand the men have only given thirty - six thousand rupees. What is more troubling [about the Washington M osque] is that the house should be considered mortga ged to an Ahmadi up till now. A lthough he has loaned it , that [payment] was made for the purchase of the house [for which the Jama'at needs to reimburse this Ahmadi], so it should be considered mortgaged [until its price is paid off]. In addition to this, the missionary there is insisting that the old debt be paid off and [additional funds collected] to prepare to build the m osque. Thus , it is possible that this house may need to be mortgaged. However, I do not feel that it is too necessary to remind the women about the Holland M osque , for I am sure that with my brief urging they will realize their responsibility and will bring this good work to its conclusion. I tell the women that at this time your sacrifices are greater than that of the men. To maintain this noble status , pay off th e remaining debt on your office and at the same time do not forget ab out the Holland M osque either. For that, about fifty thousand rupees is still needed. Our