Souvenir on Baitur Rahman Mosque USA Inauguration — Page 36
Mosques and Ahmadiyya Centers in the U. S. A. Historical Dateline (continued) (continued) During the inauguration of Masjid Bait-ul- Hameed, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV makes an appeal for $2. 5 million, specificalZ, for the Washington National Mosque. A property is purchased in Rocheste r, New Yo rk, fo r $91,000 to be used as a mosque and a community center; it is nam ed "Baitun Naseer. " In Portland , Oregon, some members of the Ahmadi yya Mu sl im community build a mosque at a cost of $300,000 and dedicate it to the Ahmadiyya Moveme nt in Islam. A Washington·based firm, Bass and Mickle, Architects, is hired to develop initial concept plans and design of the Washington National Mosque. The schematic design of the mosque is prepared, and initial cost estimates are prepared lry the architects. In Houston, Texas, a building is purchased fo r $50,000 to be used as a place of worship, miss\on house and the mi ssionary's residence. The Washington National Mosque architectural drawings and necessar:y documents are submitted to the Montgom- ery Count) Officials for the building permit. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV reviews the design, and some important improvements are identified to be incorporated in the design. A major change is from a red brick structure exterior design to a precast concrete exterior in off-white color. In Boston, Massachuse tt s, some members are working on an Ahmadi yya Co mmunity Developme nt , and the Moveme nt gives $20,000 for its l and development and utilities. &vised construction design and documents are completed for the Washington National Mosque. In Chicago, Illinois, it is decided that the first American Ahmadiyya Mosqu e, established in 1922, be completely recons tru cted at its historical location under the name of Th e Sadiq Mosque. In St. Louis, Missour i, a property is purchased fo r $350,000 but the local zoning l aws do not permit its use as a place of worship. The Washington National Mosque cost projection reaches $4 million. The Amir U. SA. , Sahibtada M. M. Ahmad, makes a special appeal to the members of the Ahmadi:y:ya Medical Association to bear the cost substantialZ,. The response of the members of the Association is most enthusiastic and generous. The members of the Ahmadi:y:ya Medical Association donate more than $3 million towards the Mosque Fund. On September 11 , 1993, ground breaking is celebrated and collective pra:yer is made for successful completion of the project. Construction of the mosque starts. A spacious building is purchased near Miami, Fl or id a, for $160,000 to be used as a pl ace of worship and a mission house. A prope rt y is purchased on a 4-acre parcel of land in Cha rl ot te, North Ca rolin a, to be used as a place of worship and a mission house. The land is dedicated for the futu re site of a mosque. Construction of Masjid Baitur Rahman - the Washington National Mosque and the National Headquarters - proceeds as scheduled. On Ma:y 7, two bricks , on which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV said special pra-yers, are laid under the Mehrab of the mosque. B-y the end of September , the construction is completed with the Grace of Allah. On Frida-y, October 14, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV inaugurates Masjid Baitur Rahman. On Saturda :y, October 15, the 46th Annual Conference of the Ahmadi:y:ya Movement in Islam , U. S. A. wiU take place on its grounds. In Chicago, Illinois, an additional building is purchased at a cost of $85,000, to be kn own as the Van Buren Center, fo r Friday prayers and community meetings. With the G race of Allah, the Sadiq Mosque is complete at the historic location of the fi rst Ahmadiyya Mosque in the U. S. A. , at 4448 S. Wabash Avenue in Ch icago, Illinois. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV wi ll inaug ur ate the Sadiq Mosque on October 23, 1 99 4. lnsha'Allah Ta'ala.