|
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The Woodland Muslim community celebrated Eid Al Fitr on Sunday with great enthusiasm and fervor. About 1200 men, women and children attended the Eid prayers that was followed by a luncheon catered by Kabob Corner.
Khalid Saeed director of communication & Public Relation says the Woodland mosque and Islamic center, about 15 miles from the Capital city Sacramento, is much more than just a mosque, in fact it is becoming a cutting edge institution where most all community need is being met.
The efforts to build a mosque in historic Woodland were started in early 1980’s. Pioneer of the community late Chaudhry Khushi Muhammad who was the first Muslim and first Pakistani in Woodland spearheaded the efforts to build a mosque in Woodland. 
Now the community owns almost a city block in the center of the city only about few blocks away from the city hall, county administration building, the main library, Sheriffs building and the county courthouse.
According to Khalid Saeed, the mosque administration consists of professionals and businessmen who are constantly working and thinking not only to take care of currents needs of all segments of the community, including, men, women ,young men, and young women, but they are also proactively thinking and planning for the future growth and needs also.
The mosque is a member of “Woodland Ecumenical Ministries” and works with leaders of the local churches on local issues and community at large needs including working for better inter community relationship. 
Imam of the mosque Qari Hafiz Aamir Hussain conducts weekly lecture series for the community members.
The mosque just finished a very successful summer school program and now the regular Sunday school education program has kicked in. Family nights are organized on Last Sunday of the month from Asr to Maghrib with dinner and a lecture series for full family.
As the population and its needs are increasing, now the administration is planning and raising funds for a new regular mosque/school building. A fund raiser was held on the Eid Day which fetched over $120,000.00 for the new mosque building. Two ladies donated their gold jewelry for the noble cause.
On behalf of the mosque administration and all members of the board of directors, executive committee president Ahad Parvez Chaudhry has thanked the community for all their support for current fundraising and continued support. See more pictures
|
